Recently, a video surfaced on social media reporting that a Kazakh businessman purchased a ram of the Areshan breed named Antibiotic for a record-breaking 1 million dollars.
A Turmush correspondent spoke with livestock breeders to find out how the prices for this breed of sheep have changed and what is driving this increase.
Farmers note that just a year ago, information about the sale of Areshans for amounts ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 dollars was quite rare. Such transactions usually went unnoticed, possibly conducted in secret. However, in the last six months, there has been a surge in demand, and Areshans have started to be exchanged for expensive cars and sold for impressive sums.
Sardar Bagyshbekov, a farmer with many years of experience breeding Areshan sheep, confirms that the prices for these animals have significantly increased recently.
Among the discussions on social media, there is information that Kazakh entrepreneur Kuanish Myktybaev acquired a famous ram named Antibiotic for 1 million dollars. Rumor has it that part of the sum—500,000 dollars—was paid in cash, while the rest was exchanged for other assets. However, Kuanish himself does not confirm this deal.
Kuanish Myktybaev is one of the most well-known sheep breeders in Kazakhstan. He notes that previously rams were not sold even for 400,000 dollars, which indicates that today "super elite" Areshans can cost around 500,000 dollars. Last year, 1 million dollars was also offered for the legendary ram Franklin, but at that time, the buyers were Kyrgyzstani.
One of the reasons for the price increase is the lack of truly high-quality rams and the growing demand from buyers. The domestic market also shows an increase in the number of clients, which naturally raises prices.
Farmers engaged in breeding note that they have been working on improving the breed for 10 years, and wealthy buyers prefer to purchase already ready elite rams, which also affects prices.
Moreover, wealthy buyers from Uzbekistan are actively entering the market, purchasing between 20 to 100 heads of sheep. This is linked to government support in Uzbekistan, where subsidies and tax benefits are provided for breeding livestock.
Farmers raise the issue of the necessary government support. In the context of high prices, there is a risk that some farmers may face inspections from law enforcement agencies. This has led some farmers to start hiding prices and conducting transactions less openly.
Farmers emphasize that Areshans have gained recognition thanks to the efforts of ordinary shepherds who have worked for a long time without support. They hope for more active government support in the development of breeding livestock.
The high prices for Areshans are also beneficial for the state, as farmers who receive significant sums invest them in the local economy—buying cars, building houses, and starting businesses, which creates jobs.
Recently, breeding Areshans has also become popular among some well-known personalities and officials, including athletes. This raises the status of livestock breeders and the industry itself due to public attention.
A selection of videos from social media discussing transactions involving Areshan sheep
In April 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Kyrgyzstan registered a new meat-fat breed of sheep called "Areshan."
Distinctive features of the "Areshan" breed:
- This breed was developed from 1970 to 2021 in various farms in Kyrgyzstan. Rams of the Gissar breed, imported from Tajikistan in 1977, were used for its creation, followed by crossbreeding with local sheep.
- The Areshan breed is characterized by high meat-fat qualities, large sizes, and high growth energy, and is also adapted to high-altitude conditions.
- Sheep have a compact build and strong constitution, as well as polled rams and ewes.
- The live weight of sheep at 7-8 months is 48-61 kg, one-year-olds are 60-78 kg, and adult rams weigh 109-177 kg.
- There are 5,832 sheep of this breed registered in the republic, and the price of a lamb is about 1,000 dollars, while ewes cost 5,000 dollars.
