Life in the Regions: Kalıbay Saralaev from Kochkorsky District Bought a Seven-Month-Old Lamb for 100,000 Som for Breeding Pedigree Sheep
In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, he shared that he was born on January 11, 1972, in the village of Don-Alysh in the Kochkor district to a teacher's family. Together with his wife, he raised three children. His two daughters are married; his eldest daughter, Roza Kalıybayeva, is currently in migration with her husband in Moscow. His second daughter, Malina, teaches at the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov.
His son, Emir, studies at the historical faculty of the Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabayev and currently works at the National Bank.
Kalıybai Saralaev was a delegate at the First and Third People's Kurultays.
Four years ago, Saralaev began breeding Arashan sheep to improve the quality of the livestock. Before that, he kept 150 ordinary sheep. To enhance quality, he gradually started increasing the number of Arashan sheep.
Currently, their number has reached 20. He spoke about the advantages of this breed. "I used to keep 150 sheep, and their maintenance and feeding were quite troublesome. Sometimes, when selling, the price did not cover the costs and was too low. For the last four years, I have focused on quality rather than quantity and the breed of the sheep. I started crossbreeding them with Arashan rams to improve them. Last year, I bought a seven-month-old ram named Ryzhik for 100,000 soms. Arashan sheep often give birth to twins. Currently, out of 11 sheep, four have given birth to twins. Such sheep require more feed. Already now, there are orders for male lambs. Sheep of this breed produce a lot of milk. When the lambs suckle, they cannot drink all the milk, and if the ewe is not milked, the lamb may not survive. Last year, I lost two lambs due to poisoning from stagnant milk — the milk had soured and caused their death. My wife milks the sheep and prepares uuz (colostrum, a dairy product) for the children," the villager recounts.
According to the farmer, if lambs from ordinary sheep are sold in the market for 7,000–8,000 soms, then a lamb of the Arashan breed costs no less than 25,000 soms. I am currently engaged in breeding second-class Arashan sheep, but I plan to gradually transition to first-class. Arashan sheep eat slightly more feed than ordinary sheep, depending on their weight. In the summer, we take them to the summer pastures. They graze just like ordinary sheep. I do not let the ram near them. When we return home, I conduct mating. I give the sheep hay three times a day and grain once. I no longer keep ordinary farm sheep," Kalıybai Saralaev said.
In addition to breeding sheep, Kalıybai also raises foals for sale. "I start feeding the foals from the beginning of December, tying them in the stable. By February, they gain weight and are ready for sale. I used to fatten cows, but they have an unpleasant smell and require more effort. A cow needs to be kept for four months to gain weight, while a foal can be fattened in three months. I keep one foal for three months. It costs about 15,000 soms to feed it, and I can sell it now for 60,000 soms. I give grain twice a day and hay three times. I have covered the floor in the pen with wood and regularly clean the manure. I continue to fatten and sell foals until July, replenishing their stock," he says.
Kalıybai is assisted in his work by his wife, Rima Asanova.
Rima was born on September 5, 1974. She works as a teacher's aide at the Saparbek Esenaliev kindergarten in the village of Don-Alysh. In her free time, she helps with her husband's farming business.
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