This unusual price was first mentioned by local traders, after which it became possible to contact the owner, Arstanbek Supataev.
Supataev explained that his activity is not traditional farming. He specializes in expert selection and subsequent sale of the best representatives of sheep breeds: “I do not run a permanent farm. My task is to find outstanding sheep and rams on farms, purchase them, and then sell them at the market. This time I put up for sale the son of a famous ram named Ushastik and indeed set the price at 10 thousand dollars,” he noted.
Although there was great interest in the purchase, there were no buyers at the market willing to pay such an amount. Soon, potential clients visited Arstanbek's home, and after discussions, the price was lowered to 5 thousand dollars.
Supataev also added that such amounts are no longer unusual for the Chui region. In recent years, sheep priced between 3 to 4 thousand dollars have become commonplace. Occasionally, elite individuals appear on the market, with prices exceeding 10 thousand dollars.
In April 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Regional Development registered a new Kyrgyz meat-fat breed of sheep called "Arashan".
This breed differs from others in the following characteristics:
- "Arashan" was developed from 1970 to 2021 in the farms of Kyrgyzstan. The breed was created using Gissar rams brought from Tajikistan in 1977, which were crossed with local coarse-haired ewes. Second-generation animals that met the necessary standards were bred "in themselves".
- The breed has excellent meat-fat characteristics, is large in size, has a fat tail, and a high growth rate, and is well adapted to high-altitude and steppe conditions.
- "Arashan" sheep have a compact build, satisfactory exterior, strong constitution, and a light but sturdy skeleton.
- Rams and ewes of this breed are polled.
- The live weight of lambs aged 7-8 months ranges from 48 to 61 kg, yearlings from 60 to 78 kg, and adult rams from 109 to 177 kg.
- Four genealogical lines have been identified within the breed.
In total, there are 5,832 sheep of this breed in the republic, with the price of a lamb being around 1 thousand dollars, and a ewe costing 5 thousand dollars.
