[Animals of the World: Sheep] Origin and History Ecology and Characteristics

A sheep is an animal that everyone knows. This is because sheep are raised as livestock and are deeply embedded in human society. But where did this sheep come from? And how did it penetrate so deeply into human society? I would like to follow up on that mystery.

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Sheep are animals classified as Cetacean artiodactyls in the family Bovidae. Sheep are raised all over the world, and although their sizes vary from region to region, their total length ranges from 55 to 70 cm and their weight ranges from 40 to 70 kg. Hair continues to grow until it dies. Even if there are many animals without horns, there are often only males and no females. Sheep have excellent hearing and can sense in advance that a foreign enemy is approaching. It also has a very wide field of view, allowing you to see angles from 270 to 230 degrees. This also developed from being attacked by foreign enemies. Sheep can live in many different regions. They can live in forests, deserts, and even mountainous areas. Sheep are also destined to be attacked by carnivores, so they tend to want to herd. However, they often do not form flocks in areas where there are no predators. In the state of one animal, it tends to form groups with different species such as elephants and rhinos. This is because there is a danger of being attacked by a foreign enemy if it is in a single state. Sheep are surprisingly scary animals when they get angry. It has been known since ancient times that there is considerable power when rushing, and in ancient Rome, there was also a culture that a sheep’s head image was attached to the tip of the battering ram.

Ecology

Sheep are animals that love to eat. Sheep can eat a variety of foods such as hay, apples, carrots, and sweet potatoes, and are known to often beg their owners. In males, the size of horns often determines the order in the herd, and sheep with similar horn sizes often fight for food. Sheep can produce 2 to 3 offspring per breeding cycle. The gestation period is about 150 days. Sheep are said to have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, but in captivity they often live up to 20 years.

origin

Where did sheep come from in the first place? Around 7000 BC, in ancient times, the Mesopotamian region was very civilized. At that time, there were sheep such as mouflons that inhabited the mountainous areas of this area, but it is said that the domestication of these sheep is the beginning of the current sheep. In other words, livestock culture began near Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Since then, this culture of domestication has been adopted in Europe, East Asia, Africa, etc., and continues to the present day. A large amount of small sheep bones different from wild sheep have been unearthed from ruins around 7000-6000 BC, and evidence has also been found.

history

Sheep were also domesticated in various regions such as West Asia, Europe, India, and Mongolia. One of the reasons why sheep were domesticated is because of their wool. And sheep are also edible for humans. It is well known today that sheep fat is the best source of nutrition. That’s not all. Sheep’s milk is used in yogurt and cheese, and sheep skins can be used to make parchment. Sheep, which bring great benefits to humans, will be bred around the world. There was also a trend to domesticate sheep in East Asia, and sheep migrated to Japan in the 500s. In the Middle Ages, the Age of Discovery began, and Europeans spread the culture of domesticating sheep around the world. Sheep also had a great influence on religion. In Christianity, believers led by the Messiah were often likened to sheep led by a shepherd. In Islam, sheep were also sacrificed to the gods.

Breeding

It is said that there are 1.2 billion sheep in the world, which means that they are being raised all over the world. China has the largest number of sheep in the world. About 130,000 sheep are bred in China, and China is a country of sheep. The second place is Australia, but the number of breeding has been decreasing since the 2000s. India is third, Iran fourth, and Sudan fifth.

Breeding precautions

Sheep prefer well-ventilated, sunny locations. Therefore, do not keep them in damp, dark places. Sheep are very patient and don’t look weak when they get sick. Owners need to take good care of their sheep when they behave strangely. You should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Raising sheep requires breeding sheds and playgrounds. Sheep also eat green grass from spring to summer. You will need a large area of land with enough grass for your sheep to eat every day. Therefore, it is not suitable for domestication. Limited to those with large farms.

not suitable for breeding

In fact, sheep have the above-mentioned environmental problems, but more than that, there are not many veterinarians who can examine sheep when they become sick. A sheep is not a major pet unlike a dog or a cat. Sheep are animals that like to live in groups. It is important to create a group of 10 or more animals because one animal will be stressed. Considering this background, it is impossible to raise sheep unless you have a very large area of land.