Edilbay Sheep Breed Confirmed High Meat Productivity

New scientifically confirmed data have been obtained in Kazakhstan demonstrating the high meat productivity of the Edilbay sheep breed, which is rightfully considered one of the country’s leading meat breeds. According to the results of long-term studies, the meat yield of this breed reaches 81%, which is among the highest indicators recorded for domestic sheep breeds.

Scientific and production research was conducted from 2020 to 2025 at the “Alakol-Agro” LLP in the Alakol district of the Zhetysu region. The work was carried out by scientists of the Kazakh Research Institute of Livestock and Fodder Production — a subsidiary organization of the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center NJSC — in close cooperation with farm specialists.

During the research, various breeding schemes involving domestic and imported ram breeds crossed with ewes from pedigree and commercial flocks were thoroughly studied. Special attention was paid to assessing the influence of genetic factors, housing conditions, and feeding systems on the development of meat qualities in animals.

To obtain objective and reliable indicators of meat productivity, control slaughtering and carcass deboning of ram lambs were carried out during different periods of grazing and fattening. The obtained data made it possible to comprehensively assess the morphological composition of carcasses, the yield of edible parts, and meat quality.