Han

The Han is a type of Mongolian sheep. It was developed in the semi-humid agricultural areas of China (Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces). There are two types of Han which in 1982, were claimed as two different breeds: Large-tail Han and Small-tail Han. The Large-tail Han are polled and are characterized by a long, broad, fat tail, with a thin twisted end turing upwards between two lobes, and broadest at the base. Maximum weight being 25 kg.

Since the tail is too heavy for the sheep to move around easily during grazing, this type (or breed) is only adaptable to the plains. Han sheep are precocious and highly prolific, their fecundity levels being 163% for the Large-tail Han and 229% for the Small-tail Han. Recent reports have given even even higher figures of 192 percent for the Large-tail Han and 270 percent for the Small-tail.

Breed categories: fat-tail / Distribution: China