{{Short description|Breed of domestic sheep originating in Central Asia}} [[File:Karakul sheep in Akron Zoo.jpg|thumb|Karakul sheep in Akron Zoo]] '''Karakul''' or '''Qaraqul''' (named after Qorakoʻl, a city in Bukhara Region in Uzbekistan) is a breed of domestic fat-tailed sheep which originated in Central Asia. Some archaeological evidence points to Karakul sheep being raised there continuously since 1400 BC.<ref name="OKState"> {{cite web |url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/karakul/ |work=Breeds of Livestock |title=Karakul |publisher=Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science |access-date=2009-04-17}}</ref>
Hailing from the desert regions of Central Asia, Karakul sheep are renowned for their ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions. They can survive severe drought conditions because they store reserves for lean times as fat in their tails. Karakul are also raised in large numbers in Namibia, having first been brought there by German colonists in the early 20th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thatsfarming.com/news/weird-sheep-karakul|title=Weird Sheep Breeds - Karakul Sheep {{!}} THATSFARMING.COM|last=Forde|first=Kevin|date=2018-11-20|website=That's Farming|access-date=2019-07-26|archive-date=2019-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726090203/https://www.thatsfarming.com/news/weird-sheep-karakul|url-status=dead}}</ref> They are currently listed as endangered.<ref name=":0" />
==Use by humans== Karakul sheep are a multi-purpose breed, kept for milking, meat, pelts, and wool. As a fat-tailed breed, they have a distinctive meat. Many adult Karakul are double-coated; in this case, a spinner would separate the coarse guard hair from the undercoat. Karakul is a relatively coarse fiber used for outer garments, carpets and for felting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Karakul |url=https://hopejoyfiber.com/karakul/ |access-date=2025-12-25 |website=hopejoyfiber.com}}</ref>
The meat from the sheep, and especially the fat from the tail end, is an important ingredient in Uzbek cuisine.<ref name=crossroads>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rizvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA226 |pages=221–34 |chapter=Uzbekistan's Food |title=Crossroads of Cuisine: The Eurasian Heartland, the Silk Roads and Food |editor1-first=Paul David |editor1-last=Buell |editor2-first=Eugene N. |editor2-last=Anderson |editor3-first=Montserrat de Pablo |editor3-last=Moya |editor4-first=Moldir |editor4-last=Oskenbay |publisher=BRILL |year=2020 |isbn=9789004432109}}</ref>
===Karakul pelts=== thumb|170px|right|Washing of slaughtered lambs in Namibia Very young or even fetal Karakul lambs are prized for pelts. Newborn karakul sheep pelts are called '''karakul''' (also spelled ''caracul''), ''swakara ''(portmanteau of ''South West Africa Karakul''), ''astrakhan'' (Russian and French), ''Persian lamb'', ''agnello di Persia'' (Italian), ''krimmer'' (Russian) and ''garaköli bagana'' (Turkmen). Sometimes the terms for newborn lambs' and fetal lambs' pelts are used interchangeably.<ref name="HSUS"> {{cite web |url = http://www.infurmation.com/pdf/hsuskar01a.pdf |publisher = The Humane Society of the United States |orig-year = July 2000 |date = March 2001 |title = HSUS Investigation: Karakul Sheep and Lamb Slaughter for the Fur Trade |access-date = 2009-04-17 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090725125817/http://www.infurmation.com/pdf/hsuskar01a.pdf |archive-date = 2009-07-25 }}</ref> The newborn lambs have a tight, curly pattern of hair. The lambs must be under three days old when they are killed, or they will lose their black color and soft, tightly wound coils of fur.<ref>{{cite web|title=Karakul Sheep: Bright-eyed and Broad-tailed|url=http://www.hobbyfarms.com/karakul-sheep-bright-eyed-and-broad-tailed-3/|website=Hobby Farms|date=3 November 2009 |access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> Dark colors are dominant and lambs often darken in color as they age. Fetal karakul lamb pelts are called '''broadtail''', ''Breitschwanz'' (German), and ''karakulcha''. Fetal karakul lambs are harvested through miscarriages, induced early delivery or by killing the mother sheep and removing the fetus.<ref name="The Lamb on the Runway">{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Eric|title=The Lamb on the Runway|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/11/fashion/thursdaystyles/the-lamb-on-the-runway.html|access-date=25 June 2016|work=New York Times|date=11 August 2005}}</ref> Rather than killing healthy female sheep, farmers will kill older sheep that have already given birth many times.<ref name="The Lamb on the Runway" /> People use the lamb pelts to create various clothing items, such as the karakul hat.<ref name="foxnews"> {{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/hamid-karzais-famous-hat-made-from-aborted-lamb-fetuses |title=Hamid Karzai's Famous Hat Made From Aborted Lamb Fetuses |publisher=Fox News |author-link=Associated Press |last=Associated Press |date=April 24, 2002 |access-date=2009-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501230853/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,51034,00.html |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} </ref> The pelts have also been used in haute couture.<ref name="FurFree"> {{cite web |url = http://www.hsus.org/furfree/news/astrakhan_hot_new_fashion.html |title = Astrakhan: Hot "New" Fashion is the Same Old Cruelty |access-date = 2009-04-17 |publisher = The Humane Society of the United States |date = August 12, 2005 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090612210501/http://www.hsus.org/furfree/news/astrakhan_hot_new_fashion.html |archive-date = June 12, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Fashion"> {{cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2007/05/27/2003362700/print |title=Karakuls burst upon the fashion world |last=Associated Press |author-link=Associated Press |publisher=Taipei Times |date=May 27, 2007 |access-date=2009-04-17}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Karakul (sheep)}}
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Category:Sheep breeds Category:Sheep breeds originating in Uzbekistan Category:Animal breeds on the GEH Red List