Altay

Altay sheep are a fat-rumped or fat-tailed sheep type associated with the Altai region of Central Asia, where cold winters, dry valleys, and mountain grazing shape livestock. They are generally kept for meat, fat, and coarse or semi-coarse wool rather than for fine fleece. The body is built for endurance and seasonal movement, and local strains may differ between Russian, Kazakh, Mongolian, and Chinese contexts.

For pastoral flocks, the Altay sheep's strength is range adaptation. Tail fat or rump fat can be an energy reserve in severe country, while the fleece may be useful for carpets, felt, or mixed textiles. Breeding decisions should preserve hardiness, lamb survival, and foot soundness before chasing larger size through outside crosses. Anyone recording Altay sheep should note source region and whether the animals are landrace stock or improved lines, since the same name can cover several related mountain populations.