Karakul Lamb Production

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Karakul is the name of the breed of sheep whose lambs have this much sought-after pelt. They are able to survive in extremes of great heat and cold and may well be the oldest of all domesticated sheep breeds. The historic motherland of karakul fur production is Uzbekistan and it is also produced throughout Central Asia, Afghanistan and Namibia. Karakul sheep are capable of reproducing throughout the year and are artificially inseminated from sheep that are matched to produce the various desired colours. The exact date and time of insemination is recorded to ensure the most opportune time of slaughter for sheep destined to carry their last lamb.

The skins of the newborn lambs fetch a good price but it is the skins of foetal lambs that are worth far more, over double that of newborns. Karakul fur is highly coveted and is very popular in the fashion industry at the moment. At 30 days before natural birth the skin is very smooth and can be used for expensive handbags, hats, gloves and even swimsuits. At 10 to 15 days before natural birth the fur is silky, flat and lightweight with a wavy texture and a luminous sheen. That from newborn lambs of 1 to 3 days old is tightly curled and glossy. The value drops significantly once these curls begin to unfold.

The female sheep has between 3 and 5 lambs during her life, all bar her last are taken away from her, terrified and barely able to even stand, within a few days of birth to be slaughtered. According to independent research, karakuls possess a strong flocking instinct and are very protective and attentive mothers so the distress that this must cause the mother is unimaginable. After slaughter and skinning the tiny lamb bodies are simply thrown away, making a lie to them being a by-product of the meat industry.

The following draws from the HSUS investigators’ first hand report of the killing of the mother sheep, it is not easy reading. The end to the ewe’s last pregnancy is barbaric. She is hauled into the killing room, pushed to the floor and held down on her back. Her throat will then be slit, there is no pre-stunning. A deeper cut to her neck follows before her head is twisted off. A couple of minutes later her headless body is placed on a cradle like structure and the vigorous movements in the sheep’s uterus from the thrashing unborn lamb continue. Once this is no longer visible the sheep is shackled, hoisted into the air and skinned. The uterus is then ripped open and the dead or dying foetus removed.

Around 4 million karakul lamb skins are used each year in the fashion industry.  As many pregnant sheep are also killed the death toll to provide these is much higher. Most designers who use fur also use karakul lamb but some who would not use fur still use karakul believing it to be no different to using leather or suede, quoting the “by-product of the meat industry” argument. Undoubtedly many consumers have been duped into believing this too.

Since the events of September 11 2001, the market for karakul fur has drastically reduced as the US has stopped buying products from that part of the world, but this is only temporary. Before much longer the notoriously fickle and shallow fashion industry will be demanding karakul again and turning a blind eye not only to the cruelty inherent in its production but also to its source. The slaughter of these farmed animals is every bit as cruel, grotesque and inexcusable as that of any other animal killed for its fur.

To help stop this trade you can:

Spread the word: tell people you know - especially those who may be considering buying karakul/broadtail/Persian lamb or astrakhan - how the fur is produced and that it is not a bi-product of the food indusIf you see any on sale in shops - even charity shops - complain to the manager

If you see karakul fur fea tured in a newspaper, in a fashion magazine or anywhere in the press then write a letter in favour of publication explaining the facts behind its production and asking readers not to buy it.

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