N.I. Sheep Breeders visit Moscow
N.I. SHEEPBREEDERS MISSION TO RUSSIA
I was part of a delegation of N.I Charollais, Suffolk and Texel sheep breeders who recently visited Moscow as guests of Alexandre Koulikov of Shiblino Lamb Farm. We were in Moscow to give presentations on the three breeds mentioned at The Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine to an audience that included the Dean, Rector and Professors of the Academy along with selected top students.Russian sheep numbers has seen a large reduction since the collapse of The Soviet union but a renewed interest should see numbers on the increase. The Russian Sheep Industry has been based on wool production but it is suffering from the worldwide slump in wool prices. Shiblino Lamb Farm, based near Kimry in the Tver District north of Moscow, are now looking at UK terminal sire breeds in an effort to establish a sheep flock with more emphasis on meat production.While in Moscow we visited a market where all sorts of meat, fish, fruit and vegetables that were produced in Russia were on offer. Vendors rented space in the covered market to sell produce purchased from farmers and growers throughout Russia. We saw 5 kg lamb carcases that were 4-6 weeks old when slaughtered on the farm the previous evening to being sold. Whole carcases were brought to the market and cut up as and when required by customers.A very colourful display of fruit and vegetables from far away parts of Asian Russia looked very appetising. Not so the ugly looking fish swimming around in tanks waiting to be chosen by a customer when they would get a hasty whack on the head.Customers to the market were from the more affluent community who could afford fresh food. Non more fresh than the bread we seen arriving at a stall outside the market. A delivery van turned out to be a mobile oven with the batches of baking bread in the ovens. When the doors of the oven were opened the delicious smell of baking bread came steaming out.One evening in our hotel there was two wedding receptions and a sixtieth birthday party. We had the opportunity to see real live Cossack dancers performing a very fast and furious dance with both feet and swords looking very dangerous. Contrary to my belief Russians can let their hair down and do enjoy a good time. For the football supporters the FC SKA Rostov team were staying at our hotel prior to playing Moscow Spartak, unfortunately our Charollais representative could not get tickets for the match.As guests of Alexandre Koulikov we visited The Bolshoi Theatre, The National Art Gallery and were taken on a tour in The Kremlin to see The Russian Crown Jewels.Shiblino Lamb Farm is keen to do business with N. Ireland sheep breeders so let’s hope that we can weave a way through all the bureaucracy and red tape to allow our sheep to make an impact on the Russian Sheep Industry of the future. Our generous hosts provided a very entertaining and busy agenda for our time in Moscow and just to complete our image of Russia a few flakes of snow were falling on the morning we left our hotel on the way to the airport. 