平舆庙羊

 
    中国著名山羊良种。因主产于河南省平舆县庙湾镇一带，故称“庙羊”。其皮以质重、柔软、毛细密、弹性好、拉力强、油质适当等特色赢得皮革行业盛誉，称“庙皮”，为中国山羊皮张名产，畅销国内外。早在明代，山西移民迁至水（即洪河）中游庙湾镇一带定居。其中的回民兄弟引来了西北地区的山羊与当地羊杂交，形成优良品种“庙羊”。与西北山羊比，庙羊腿颈粗短，体形适中，皮张优良，毛色光亮，膘肥体重；无西北羊肉的膻腥味，食之香而不腻，有补血养神、祛风御寒、温胃和中功效，为冬季肉食佳品。回民兄弟不仅有喂养山羊的丰富经验，还掌握有宰剥、修整皮张的娴熟工艺。加工的庙皮生者金黄板整，熟者柔软平润，是剪制鞋帽衣料的上品。明代中叶庙湾镇便成为水中游以革皮著称的集市，名扬海内。 　
       
    水上通黄河支流，下合江淮注海，集市上有山陕客商集资创立的山陕会馆等著名客栈，商业发达，至清代盛而不衰，南北大街犹如长廊，街上清真餐馆甚多，主要经营羊肉饭食，尤其是大块五香羊肉，为豫南名膳。最热闹的是“庙皮”行市，生熟皮张交易繁忙。清末至民国年间，由于兵灾匪祸，庙羊畜养量减少，庙皮行市萧条。中华人民共和国建立后国家外贸部门特立“庙皮”商标，将庙皮列为地方特产出口。


 

Pingyu Miao Goats

    Pingyu Miao goat is a famous quality breed in China and gets its name for it is mainly produced in Miaowan Town, Pingyu County. Its leather earns a high reputation and known as Miao Leather for its heavy, soft, thick hair, good elasticity, appropriate oil content and other characteristics, which is a famous product and sell very well all around the world. Among the leathers local people produce, raw ones are gold and orderly, the ripe ones are soft, flat and moist, which are all superior materials for making clothing and hats. In the middle of Ming Dynasty, Miaowan Town had been a big market famous for high-quality leathers.
      
    Pingyu Miao goat was hybridized created successfully in Ming Dynasty. Compared with goats in the Northwest, Miao goats have more stubby necks, moderate bodies, better leathers, bright hairs and fatter. Besides, they has no mutton dodur and not greasy when eat. They have medical functions of enriching blood, nourishing spirit, eliminating wind and cold, warming stomach, etc, so that it is a good choice in winter.