志丹羊(yang)肉(rou),盛名已久,自(zi)古有“山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)保安(an),牛(niu)羊(yang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)”之說(shuo)。早在春秋戰國時期,志丹就是狄戎等少數民族的游牧區,到北(bei)宋,牧業已很發達。宋廷(ting)曾令保安(an)軍(jun)榷場每年(nian)貢(gong)羊(yang)2萬(wan)只(zhi)。清代縣(xian)訓導武東旭(xu)《山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)城四時詩》云:“山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)夏日好風光,火傘凌(ling)空亦不妨。款客何愁人帶(dai)熱(re),當窗詎(ju)東草迎涼。雖無竹簟(dian)眠能穩,即少荷筒(tong)飲自(zi)香。惟有癡蠅揮不盡,腥膻易惹是牛(niu)羊(yang)。”《保安(an)縣(xian)志略》載,清同治后期,“羊(yang)子(zi)(zi)為最多(duo),牛(niu)驢次之,騾馬很少”。1949年(nian),全縣(xian)羊(yang)子(zi)(zi)約7萬(wan)只(zhi),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)近(jin)5萬(wan)只(zhi)。1955年(nian)達14萬(wan)只(zhi),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)10余萬(wan)只(zhi)。1965年(nian)達20萬(wan)只(zhi),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)近(jin)17萬(wan)只(zhi)。至(zhi)1997年(nian)羊(yang)子(zi)(zi)共計25萬(wan)只(zhi),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)23萬(wan)只(zhi),當年(nian)出(chu)欄羊(yang)子(zi)(zi)9萬(wan)只(zhi),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)8.3萬(wan)只(zhi)。
志丹縣(xian)位(wei)(wei)于延安市西北(bei)部,屬(shu)黃土高原丘(qiu)陵溝(gou)壑區。從全國山羊(yang)分布區域劃分,位(wei)(wei)于農(nong)牧交錯區,也是(shi)子午嶺山羊(yang)繁衍適生(sheng)區。境(jing)內土地廣闊,牧草資源豐(feng)富,養(yang)羊(yang)業歷(li)史悠久,處于全縣(xian)主導產業第一位(wei)(wei)。
全縣現有牧草(cao)(cao)228萬畝,其中(zhong)人工(gong)種草(cao)(cao)6.5萬畝,大部分(fen)處(chu)于(yu)海拔1093一1600米左右(you),以多年生禾本科(ke)的草(cao)(cao)本植物為主,其次(ci)為菊科(ke)、豆科(ke)等(deng)。有針(zhen)茅、冰草(cao)(cao)、芨芨草(cao)(cao)、蒿類、虎榛、黃薔薇、百里香、檸條、狼牙(ya)刺(ci)等(deng)優良(liang)牧草(cao)(cao)。
志(zhi)丹羊(yang)(yang)子有(you)山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)、綿羊(yang)(yang)兩種(zhong)。食用以(yi)山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)為主,山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)有(you)陜北(bei)黑山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)、奶山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)和遼(liao)寧(ning)白(bai)絨(rong)山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)及其(qi)雜交改良后代等。羊(yang)(yang)肉(rou)年(nian)產量均在千噸(dun)以(yi)上。1997年(nian)羊(yang)(yang)肉(rou)產量為1160噸(dun),其(qi)中山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)肉(rou)達1080噸(dun),居全市(shi)第二。
志丹羊(yang)肉的吃法有很多,其中(zhong)紅燒(shao)羊(yang)肉、羊(yang)雜湯(tang)、羊(yang)肉出(chu)鍋等是當地尤其受(shou)歡迎的特色做法。