產地及環境
早勝牛(niu)原產在慶陽(yang)地(di)區(qu)寧縣的早勝塬,地(di)處隴東黃土高原,海拔1221.2米(mi),年(nian)均溫度9.1℃。年(nian)日(ri)照時數1935.7小時。無(wu)霜期(qi)160~180天。年(nian)降雨量為576.8毫(hao)米(mi),年(nian)蒸發(fa)量為1496.2毫(hao)米(mi),雨量雖較(jiao)充(chong)足(zu),但多集中在6~9月份(fen),冬季干旱。產區(qu)沒(mei)有(you)(you)放(fang)牧地(di),但有(you)(you)種植苜蓿、夏秋季青刈喂牛(niu)的習慣。
地理分布
早勝(sheng)(sheng)牛以(yi)寧縣(xian)的(de)(de)(de)早勝(sheng)(sheng)、良平(ping)、平(ping)子和中村四個鄉(xiang)牛只最(zui)優。鄰近正(zheng)寧縣(xian)的(de)(de)(de)宮(gong)河塬(yuan)、慶陽縣(xian)的(de)(de)(de)董志塬(yuan)、鎮塬(yuan)縣(xian)屯字塬(yuan)等地均有分布。
品種特征
早勝牛(niu)(niu)體(ti)質結實、緊湊,骨骼較(jiao)(jiao)粗(cu)(cu)(cu),肌(ji)肉(rou)發(fa)育較(jiao)(jiao)好,為(wei)甘(gan)肅黃牛(niu)(niu)中(zhong)體(ti)格(ge)最大者。體(ti)型(xing)外(wai)貌與秦川牛(niu)(niu)相似。被(bei)毛以(yi)紅色(se)和(he)紫色(se)為(wei)主。角(jiao)多(duo)(duo)為(wei)蠟黃和(he)肉(rou)色(se),蹄為(wei)紫色(se)和(he)古(gu)銅(tong)色(se)。公母(mu)牛(niu)(niu)多(duo)(duo)有(you)角(jiao),扁圓形,較(jiao)(jiao)短(duan)小。微向(xiang)后(hou)彎曲,形如短(duan)粗(cu)(cu)(cu)蘿卜(bu),俗稱(cheng)“蘿卜(bu)角(jiao)”。也有(you)部(bu)(bu)(bu)分牛(niu)(niu)的角(jiao)短(duan)而鈍(dun),稱(cheng)“疙瘩角(jiao)”。還有(you)部(bu)(bu)(bu)分牛(niu)(niu)的角(jiao)為(wei)可搖動的軟角(jiao),稱(cheng)“鈴(ling)鈴(ling)角(jiao)”。頭大小適中(zhong),眼(yan)眶突(tu)出,眼(yan)大有(you)神,額寬面平(ping),口方正,公牛(niu)(niu)頭高(gao)揚(yang),貌雄(xiong)偉(wei),頸(jing)短(duan)粗(cu)(cu)(cu),肩峰高(gao)而寬厚。母(mu)牛(niu)(niu)頸(jing)細(xi)薄。鬐甲較(jiao)(jiao)高(gao)較(jiao)(jiao)窄(zhai)但平(ping)緩。背平(ping)直較(jiao)(jiao)寬。前胸寬闊,胸骨隆起,胸深(shen)肋(lei)長,腹(fu)部(bu)(bu)(bu)緊湊。四肢(zhi)粗(cu)(cu)(cu)壯,關(guan)節粗(cu)(cu)(cu)大,蹄堅實。外(wai)貌缺點(dian)是后(hou)軀發(fa)育較(jiao)(jiao)差,尖斜(xie)尻(kao)較(jiao)(jiao)多(duo)(duo),飛節多(duo)(duo)內靠。
品種性能
慶陽地(di)區是(shi)甘肅的(de)(de)重要農業區,耕(geng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)是(shi)當地(di)農業生產(chan)(chan)的(de)(de)重要役畜,耕(geng)、磨(mo)、拉、打等重活主(zhu)要是(shi)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)負擔。早勝牛(niu)(niu)(niu)力大持久,性情溫順。犍牛(niu)(niu)(niu)日(ri)耕(geng)地(di)5~6畝(mu),母(mu)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)泌乳(ru)期可達8~10個月(yue),最(zui)高日(ri)產(chan)(chan)奶4~6公(gong)(gong)斤。淘汰牛(niu)(niu)(niu)肥育后(hou)(hou)屠宰率5%,為役用(yong)兼用(yong)的(de)(de)品種。早勝牛(niu)(niu)(niu)兩(liang)歲以后(hou)(hou)開始(shi)配種。一(yi)年(nian)一(yi)胎者少,兩(liang)年(nian)一(yi)胎者居(ju)多,占65.8%。早勝牛(niu)(niu)(niu)的(de)(de)適應(ying)性較廣泛。引(yin)(yin)入甘肅中(zhong)部和西部數縣,其適應(ying)性較其他省份引(yin)(yin)入的(de)(de)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)為好(hao),顯示了耐粗、耐寒特性。改(gai)良的(de)(de)全省各地(di)小型黃牛(niu)(niu)(niu)很(hen)受(shou)歡(huan)迎。另外(wai)生長(chang)潛力也較大。成年(nian)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)平均體高(公(gong)(gong)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)142厘(li)米,母(mu)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)121厘(li)米),體重平均公(gong)(gong)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)666.39公(gong)(gong)斤,母(mu)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)326.32公(gong)(gong)斤,閹牛(niu)(niu)(niu)157.5公(gong)(gong)斤。
品種來源
“早勝(sheng)牛(niu)”是甘肅省慶(qing)陽市的(de)優(you)良地方(fang)品種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),發展歷(li)史悠久。據有關史料記載,從南北(bei)朝時北(bei)魏孝文帝元(yuan)宏太和(he)14年(nian)即公元(yuan)468年(nian)開始(shi),經當(dang)地群眾精心(xin)選種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)植紫花苜蓿舍(she)飼(si)喂養,逐步培育形成了體大(da)力強(qiang)的(de)早勝(sheng)牛(niu)。據寧縣(xian)縣(xian)志記載,從清(qing)同(tong)治年(nian)間起,當(dang)地群眾把本地培育的(de)牛(niu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)愛稱(cheng) “早勝(sheng)東牛(niu)”。
早勝牛全(quan)身(shen)毛色純一,身(shen)軀(qu)寬大、方正,臥息時(shi)四(si)肢緊抱于胸腹(fu)之(zhi)下(xia)。當地群眾稱贊早勝牛: “蘿卜角(jiao),升(sheng)子嘴, 棗(zao)紅色,柱子腿,四(si)蹄不(bu)露,兩頭(tou)齊”。
相關傳說
關(guan)于“早勝(sheng)牛”的(de)淵源(yuan),跟民間流傳(chuan)的(de)《狄仁(ren)杰(jie)(jie)騎青(qing)牛斬九龍》有(you)關(guan)。在686年(武則天垂拱二年),狄仁(ren)杰(jie)(jie)出任寧州(今甘肅寧縣、正寧一帶)刺(ci)史。狄仁(ren)杰(jie)(jie)在任期間,“撫和戎(rong)夏,內外相(xiang)安,人得安心(xin)”,郡(jun)人紛紛贊(zan)頌他的(de)德政,并(bing)勒(le)碑銘記(ji)。
傳說(shuo)狄(di)(di)仁杰(jie)(jie)在寧州(zhou)任(ren)刺史時(shi),這里有一(yi)個(ge)老(lao)龍(long)(long)和九(jiu)個(ge)龍(long)(long)子(zi),經常在川(chuan)河興妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)作怪,禍害(hai)百姓。每年二月二日(ri),為(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)抬頭(tou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)日(ri)子(zi),妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)一(yi)抬頭(tou)就要當任(ren)刺史送去一(yi)對童(tong)男童(tong)女吞食。寧州(zhou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)歷(li)任(ren)刺史都為(wei)(wei)此事發(fa)愁,但不(bu)敢違(wei)抗,不(bu)然要水漫(man)(man)寧州(zhou)。狄(di)(di)梁公到寧州(zhou)任(ren)職后,一(yi)心要為(wei)(wei)民滅災除(chu)害(hai),便買(mai)來了(le)秦川(chuan)青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛和寶劍(jian),準備與妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)奮(fen)戰。這年二月二日(ri)已到,妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)等候狄(di)(di)梁公送童(tong)男童(tong)女來,結果沒(mei)有等到。妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)一(yi)氣之下,帶(dai)上(shang)九(jiu)個(ge)龍(long)(long)子(zi)發(fa)來大水要淹寧州(zhou)城。半夜(ye)子(zi)時(shi),狄(di)(di)仁杰(jie)(jie)爬上(shang)城頭(tou)一(yi)看,洪水將要漫(man)(man)過城墻,吞沒(mei)全城。在這千鈞一(yi)發(fa)的(de)(de)(de)(de)危急時(shi)刻(ke),狄(di)(di)仁杰(jie)(jie)騎上(shang)青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛,手執寶劍(jian),躍(yue)入洪水,與妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)奮(fen)戰。青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛力大無窮,橫沖直撞,直奔妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long),妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)敵不(bu)過青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛,只得(de)逃(tao)跑。狄(di)(di)仁杰(jie)(jie)騎牛緊追不(bu)舍,妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)向東(dong)逃(tao)竄,青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛八縱(zong)上(shang)山(shan),追上(shang)了(le)老(lao)妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)和龍(long)(long)子(zi),狄(di)(di)仁杰(jie)(jie)揮劍(jian)斬(zhan)了(le)妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)和龍(long)(long)子(zi),為(wei)(wei)民除(chu)了(le)害(hai)。后來人(ren)們(men)為(wei)(wei)感謝(xie)狄(di)(di)仁杰(jie)(jie)斬(zhan)龍(long)(long)除(chu)害(hai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)恩德(de),便把相傳狄(di)(di)仁杰(jie)(jie)買(mai)青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方叫(jiao)青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛村,把青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛八縱(zong)上(shang)山(shan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方叫(jiao)八縱(zong)坡(po),把斬(zhan)龍(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方叫(jiao)九(jiu)龍(long)(long)川(chuan)。而青(qing)(qing)(qing)牛也因疲(pi)勞(lao)過度,在完(wan)成(cheng)使命后倒地(di)氣絕而亡。但它的(de)(de)(de)(de)精靈卻孕育出了(le)聞(wen)名遐邇的(de)(de)(de)(de)后裔,即以(yi)身高力大、形(xing)體俊(jun)美(mei)著稱(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)“早勝(sheng)東(dong)牛”,即后來的(de)(de)(de)(de)早勝(sheng)牛。