產地及環境
早(zao)勝牛原產在(zai)(zai)慶陽地區寧縣(xian)的早(zao)勝塬,地處(chu)隴東黃土高(gao)原,海拔1221.2米(mi),年(nian)(nian)均(jun)溫(wen)度9.1℃。年(nian)(nian)日照時數1935.7小時。無霜期160~180天。年(nian)(nian)降(jiang)雨量為576.8毫米(mi),年(nian)(nian)蒸發(fa)量為1496.2毫米(mi),雨量雖較充(chong)足,但多集中(zhong)在(zai)(zai)6~9月份,冬(dong)季(ji)干旱。產區沒有(you)放(fang)牧地,但有(you)種植(zhi)苜蓿、夏秋季(ji)青(qing)刈喂牛的習(xi)慣。
地理分布
早(zao)勝牛以寧縣(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)早(zao)勝、良平、平子(zi)和中村四個(ge)鄉(xiang)牛只最優。鄰近正寧縣(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)宮河塬(yuan)(yuan)、慶陽縣(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)董志塬(yuan)(yuan)、鎮塬(yuan)(yuan)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)屯(tun)字塬(yuan)(yuan)等地(di)均(jun)有分布(bu)。
品種特征
早勝牛(niu)(niu)(niu)體質結(jie)實(shi)、緊湊,骨(gu)骼較(jiao)粗(cu),肌(ji)肉發育(yu)較(jiao)好,為(wei)甘肅(su)黃牛(niu)(niu)(niu)中(zhong)體格最大者。體型外(wai)貌與秦川牛(niu)(niu)(niu)相似。被毛以紅色(se)和紫(zi)色(se)為(wei)主(zhu)。角多(duo)為(wei)蠟黃和肉色(se),蹄為(wei)紫(zi)色(se)和古(gu)銅色(se)。公母(mu)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)多(duo)有角,扁圓形,較(jiao)短小。微向后彎曲(qu),形如短粗(cu)蘿卜(bu),俗(su)稱“蘿卜(bu)角”。也有部(bu)分牛(niu)(niu)(niu)的角短而鈍(dun),稱“疙(ge)瘩角”。還(huan)有部(bu)分牛(niu)(niu)(niu)的角為(wei)可搖(yao)動的軟角,稱“鈴鈴角”。頭大小適中(zhong),眼(yan)眶突出(chu),眼(yan)大有神,額寬(kuan)面平(ping)(ping),口方正,公牛(niu)(niu)(niu)頭高(gao)揚(yang),貌雄偉,頸短粗(cu),肩峰高(gao)而寬(kuan)厚。母(mu)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)頸細薄。鬐甲較(jiao)高(gao)較(jiao)窄但(dan)平(ping)(ping)緩。背平(ping)(ping)直較(jiao)寬(kuan)。前胸寬(kuan)闊,胸骨(gu)隆起,胸深(shen)肋長,腹部(bu)緊湊。四肢粗(cu)壯,關節粗(cu)大,蹄堅實(shi)。外(wai)貌缺點(dian)是后軀發育(yu)較(jiao)差,尖斜尻較(jiao)多(duo),飛(fei)節多(duo)內靠(kao)。
品種性能
慶陽地(di)區是甘肅(su)的(de)重要(yao)農業區,耕(geng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)是當(dang)地(di)農業生產的(de)重要(yao)役畜(chu),耕(geng)、磨、拉、打等重活主要(yao)是牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)負擔(dan)。早(zao)勝(sheng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)力大持久(jiu),性(xing)(xing)情(qing)溫(wen)順(shun)。犍牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)日耕(geng)地(di)5~6畝,母牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)泌乳期(qi)可(ke)達(da)8~10個月,最高日產奶4~6公(gong)(gong)斤(jin)(jin)。淘汰牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)肥育后屠宰率5%,為役用兼用的(de)品種。早(zao)勝(sheng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)兩(liang)(liang)歲以后開始(shi)配種。一(yi)年一(yi)胎(tai)者少(shao),兩(liang)(liang)年一(yi)胎(tai)者居多,占65.8%。早(zao)勝(sheng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)的(de)適應(ying)性(xing)(xing)較廣泛。引入甘肅(su)中部和西部數縣,其(qi)適應(ying)性(xing)(xing)較其(qi)他省份(fen)引入的(de)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)為好(hao),顯示了耐粗、耐寒特性(xing)(xing)。改良(liang)的(de)全省各地(di)小型(xing)黃牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)很受歡迎。另外生長潛(qian)力也較大。成(cheng)年牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)平均體高(公(gong)(gong)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)142厘米,母牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)121厘米),體重平均公(gong)(gong)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)666.39公(gong)(gong)斤(jin)(jin),母牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)326.32公(gong)(gong)斤(jin)(jin),閹牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)157.5公(gong)(gong)斤(jin)(jin)。
品種來源
“早(zao)勝牛”是甘肅省慶陽市的優良地方(fang)品種(zhong),發(fa)展歷史悠(you)久。據(ju)有關史料(liao)記(ji)載(zai),從南(nan)北(bei)朝(chao)時北(bei)魏(wei)孝文(wen)帝元(yuan)宏太和14年(nian)即公(gong)元(yuan)468年(nian)開始,經當地群(qun)眾精心(xin)選種(zhong),種(zhong)植紫花苜蓿舍(she)飼喂養(yang),逐步培育形成了體大(da)力(li)強的早(zao)勝牛。據(ju)寧縣(xian)縣(xian)志記(ji)載(zai),從清同治年(nian)間起,當地群(qun)眾把本地培育的牛種(zhong)愛(ai)稱 “早(zao)勝東牛”。
早(zao)勝牛(niu)全身毛色純(chun)一,身軀(qu)寬大、方正,臥息時四肢緊抱(bao)于胸腹之下。當地群眾稱贊早(zao)勝牛(niu): “蘿卜角,升子(zi)嘴, 棗紅色,柱子(zi)腿,四蹄不露(lu),兩頭(tou)齊”。
相關傳說
關于“早勝牛”的淵源(yuan),跟民(min)間流傳的《狄仁(ren)杰(jie)騎青牛斬九(jiu)龍》有關。在686年(武則天垂拱二年),狄仁(ren)杰(jie)出任(ren)寧(ning)州(今甘肅寧(ning)縣、正寧(ning)一帶)刺史。狄仁(ren)杰(jie)在任(ren)期間,“撫(fu)和戎夏,內外相安(an),人(ren)得安(an)心”,郡人(ren)紛(fen)(fen)紛(fen)(fen)贊頌他的德(de)政,并勒碑銘記。
傳說狄(di)(di)仁(ren)杰在(zai)寧(ning)州任刺(ci)史(shi)時(shi),這(zhe)里(li)有一(yi)(yi)個老龍(long)(long)(long)和(he)九個龍(long)(long)(long)子(zi)(zi),經常(chang)在(zai)川河興妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)作怪,禍(huo)害百姓。每年(nian)二月(yue)二日(ri),為(wei)(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)抬頭的日(ri)子(zi)(zi),妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)抬頭就要(yao)當任刺(ci)史(shi)送去一(yi)(yi)對童(tong)男童(tong)女吞食。寧(ning)州的歷任刺(ci)史(shi)都為(wei)(wei)(wei)此事發愁,但不(bu)敢違抗,不(bu)然要(yao)水(shui)漫寧(ning)州。狄(di)(di)梁(liang)公到寧(ning)州任職后,一(yi)(yi)心要(yao)為(wei)(wei)(wei)民(min)滅災除害,便買來(lai)(lai)了(le)(le)秦川青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu)和(he)寶劍(jian),準備與(yu)妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)奮(fen)(fen)戰。這(zhe)年(nian)二月(yue)二日(ri)已到,妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)等候(hou)狄(di)(di)梁(liang)公送童(tong)男童(tong)女來(lai)(lai),結果(guo)沒有等到。妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)氣之下(xia),帶上(shang)九個龍(long)(long)(long)子(zi)(zi)發來(lai)(lai)大水(shui)要(yao)淹寧(ning)州城。半夜子(zi)(zi)時(shi),狄(di)(di)仁(ren)杰爬上(shang)城頭一(yi)(yi)看,洪(hong)(hong)水(shui)將要(yao)漫過城墻,吞沒全城。在(zai)這(zhe)千鈞一(yi)(yi)發的危急時(shi)刻(ke),狄(di)(di)仁(ren)杰騎上(shang)青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu),手執寶劍(jian),躍入(ru)洪(hong)(hong)水(shui),與(yu)妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)奮(fen)(fen)戰。青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu)力(li)(li)大無窮,橫(heng)沖直(zhi)撞,直(zhi)奔妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long),妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)敵(di)不(bu)過青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu),只得逃跑。狄(di)(di)仁(ren)杰騎牛(niu)(niu)緊(jin)追不(bu)舍,妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)向東(dong)逃竄(cuan),青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu)八(ba)縱上(shang)山(shan),追上(shang)了(le)(le)老妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)和(he)龍(long)(long)(long)子(zi)(zi),狄(di)(di)仁(ren)杰揮劍(jian)斬(zhan)了(le)(le)妖(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)和(he)龍(long)(long)(long)子(zi)(zi),為(wei)(wei)(wei)民(min)除了(le)(le)害。后來(lai)(lai)人們為(wei)(wei)(wei)感謝狄(di)(di)仁(ren)杰斬(zhan)龍(long)(long)(long)除害的恩德(de),便把(ba)(ba)相傳狄(di)(di)仁(ren)杰買青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu)的地(di)方叫青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu)村,把(ba)(ba)青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu)八(ba)縱上(shang)山(shan)的地(di)方叫八(ba)縱坡(po),把(ba)(ba)斬(zhan)龍(long)(long)(long)的地(di)方叫九龍(long)(long)(long)川。而青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)牛(niu)(niu)也因疲(pi)勞過度,在(zai)完成使(shi)命后倒(dao)地(di)氣絕而亡(wang)。但它的精(jing)靈卻孕(yun)育(yu)出了(le)(le)聞(wen)名(ming)遐邇的后裔,即以身高(gao)力(li)(li)大、形體俊美著(zhu)稱的“早勝東(dong)牛(niu)(niu)”,即后來(lai)(lai)的早勝牛(niu)(niu)。