志(zhi)丹羊(yang)肉,盛(sheng)名已久,自古(gu)有“山(shan)(shan)(shan)保安,牛羊(yang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”之(zhi)說。早在春(chun)秋戰國時期,志(zhi)丹就是狄戎等少數民(min)族的游牧(mu)(mu)區,到北宋(song),牧(mu)(mu)業已很(hen)(hen)發(fa)達。宋(song)廷曾令保安軍榷場每年(nian)(nian)貢羊(yang)2萬只。清(qing)代縣(xian)訓導(dao)武東旭《山(shan)(shan)(shan)城四時詩(shi)》云(yun):“山(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)夏日好風光,火(huo)傘凌空亦不妨。款客何愁人帶熱,當窗詎東草迎涼。雖無竹簟(dian)眠能穩,即少荷筒飲自香。惟有癡蠅揮(hui)不盡,腥膻(shan)易(yi)惹是牛羊(yang)。”《保安縣(xian)志(zhi)略(lve)》載,清(qing)同治后期,“羊(yang)子為(wei)最多,牛驢(lv)次之(zhi),騾馬很(hen)(hen)少”。1949年(nian)(nian),全(quan)縣(xian)羊(yang)子約7萬只,其中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)近5萬只。1955年(nian)(nian)達14萬只,其中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)10余萬只。1965年(nian)(nian)達20萬只,其中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)近17萬只。至1997年(nian)(nian)羊(yang)子共計25萬只,其中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)23萬只,當年(nian)(nian)出欄羊(yang)子9萬只,其中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)8.3萬只。
志丹縣位(wei)于延(yan)安市西北(bei)部,屬(shu)黃土高(gao)原丘陵溝(gou)壑區(qu)。從(cong)全(quan)國(guo)山(shan)(shan)羊分布區(qu)域劃分,位(wei)于農牧(mu)交錯區(qu),也是子午嶺山(shan)(shan)羊繁衍(yan)適生(sheng)區(qu)。境內土地廣闊,牧(mu)草資源豐(feng)富,養羊業歷史悠久,處于全(quan)縣主導產業第(di)一(yi)位(wei)。
全縣現有牧草(cao)228萬(wan)畝(mu),其中人工種草(cao)6.5萬(wan)畝(mu),大部(bu)分處(chu)于海拔(ba)1093一1600米左右,以多(duo)年生禾(he)本科的草(cao)本植(zhi)物(wu)為主,其次為菊科、豆科等(deng)。有針茅、冰草(cao)、芨芨草(cao)、蒿(hao)類、虎(hu)榛、黃薔薇(wei)、百里(li)香、檸條、狼牙刺等(deng)優良牧草(cao)。
志丹羊(yang)(yang)(yang)子(zi)有(you)山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)、綿羊(yang)(yang)(yang)兩種。食(shi)用以(yi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)為(wei)主,山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)有(you)陜北黑山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)、奶山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)和遼(liao)寧白絨山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)及其(qi)雜(za)交改良后代等(deng)。羊(yang)(yang)(yang)肉年產量均(jun)在(zai)千噸(dun)以(yi)上。1997年羊(yang)(yang)(yang)肉產量為(wei)1160噸(dun),其(qi)中山(shan)(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)肉達(da)1080噸(dun),居全市第二(er)。
志丹羊(yang)肉的吃法有很(hen)多,其(qi)中紅燒羊(yang)肉、羊(yang)雜(za)湯、羊(yang)肉出鍋等是(shi)當(dang)地尤其(qi)受(shou)歡(huan)迎的特色做法。