產地及環境
早(zao)勝(sheng)牛(niu)原(yuan)產(chan)在慶陽地區寧(ning)縣的早(zao)勝(sheng)塬,地處隴(long)東黃土高原(yuan),海拔(ba)1221.2米(mi),年(nian)均(jun)溫度(du)9.1℃。年(nian)日照時數1935.7小時。無霜期160~180天。年(nian)降雨(yu)量(liang)為576.8毫(hao)米(mi),年(nian)蒸發量(liang)為1496.2毫(hao)米(mi),雨(yu)量(liang)雖較充足,但多集中在6~9月份,冬季干旱。產(chan)區沒有(you)放牧地,但有(you)種植苜(mu)蓿、夏秋(qiu)季青刈喂(wei)牛(niu)的習慣。
地理分布
早勝牛以(yi)寧縣(xian)(xian)的早勝、良平、平子和中村四個鄉(xiang)牛只最優。鄰近正寧縣(xian)(xian)的宮河塬、慶陽縣(xian)(xian)的董志(zhi)塬、鎮塬縣(xian)(xian)屯(tun)字塬等地均有分布。
品種特征
早勝牛(niu)(niu)(niu)體質結實、緊湊(cou),骨骼(ge)較(jiao)(jiao)粗(cu),肌肉發育(yu)(yu)較(jiao)(jiao)好,為(wei)甘(gan)肅黃牛(niu)(niu)(niu)中(zhong)體格(ge)最大(da)者(zhe)。體型外貌(mao)與秦(qin)川牛(niu)(niu)(niu)相似(si)。被毛以紅色和(he)紫(zi)(zi)色為(wei)主。角多(duo)為(wei)蠟黃和(he)肉色,蹄為(wei)紫(zi)(zi)色和(he)古(gu)銅色。公母(mu)(mu)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)多(duo)有(you)(you)(you)角,扁圓形,較(jiao)(jiao)短小。微向后(hou)彎曲,形如短粗(cu)蘿卜(bu),俗稱(cheng)“蘿卜(bu)角”。也(ye)有(you)(you)(you)部分牛(niu)(niu)(niu)的角短而鈍,稱(cheng)“疙瘩(da)角”。還有(you)(you)(you)部分牛(niu)(niu)(niu)的角為(wei)可搖動的軟角,稱(cheng)“鈴鈴角”。頭(tou)大(da)小適中(zhong),眼眶突出,眼大(da)有(you)(you)(you)神,額寬(kuan)面(mian)平,口方(fang)正,公牛(niu)(niu)(niu)頭(tou)高揚,貌(mao)雄偉,頸短粗(cu),肩峰高而寬(kuan)厚。母(mu)(mu)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)頸細薄。鬐甲較(jiao)(jiao)高較(jiao)(jiao)窄但(dan)平緩。背(bei)平直較(jiao)(jiao)寬(kuan)。前(qian)胸(xiong)寬(kuan)闊,胸(xiong)骨隆起,胸(xiong)深肋長,腹部緊湊(cou)。四(si)肢(zhi)粗(cu)壯,關節粗(cu)大(da),蹄堅實。外貌(mao)缺點是(shi)后(hou)軀發育(yu)(yu)較(jiao)(jiao)差,尖斜尻較(jiao)(jiao)多(duo),飛節多(duo)內靠。
品種性能
慶陽(yang)地(di)(di)區是甘肅(su)的重要(yao)農(nong)業(ye)區,耕(geng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)是當地(di)(di)農(nong)業(ye)生產(chan)的重要(yao)役(yi)畜,耕(geng)、磨、拉(la)、打(da)等重活主要(yao)是牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)負擔。早(zao)勝(sheng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)力大持久,性情(qing)溫順。犍牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)日(ri)耕(geng)地(di)(di)5~6畝,母牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)泌乳(ru)期可達(da)8~10個月,最高日(ri)產(chan)奶4~6公(gong)(gong)斤(jin)。淘汰牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)肥(fei)育后(hou)屠宰(zai)率5%,為役(yi)用兼用的品種。早(zao)勝(sheng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)兩歲以后(hou)開始(shi)配種。一(yi)年一(yi)胎者(zhe)少,兩年一(yi)胎者(zhe)居多,占65.8%。早(zao)勝(sheng)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)的適應性較廣泛。引入甘肅(su)中(zhong)部和西部數(shu)縣,其(qi)適應性較其(qi)他(ta)省份(fen)引入的牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)為好(hao),顯示(shi)了耐粗、耐寒特性。改良的全省各地(di)(di)小型黃牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)很受歡迎。另外生長潛力也(ye)較大。成年牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)平均體高(公(gong)(gong)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)142厘(li)米,母牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)121厘(li)米),體重平均公(gong)(gong)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)666.39公(gong)(gong)斤(jin),母牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)326.32公(gong)(gong)斤(jin),閹牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)157.5公(gong)(gong)斤(jin)。
品種來源
“早勝牛(niu)”是甘肅省慶陽市的(de)(de)優良(liang)地(di)(di)(di)方品(pin)種(zhong),發(fa)展歷史(shi)悠久(jiu)。據(ju)有(you)關史(shi)料記(ji)載(zai)(zai),從南北(bei)朝(chao)時(shi)北(bei)魏孝文(wen)帝元(yuan)宏太和(he)14年即公元(yuan)468年開(kai)始,經當地(di)(di)(di)群眾(zhong)精(jing)心(xin)選(xuan)種(zhong),種(zhong)植紫花(hua)苜蓿舍飼喂(wei)養,逐步培(pei)育形(xing)成了體大(da)力強的(de)(de)早勝牛(niu)。據(ju)寧縣縣志記(ji)載(zai)(zai),從清同治(zhi)年間起,當地(di)(di)(di)群眾(zhong)把本地(di)(di)(di)培(pei)育的(de)(de)牛(niu)種(zhong)愛稱(cheng) “早勝東牛(niu)”。
早勝牛全身毛色純一,身軀寬大、方正,臥(wo)息(xi)時(shi)四(si)肢(zhi)緊抱于胸腹之下。當(dang)地(di)群眾稱贊早勝牛: “蘿卜角(jiao),升子(zi)嘴, 棗紅色,柱子(zi)腿,四(si)蹄(ti)不露,兩(liang)頭齊”。
相關傳說
關于(yu)“早(zao)勝牛(niu)”的淵源,跟民(min)間流傳的《狄仁杰(jie)騎青牛(niu)斬(zhan)九(jiu)龍(long)》有關。在(zai)686年(武(wu)則天垂拱二年),狄仁杰(jie)出任(ren)寧(ning)州(今(jin)甘肅寧(ning)縣、正寧(ning)一帶(dai))刺(ci)史。狄仁杰(jie)在(zai)任(ren)期間,“撫和戎夏,內外相安(an),人得(de)安(an)心”,郡人紛(fen)紛(fen)贊頌他的德(de)政,并勒碑銘記(ji)。
傳(chuan)說狄(di)(di)(di)仁(ren)杰(jie)在(zai)寧州(zhou)任(ren)(ren)刺(ci)史(shi)時(shi),這里有(you)一個(ge)老(lao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)和九個(ge)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)子,經常(chang)在(zai)川河興(xing)妖(yao)(yao)作怪(guai),禍(huo)害百姓。每年二月二日,為(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)抬頭的日子,妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)一抬頭就要(yao)當(dang)任(ren)(ren)刺(ci)史(shi)送去一對童男童女吞(tun)食(shi)。寧州(zhou)的歷任(ren)(ren)刺(ci)史(shi)都為(wei)此事發(fa)愁,但不(bu)敢(gan)違抗,不(bu)然(ran)要(yao)水漫寧州(zhou)。狄(di)(di)(di)梁(liang)(liang)公到(dao)(dao)寧州(zhou)任(ren)(ren)職(zhi)后(hou)(hou),一心(xin)要(yao)為(wei)民滅災(zai)除(chu)害,便買(mai)來了(le)秦川青牛(niu)和寶(bao)劍(jian),準備與妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)奮(fen)戰。這年二月二日已到(dao)(dao),妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)等(deng)候狄(di)(di)(di)梁(liang)(liang)公送童男童女來,結果沒(mei)有(you)等(deng)到(dao)(dao)。妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)一氣之下,帶(dai)上九個(ge)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)子發(fa)來大水要(yao)淹寧州(zhou)城。半夜子時(shi),狄(di)(di)(di)仁(ren)杰(jie)爬上城頭一看,洪(hong)水將(jiang)要(yao)漫過城墻,吞(tun)沒(mei)全城。在(zai)這千鈞一發(fa)的危(wei)急時(shi)刻(ke),狄(di)(di)(di)仁(ren)杰(jie)騎(qi)上青牛(niu),手執寶(bao)劍(jian),躍入(ru)洪(hong)水,與妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)奮(fen)戰。青牛(niu)力大無窮,橫沖直撞,直奔妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)敵不(bu)過青牛(niu),只得(de)逃跑。狄(di)(di)(di)仁(ren)杰(jie)騎(qi)牛(niu)緊追(zhui)不(bu)舍,妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)向(xiang)東逃竄,青牛(niu)八(ba)(ba)縱上山,追(zhui)上了(le)老(lao)妖(yao)(yao)和龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)子,狄(di)(di)(di)仁(ren)杰(jie)揮劍(jian)斬了(le)妖(yao)(yao)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)和龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)子,為(wei)民除(chu)了(le)害。后(hou)(hou)來人們為(wei)感謝狄(di)(di)(di)仁(ren)杰(jie)斬龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)除(chu)害的恩德,便把相傳(chuan)狄(di)(di)(di)仁(ren)杰(jie)買(mai)青牛(niu)的地方叫青牛(niu)村,把青牛(niu)八(ba)(ba)縱上山的地方叫八(ba)(ba)縱坡(po),把斬龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)的地方叫九龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)川。而青牛(niu)也因疲勞過度,在(zai)完成使命(ming)后(hou)(hou)倒地氣絕而亡。但它的精靈(ling)卻孕育出了(le)聞(wen)名遐邇的后(hou)(hou)裔,即(ji)以身高力大、形體俊(jun)美(mei)著稱的“早勝(sheng)東牛(niu)”,即(ji)后(hou)(hou)來的早勝(sheng)牛(niu)。