Karakul

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For other uses, see Karakul (disambiguation).

The Karakul or QaraQul (Persian: قراقل ; from Karakul, a village in Uzbekistan) is a breed of domesticated sheep. It originated in Central Asia, and some archaeological evidence points to it being bred there continuously since 1400 BC. Hailing from the desert regions of Central Asia, the Karakul is renowned for its ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions. Karakul are used in Central Asia for their meat, milk and fat. The Karakul's most important feature, however, is its prized pelt, from which karakul wool comes. It is taken directly from the fetus by first slaying the pregnant sheep. The pelts of Karakul lambs are more silky than furry. Many adults are double coated and the coarse guard hair must be separated from the undercoat. Karakul is relatively coarse fiber used for outer garment and for felting. This wool is also used to make high-end hats and carpets and hand-woven rugs in its native lands. Dark colors are dominant and lambs often darken in color as they age.