Rural revitalization hinges on industrial development. In Ying'airike Township, Hetian County of Hotan Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang, local residents have leveraged regional resources to develop specialty livestock farming tailored to local conditions. The once obscure Dolan sheep have now become a hot commodity for villagers to increase their incomes and achieve prosperity, emerging as a new calling card for the development of local characteristic industries and injecting strong impetus into rural revitalization.

Photo shows Dolan sheep eat feed at a farmer's house.

On March 29, 2026, in the sheep pen of Abulimiti Aikemu, a breeder in Yingyeer Village, Ying'airike Township, Hetian County, twelve Dolan sheep, each with a robust physique, glossy coats, and vigorous strides, were seen. As an excellent breed listed in the "National Catalogue of Genetic Resources Protection for Livestock and Poultry," these Dolan sheep not only adapt well to Hotan's arid climate, are tolerant to coarse feed, and have strong disease resistance, but also have become highly sought-after in the market due to their rapid growth and superior meat quality, commanding high prices.

Photo shows Abulimiti Aikemu, the breeder, holds one of his Dolan sheep.

Abulimiti Aikemu said, "These sheep are all very lively. The most expensive one can sell for 250,000 yuan (about 36,325 U.S. dollars), while the cheapest ones still fetch 50,000 to 60,000 yuan (about 7,265 to 8,718 U.S. dollars). Last year alone, I earned around 500,000 yuan (about 72,650 U.S. dollars) from raising Dolan sheep, something I couldn't have even dreamed of before."

Abulimiti Aikemu's path to prosperity began with a choice he made in 2021. Having been deeply involved in the livestock farming sector for many years, he had always sought a specialty breed that suited the local climate and offered outstanding benefits. By chance, he learned that some farmers in Bageqi Town were raising eight Dolan sheep, and their excellent breed characteristics immediately caught his attention. He promptly decided to purchase all eight sheep, embarking on his journey of sheep farming.

Abulimiti Aikemu said, "I used to raise other breeds of sheep, but the benefits were just average. After learning about Dolan sheep, I realized they were particularly well-suited to our climate here, with rapid growth and good meat quality, and great market potential. At that moment, I was determined to raise Dolan sheep well."

Photo shows a breeder prepares feed for Dolan sheep.

From initially introducing a small number of sheep for trial farming to gradually mastering the buying and selling patterns, Abulimiti Aikemu now has twelve high-quality Dolan sheep in his pen. Over the past four years, he has been hands-on in every aspect, from pen construction and feed formulation to disease prevention and breed selection, diligently researching breeding techniques and cultivating high-quality Dolan sheep with practical effort and patience. After news spread that "one sheep can sell for 250,000 yuan (about 36,325 U.S. dollars)," he became a "celebrity" in the breeding circle, with fellow villagers frequently coming to seek his advice.

Maitinuer Zhayiti, a villager from Qiamuguluk Village, Ying'airike Township, Hetian County, said, "We're all envious that Abulimiti Aikemu has become wealthy through raising Dolan sheep. We often come to him for advice, and he patiently teaches us everything from seed selection to feeding and sales, helping us solve problems."

Abulimiti Aikemu said, "The policies of the Party and the state are so good, giving us the opportunity to develop specialty livestock farming. It's not enough for just me to become wealthy. I hope to inspire more fellow villagers to raise Dolan sheep together, so that we can all increase our incomes and achieve prosperity, making Dolan sheep industry even bigger and stronger."

(The Media Convergence Center of Hetian County, Reporter Han Li, Correspondent Yilihemujiang Aili)