Herdsmen in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have begun their annual sheep shearing, a seasonal task that not only keeps the animals healthy through the summer but also brings herders a bumper income.
In Ordos City, a global hub for cashmere production in north China's Inner Mongolia, a total of 7 million cashmere goats have been raised this year, with an estimated cashmere output of 3,500 tons.
"The average price of one kilogram of cashmere has reached around 280 yuan (about 41.17 U.S. dollars), with the highest price hitting 340 yuan. In our town, the total cashmere output this year is about 100 tons, bringing a total income of approximately 30 million yuan to local residents," said Wang Shengyun, director of the comprehensive support and rural development center of Subuerga Town of Ejin Horo Banner in Ordos.
In Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, herdsmen have also been busy shearing their sheep in recent days.
"Our family raises more than 230 goats. We've started shearing them for cashmere, yielding over 70 kilograms, with an income of around 30,000 yuan," said a local villager.
Herdermen embrace sheep shearing season in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang
