The livestock industry of Kazakhstan has a historical basis, especially with sheep (Ovis aries), which were adapted over centuries to suit the local terrains and climates of the country, which are diverse and differ greatly. Sheep have become one of the pillars in the livestock industry in Kazakhstan because of its multiple benefits including production of meat and wool. Multiple breeds of sheep, such as fat-tailed coarse-wooled, fine-wool, and mutton-wool semi-coarse, are significant in the production of meat, wool, and fat among the native types of sheep. This review provides the historical data of the domestication and subsequent evolution of sheep in Kazakhstan. The hereditary conditions that are recorded in certain breeds and their breeding and conservation implications are discussed in this review, with the significance of genetic resources for viable sheep production in Central Asia.

To Cite This Article: Khamzin K, Omarova K, Smagulov D, Orkara S, Beken A, Kozhayeva A, Khamzina A, Yesengaliyev K and Sharapatov T, 2026. Kazakh sheep review: history, breeds, genetic characteristics, important hereditary diseases and disorders. Pak Vet J, 46(3): 493-502. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.039