There are two types of mules. The species produced by the mating of a male donkey and a female horse is called a horse mule. The species produced by the mating of a male horse and a female donkey is called a donkey mule. They are both referred to as mules. As a cross between a horse and a donkey, the donkey has only 31 pairs of chromosomes, while the horse has 32 pairs. In this combination, 31 or 32 pairs will appear during fertilization. The mule has 63 chromosomes. In this case, the genes shared by the two species will naturally be combined, making the mule breed very strong, but losing the ability to reproduce.
Mule breeding has a long history in our country. However, it has gone through a long period of time before it has been widely used in agricultural production as a farm animal. According to Gu Yanwu in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, he recorded in his "Rizhilu": "Since the Qin Dynasty and above, it is said that the speechless donkey exists, but it is not a common animal in people's homes."
In ancient times, farmers in mainland my country did not have donkeys, and certainly no mules. The original mules came from the northwest minority areas. According to the research of ancient agriculturists, the introduction of mules from the frontier to the inland began about 3,000 years ago during the Shangtang era. At that time, the ethnic minorities in the northwest used mules as "tributes" and presented them to the emperor as precious exotic animals. By the end of the Warring States Period, although there were more mules than before, they were still royal playthings.
Lu Jia's "Xinyu" in the Han Dynasty said: "Donkeys, mules, camels, corals, emeralds... were born in water and settled in the right place." It can be seen from this that in the early Han Dynasty, the value of mules was comparable to that of corals and the like. The treasures are comparable.
After the Han Dynasty, there were more mules in the interior, but people had not yet tapped into their production capacity. It was not until the Northern and Southern Dynasties that the northwest ethnic minorities brought a large number of donkeys and mules. People in the inland agricultural areas gradually mastered the methods and breeding knowledge of horses and donkeys or donkeys and horses to breed mules, and then they were classified as livestock such as Equus and were widely used. Used for farming and transportation. In the Tang Dynasty, pastures for breeding donkeys and mules were set up in Shaanxi. The footprints of mules spread almost all over the country.
you may also like
Male snow sheep live alone or in small groups, while females and cubs form groups. They are active during the day and eat various plants growing in the mountains, such as grass, shrubs and moss. They move slowly but steadily, and are very good at climbing and jumping between cliffs. As long as there...
The coldest animals on Earth: Exploring the miracle of survival in extreme cold environmentsIn the polar and cold regions of the Earth, temperatures can drop to incredible Tens of degrees below zero, or even lower. However, some animals survive in these extreme environments, demonstrating the incred...
Argali sheep (scientific name Ovis ammon), also known as big-headed sheep and bighorn sheep in ancient times, is a wild sheep that lives on the Central Asian plateau and is also the largest sheep. According to different distribution areas, it can be divided into 9 subspecies....
A lion is a wild animal and is generally considered a very dangerous animal. Taming a lion requires specialized knowledge and skill and is not recommended or encouraged in most situations. However, here is a general introduction on how to tame a lion:General principles for taming a lion:Respect natu...
When we think of the largest creatures ever to walk the Earth, dinosaurs, particularly the sauropods, dominate the list. These herbivorous giants from the Mesozoic era, known for their enormous size, long necks, and massive tails, included some of the largest land animals ever known. Let's explo...
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species (or IUCN Red List, referred to as the Red Book) was compiled in 1963 and is the most comprehensive list of the current conservation status of animal and plant species in the world. This list is compiled and main...
The desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops) has become an increasingly popular choice for exotic pet owners due to its unique appearance and relatively low maintenance. This small amphibian, native to the deserts of southern Africa, is known for its adorable, round body and its signature squeaky sound....
When it comes to marine creatures, lionfish and stonefish are often compared for their unique adaptations and dangers. Both species thrive in tropical waters but exhibit distinct characteristics that make them fascinating subjects for study. Let's delve into the details.OverviewFeatureLionfishSt...
Email: jsset#163.com (change # to @) Please indicate your purpose of visit! Guangdong ICP No. 2022053326 XML| map| Chinese
