中世纪英国绵羊饲养中的影响因素论析

Analysis on the Influencing Factors of Sheep Breeding in Medieval England

绵羊是人类最早驯化的牲畜之一,中世纪英国曾大规模饲养。最初绵羊为耕地提供粪肥,其自身的羊肉、羊奶、羊毛和毛皮也能为饲养者提供部分生活必需品。之后随着市场的勃兴,绵羊的商业价值显现,进而被大规模饲养。中世纪英国绵羊的饲养受到多种因素的影响,如繁殖与饲养中的挑选淘汰、饲料供给与羊圈的修建、疾病的医治与预防、劳动力的投入与管理的精细组织以及市场需求的变化等等。领主和中等以上农户注意到了上述影响因素并采取了相应举措,故保证绵羊得到了较好的饲养。

Sheep is one of the earliest domesticated animals, medieval England had large-scale breed- ing. Sheep initially provided manure for the arable land, and its own meat, milk, wool and pelt also provided some of the necessities for the breeder. With the market boomed, the commercial value of the sheep became apparent, and the sheep were kept on a large scale. The feeding of medieval English sheep was influenced by many factors, such as the culling of breeding and feeding, the supply of feed and the construction of sheepcotes, the treatment and prevention of disease, the fine organization of labor input and management, and the change of market demand. The above factors and the corresponding measures have been taken into account by the lords and the middle peasant households, so that the sheep can be reared well.