Kazakh shepherd

Shardarinskoe Reservoir, located on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, was created about fifty years ago for irrigation agriculture Maktaaral area.



Allied times when cotton sown on a large scale, the locals called golden for the area. Now, every family continues to have a few acres of land for cotton, which is treated individually or family-friendly community. Many villagers gave it up, thinking more profitable to raise cattle.

Due to the construction of the road Zhetysai - Shardara, which will connect the two districts shorter and convenient way, the water blocked by dams. And a large area of ​​the reservoir, flooded with water before, turned into temporary pasture for pastoralists with small flocks of sheep and goats.



45-year-old shepherd Jenis works for two years. In his herd of about 800 sheep and goats, is the property of the two hosts. According to Shepherd, one of them is rarely interested in their living property, but the second is constantly keeps in touch with Jenis.

He tries conscientious attitude to their work, and the owners appreciate it:

- Most herders can sell or slaughter their sheep for meat for themselves or overlook and leave the sick sheep, and attributed to the lack of jackals and wolves.

Food, water, cigarettes and all that is needed, Zhenis bring in a day. If delays occur, the most rapidly running out of water. Then you have to draw water from the reservoir for drinking. But it is not safe, then this water, at a minimum, a stomach ache.



Jenis earns 40,000 tenge per month





C the other end are the neighboring sheep herd Jenis ensures that the animals are not mixed:

- Working Shepherd almost around the clock, there are only short breaks to rest. Sheep are grazed before dawn and before dinner. After this three-hour rest. And then I drove them back to the pasture. And so on until sunset. At two o'clock in the morning I get up to see if they are gone, driven home again flock.









Today is very hot - 52 degrees, and even got used to the heat Jenis not feel very well, his shirt soaked through. Midday, he was relieved drives panting flock under the trees and preparing for the long-awaited vacation.



Usually shepherd sites used yurts, but Zhenis, like the other local shepherds, wagon wheels. It is convenient that at any time it can be driven to another location.



Jenis preparing dinner. An hour later he makes a tablecloth, cake, pasta and sooty kettle. Sheepishly says that sugar is ended, and the master something is delayed, and therefore we need to save water. Above his head the sun bakes, buzzing flies and three steps is a sick sheep. Plaintive bleat two tiny newborn lamb. While the herd to let them dangerous - if repulse them immediately zagryzut jackals.

Jenis pours tea and says that he often gets tired and does not prepare dinner, cake and limited ayran.



Sick sheep suddenly starts to tinker, kicking up dust. Jenis drags her to the other side of the trailer. She is weakened. Shepherd calls his master and says she does not move and it is necessary to cut more, it is too late. And for persuasiveness adds that as soon as the sheep's head falls to the ground, the animal is no longer a tenant. Posomnevatsya bit, the host gives the nod to the fact that to kill it. Jenis asks him that he stopped as soon as possible for the meat.





When you have finished negotiations Jenis again transformed into a gracious host. He says that in his youth he worked two years in Almaty, there are a few learned Russian and knows how people live in the capital.

In fact, the owner of the sheep said to leave the meat himself, he was not sorry, but once Jenis not eat as much and the meat will be lost. One could, of course, cool salt and hang on the crossbar of the trailer, but as luck would have it, and salt over. Too bad that his family lives 300 miles away, and then handed over to the son of the excess meat.

Once a month, he is given a short break for a few days. Soon he must go home - it's time to next watering cotton. At home, he washed in the bath, does all the work and then go to work.

He has a cotton field in three hectares, with relatives, he treats their fields, and then they help him. And in the fall get good money. He would be enough, but one of the sons Zhenis worked in Kyzylorda and there fell ill. Now he is treated in the hospital, and all that makes Jenis, goes for his treatment.



After taking a rest, it is taken as a sheep. In this area, the roots of grasses have an infection, so the animals are sick. Autumn flocks allowed on watermelon and cotton fields, but it is best to feed the sheep in the desert - it is cleaner and easier to breathe.



The sun at its zenith, from the land and herbs are heavy, hot air, the feeling that we are in the bath. Jenis looks at perspiring Chingiz and says, "There's water there" - and waving towards the reservoir: - "Come and swim».



Jenis controlled sheep just some half an hour, hang the carcass and gently washes away the blood. Insides throws dogs, but Tarzan, the largest alabai, indifferently looking away. Jenis explains that dogs eat at night.

Rested herd has itself drawn to the grass. Washing their hands clean, Jenis pours water pours nasvay and goes after them. Along the way, he warns us to be careful, because in this area are found huge poisonous snakes. A few days ago he killed one such zapolzshuyu in his trailer.





After resting, sheep-mother is coming to their lambs, one of them struggled reaches for it, the second is indifferent. Anxious mother bleats and calls him. But he does not seem to exhibit any interest in it. Little feeding the lambs, the mother runs away for the departed herd.





Zhenis neighbor, Marat, his van is in three or four kilometers.



Marat tending the sheep since the seventh grade and was used to a solitary life. He is now in '33, and he is considered an experienced rancher. But last winter, he made a serious mistake: left the herd for the winter in this area, and many animals died.

- This much shepherds came with large herds, and went bankrupt. You can not stay here for a long time - not a place for cattle, - said Marat.

Marat now plans to hold on in these places until the fall, and then go to the clean sands.





Marat, lives with his wife and younger brother Gulzhan. He has a herd of 500 head, cattle started to breed even his grandfather. Now the challenge Marat not to lose, and to increase generic richness. Unlike other owners he does not trust the hired shepherds tending their cattle and himself.

About his wife, he tells all the way, says that it gives all the instructions, and he carries them out, it nimble and fluent in Russian. And she is a good assistant, caring for the flock and newborn sheep shears and professionally.



They live in the parking lot from last year, but often try to leave home as much miss the children left with grandparents.

While Gulzhan bakes bread on the stove, which also prepares the food and Marat leaves look after the herd. In contrast to the trailer here Zhenis felt female hand and has arranged some life. In spite of everything, Gulzhan smiles and says that is already used to this kind of life. Electricity is connected to the battery, has a shower. And the food is cooked at a fire, it turns out delicious.













Regarding Zhenis, it passes a minimum distance of 25 kilometers. The hosts promise him next month to bring the ass. Of course, it would be even better on the bike, but also for ass can say thank you.

Recently he summon himself premium wages. Used to pay 35 thousand tenge per month. The rest of the shepherds in the area generally pay 30 thousand tenge, but herds of 400-500 animals. And Zhenis almost twice as much, and the herd had not diminished.





Nine o'clock in the evening, comes the tired, but happy Jenis, carrying under his arm a newborn lamb. He once again bypasses his flock long and busy with the lamb, and his mother.



Middle of the night light sleep interrupted several times Zhenis howling jackals. The owners of the herd for some reason did not build barns, so the sheep huddled near the solid wall of the trailer. Hearing howling, they frightened rush in different directions. Relive alabais immediately start running around, helping to raise a herd.



Jenis fell asleep again, instantly fell asleep. According to him, he does not suffer from insomnia. Just a couple of hours before dawn, he will begin a new working day.



Source: www.voxpopuli.kz