Abstract:World mutton yield were 6.8 million tones in 1970’s, 9 million tones in the end of 1980’s and 9.98 million tones in 1994. There are three main charactoristics in world mutton sheep production. They are lamb production, careass weight 13~25 kg; Crossed mutton production, large size rams as Suffolk, Borderleister are used, corssing model in cludes two breeds, three breeds and four breeds; Set up of breeding-reproduction system, large scale of production are formed.
Individual productivity of mutton is quite low in Chinese sheep. Mutton sheep industry is a weak point in the overall structure of animal husbandry, a great potential for development exists. Low cholesterol content and market potential decide the sustainable increase of demand. The conversion efficiency of feed nutrient to mutton is ten times as that to wool in sheep. The environment and condition in Jilin province are suitable for mutton sheep development. While the following problemy should be first settled; policy guidance, research intensity and breeds of mutton sheep.