After years of research, black-bone sheep has been identified by Chinese scientists as the second black-bone animal with heritable properties besides black-bone chicken. The most direct manifestation of black quality is black periosteum and black meat. Professor Mao Huaming of Yunnan Agricultural University and his research group have studied black-bone sheep for many years since it was first discovered in Lanping Bai Pumi Autonomous County, Nujiang Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province in 200 1. After analysis and determination, the black quality of black-bone sheep is caused by high content of melanin, which is heritable and is a very rare genetic resource. Black-bone sheep is the only mammal that has been found so far and contains a lot of melanin in its body, which has extremely high medicinal and health care value. Black-bone sheep is a treasure, and it deserves to be called "Golden Sheep", "Medicine Sheep" and "King of Sheep" unique to China.