Taleshi
Talysh (تؤلشه زوؤن, Tolışə Zıvon, Tолышә зывон) is a Northwestern Iranian language spoken in the northern regions of the Iranian provinces of Gilan and Ardabil and the southern regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan by around 500,000-800,000 people. Talysh is closely related to Tati and Zaza and like them it is spoken in the westernmost part of the Western Iranian language region. Talysh has three main dialects; northern, central and southern and these dialects consist of numerous sub-dialects. The northern dialect of the language is spoken in Azerbaijan and Iran, the central and southern dialects are spoken in Iran. Talysh is partially, but not fully, mutually intelligible with Persian. Talysh is classified as "vulnerable" by UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Taleshi
Finding a responsible Taleshi breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells sheeps commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Taleshi. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Taleshis appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for a Taleshi breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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