中國著名山羊良種。因主產于河南省平輿縣廟灣鎮一帶，故稱“廟羊”。其皮以質重、柔軟、毛細密、彈性好、拉力強、油質適當等特色贏得皮革行業盛譽，稱“廟皮”，為中國山羊皮張名產，暢銷國內外。早在明代，山西移民遷至水（即洪河）中游廟灣鎮一帶定居。其中的回民兄弟引來了西北地區的山羊與當地羊雜交，形成優良品種“廟羊”。與西北山羊比，廟羊腿頸粗短，體形適中，皮張優良，毛色光亮，膘肥體重；無西北羊肉的膻腥味，食之香而不膩，有補血養神、祛風御寒、溫胃和中功效，為冬季肉食佳品。回民兄弟不僅有喂養山羊的豐富經驗，還掌握有宰剝、修整皮張的嫻熟工藝。加工的廟皮生者金黃板整，熟者柔軟平潤，是剪制鞋帽衣料的上品。明代中葉廟灣鎮便成為水中游以革皮著稱的集市，名揚海內。 　
       
    水上通黃河支流，下合江淮注海，集市上有山陜客商集資創立的山陜會館等著名客棧，商業發達，至清代盛而不衰，南北大街猶如長廊，街上清真餐館甚多，主要經營羊肉飯食，尤其是大塊五香羊肉，為豫南名膳。最熱鬧的是“廟皮”行市，生熟皮張交易繁忙。清末至民國年間，由于兵災匪禍，廟羊畜養量減少，廟皮行市蕭條。中華人民共和國建立后國家外貿部門特立“廟皮”商標，將廟皮列為地方特產出口。


 

Pingyu Miao Goats

    Pingyu Miao goat is a famous quality breed in China and gets its name for it is mainly produced in Miaowan Town, Pingyu County. Its leather earns a high reputation and known as Miao Leather for its heavy, soft, thick hair, good elasticity, appropriate oil content and other characteristics, which is a famous product and sell very well all around the world. Among the leathers local people produce, raw ones are gold and orderly, the ripe ones are soft, flat and moist, which are all superior materials for making clothing and hats. In the middle of Ming Dynasty, Miaowan Town had been a big market famous for high-quality leathers.
      
    Pingyu Miao goat was hybridized created successfully in Ming Dynasty. Compared with goats in the Northwest, Miao goats have more stubby necks, moderate bodies, better leathers, bright hairs and fatter. Besides, they has no mutton dodur and not greasy when eat. They have medical functions of enriching blood, nourishing spirit, eliminating wind and cold, warming stomach, etc, so that it is a good choice in winter.