Sheep Breeds (Ovine)🐑

• geographic orgin (British UK, Continenta/European, Middle East, African, Oceanic/Australia/New Zealand • goals/traits (meat, wool, dual purpose, speciality)

• Merino (Spain) • Rambouillet (France)

• most dominant breed in worldwide sheep industry • “golden fleece” • smaller than other breeds • hardy, fertile, long lived • generally have fine fleeces • one of oldest breeds • screw worm fly was an issue • more wrinkles=more wool

• descended from Spanish merino but faster growing • hardy, white faced breed, not extremely prolific (prominent range in Western U.S. and Texas) • dual purpose sheep in U.S. (produce fine wool yet have acceptable growth) • selected against wrinkles and wool on face

• Hampshire (England) • Suffolk (England) • Southdown (England) • Dorset (England)

• sire breed, known for rapid growth and muscularity • black/brown face, legs, ears • wool cap on head • most popular sire breed in commercial production • infused with Suffolk genes

• old sire breed used in production • free of wool on head and legs • alert & active • profile ewes, heavy milking, produce poor fleeces • single trait selection has ruined the breed • spider gene (hereditary chondrodysplasia)

• one of the oldest sheep breeds • imported in 1803 • small to medium size (light brown face and legs) • farm flock produce meaty, light weight carcasses • low maintenance with average prolificacy and milk production

• both horned and polled strains • medium sized breed • known for ability to breed out of season, prolificacy, and milking ability • early sexual and composite maturity • white faced, light shearing, open fleece • hot house lambs

• Dorper (South Africa) • Finnsheep

• hair management, does not require intensive management • white body and black head • very fertile, breed out of season • exceptional ability and hardiness • exist in harsh terrain • lambs grow rapidly & have high weaning weights • composite: dorset & black headed Persian

• most noted for incredible proficiency (mature ewes produce 3 + lambs) • noted for milking ability, easy lambing, maternal instincts • POOR fleeces • slow growing/ light muscled • intensive management required

Ram

Ewe

Ram Lamb

Ewe Lamb

Wether

Flock

Ovis

Tupping

Lambing