1. Animal Science – Sheep Production
Sheep Breeds
Animal Science – Sheep Production
Ms. Selman

2. Breeds of Sheep
1,000 distinct breeds of sheep, with 50 breeds in North America
Many of these breeds are rare and some are in danger of extinction
In the U.S., four breeds account for more than two-thirds of the sheep population

3. Breeds of Sheep
Sheep are raised for wool and meat; some provide milk for cheese-making
Breeds can be classified according the type of wool they produce:
Fine wool
Medium wool
Long wool
Crossbred wool
Hair sheep

4. Lincoln Originated in England The largest breed of sheep
Long-wooled breed
White faces
Pronounced forelock between the ears

5. Corriedale Developed in New Zealand & Australia Dual purpose breed
Produces bulky, high density wool
Most popular breed in South America

6. Jacob Originated in England Two, four, or six horns
Black and white fleece
Fleece is highly sought after
Unimproved breed

7. Oxford Originated in England Second largest sheep breed
Meat-type breed
Tends to forage for its own food
White with black ears and bridge of nose

8. Southdown Medium- to small-sized breed
Polled, medium-wool breed raised primarily for meat
Early maturing breed
Ewes have good lambing ability and average milk production

9. Hampshire Large medium-wool breed Mild disposition and polled
Rapid growth and efficient feed conversion

10. Suffolk Most common breed in the U.S. (40 percent of sheep population
Medium-wool polled breed
Raised primarily for meat

11. Shropshire Heaviest wool producers among medium-wool breeds
Medium-sized
Dual purpose breed suitable for both meat and wool

12. Dorset Medium-sized medium-wool breed
Both horned and polled varieties (polled is more common)
Ewes are good mothers and good milkers
Second most common breed in the U.S.

13. Merino Medium-sized fine-wool breed
Originated in Spain 1,200 years ago
Wool breeds are all related to these original Merino – Blood Grade
Many different types of Merino have been developed all over the world - USA, Australia, Africa
Noted for producing the best wool in the world

14. Rambouillet Fine-wool breed; medium size
Good carcass characteristics; dual-purpose breed
French in origin and descends from Spanish Merino
Produce some of the finest wool in the world

15. Montadale Medium-wool, dual-purpose breed
Produce high quality carcasses and excellent wool that is very white in color

16. Columbia
Crossbred wool breed developed by the USDA in 1912 by crossing Lincolns and Rambouillets
Produce large ewes with large lambs and good wool yield
Survive well on range conditions of the western U.S.

17. Finnsheep Developed in Finland Small and very adaptable
Large lamb crop
Great mothering ability and milk production

18. Polypay Developed by USDA High lifetime prolificacy
Large lamb crop at one year of age
Ability to lamb more frequently than once per year
Rapid growth rate of lambs

19. Barbado Hair sheep originated in Texas
Males are horned and females are polled
Color is usually tan, tan with pale or black belly, or “pied” (has two or more colors in large spots or blotches

20. Cheviot Small-sized, medium-wool Polled
Raised primarily for meat; produces a high-quality lamb carcass
Hardy sheep developed in Scotland and England