1. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. BREEDS OF SHEEP Ms. Keen

2. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Introduction A prospective sheep producer not only must decide upon a particular phase of the sheep industry to enter, but also must determine the class and/or breed of sheep to produce.

3. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. The sheep industry is grouped into two major categories: lamb production wool production. This means that sheep are raised either for meat wool.

4. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Classification of sheep can be made in many ways: degree of suitability for meat or wool production type of wool produced face color (white or black) presence or absence of horns productive function or commercial use.

5. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Classifications of commercial use are: ewe breeds ram breeds dual purpose breeds.

6. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. The most common method of classifying sheep breeds in the U.S. is by type of wool produced.

7. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Sheep Breeds of Fine-Wool Type The most common fine-wool breeds of the United States Delaine Merino Rambouillet Debouillet; all are descendents of the Spanish Merino.

8. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Fine-wool types of sheep produce: wool with the smallest diameter fiber. Fine-wool breeds usually grade 60s and finer based on their spinning count. The dense fleece contains a large amount of yolk, or oil.

9. Delaine Merino Largest of the three types of Merinos Rams (males) range from 17lbs-235lbs ewes (females) range from 150lbs-175lbs Photo from IMS.

10. White-faced White legs The head and legs are covered with wool. Most rams are horned Polled strains are present Ewes should be free from horns Photo from IMS. Characteristics

11. Extremely hardy Live where poor grazing ranges exist & adverse weather locations Ewes breed out of season Have long productive lives that can last 10 to 12 years, (much greater than any other breed). Characteristics continued

12. No other wool breed can compare. The annual fleece weight of a mature sheep ranges from 12 pounds to 20 pounds. Wool Characteristics

13. Developed as a breed in France Descendant of the Spanish Merino. introduced into the United States in 1840. Photo from IMS. Rambouillet

14. Large, wide head with white hair around the nose and ears. Wool covers most of the face and legs Body fleece is close and compact. Photo from IMS. Characteristics

15. Rams are horned, but polled strains exist Ewes are polled. Largest of the fine-wool type. Rams weigh from 190lbs-300lbs Ewes weigh from 120lbs-210lbs. Characteristics continued

16. ewes are recognized as being prolific good mothers unequaled for range qualities. A large percentage of range sheep contain some Rambouillet blood. Characteristics continued

17. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Sheep Breeds of Medium-Wool Type Medium-wool types of sheep produce fleece that is medium in diameter and length when compared with fine-wool types and long-wool types. Medium-wool breeds usually grade 50 to 58 hands, with some in the 60s.

18. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Medium-wool breeds include: Cheviot Dorset Finnsheep Hampshire Montadale Oxford Shropshire Southdown Suffolk Tunis.

19. Origin not exact but they descended from southern England in Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire Counties. Photo from IMS. Dorset

20. The first to the United States occurred in 1885. Face, ears, and legs are white in color Practically free from wool. Both horned and polled strains of Dorsets exist. Photo from IMS.

21. The modern Dorset is a medium-sized sheep. Mature ewe weighs 150lbs-200lbs Mature ram weighs 225lbs-275 lbs Dorsets are among the lighter shearing breeds with an annual fleece weight of 4 to 10 pounds. Characteristics

22. Dorsets will breed out of season Ewes are very prolific average a 150% lamb crop widely used in the United States. Characteristics continued

23. Originated in Hampshire County, England Several importations were made to the United States prior to 1860. Widely accepted and popular in the United States. Photo from IMS. Hampshire

24. The Hampshire is distinctive in appearance because of its bold head and prominent ears. Color of the face, ears, and legs of Hampshires is a rich, deep brown, approaching black. Ears, face, and legs below the knees are predominately free from wool. Characteristics

25. Ewes & Rams are polled Rams sometimes have scurs. Largest of the medium-wool type sheep. Photo from IMS. Characteristics continued

26. Ewes weigh over 200 pounds each Rams weigh over 275 pounds each. Selection is based on production and then appearance. Is a widely used breed noted for its carcass cutability as a market lamb. Hamshire ewes are prolific and posses good mothering ability. Characteristics continued

27. Originated in the hills of Sussex County, England. Importation of Southdowns to the United States first occurred in 1803. Photo from IMS. Southdown

28. An acceptable color of the face, legs, and ears is a light brown (mouse brown). Wool covers the face and legs. Rams & Ewes are polled Rams sometimes have scurs. Characteristics

29. Small to medium in size. Mature rams weigh about 210 pounds each Ewes weigh about 160 pounds each. short legs, wide chests, straight tops, deep twists, & bulging rear quarters. Characteristics continued

30. Originated in England. Developed by crossing improved Southdown rams and Old Norfolk ewes native to the area. Photo from IMS. Suffolk

31. Introduction of breed to the United States occurred in 1888. Black face Black legs, and black ears Free of wool Easy to identify Characteristics

32. The head is small and both sexes are polled. Comparatively large animals. Ewes weigh from 200lbs-225lbs Rams weigh over 300lbs each. Characteristics continued

33. Ewes are very prolific produce a 150% or greater lamb crop. Suffolk wool is not considered the most desirable The black hairs from the face and feet contaminate the fleece when sheared. Characteristics continued

34. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Sheep Breeds of Crossbreed-Wool Type Crossing fine-wool types with long-wool types developed the crossbred-wool types of sheep.

35. Some long-wool types are: Cotswold Leicester Lincoln Romney. Photo by Sawyer 12477 courtesy of Wikipedia.

36. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. The long-wool type breeds of sheep are not as common today. The purpose of crossing was to get the size from the long-wool types and the wool quality of the fine-wool types.

37. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Crossbred-wool type breeds include: Columbia Corriedale Polypay

38. The first breed of sheep developed in the United States. Crossed between a Lincoln rams with Rambouillet ewes The first crosses were made in 1912 on the King Ranch at Laramie, Wyoming. Photo from IMS. Columbia

39. Is identified by an open face and white hair on its face and feet. The hooves are either white or black in color. Both rams and ewes are polled. Photo from IMS. Characteristics

40. The largest of the crossbred-wool type breeds. Mature ewes weigh from 130lbs-225lbs Rams weigh from 175lbs-300lbs Suited to western rangeland conditions. Characteristics continued

41. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Lincoln Originated from England descent in the 1700’s and identified by Robert Bakewell. Oldest longwool breed sheep known First brought to the U.S. in 1825

42. Photo by Peggy Greb courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Characteristics Largest of the breeds of sheep Fleece is the heaviest Mature rams weigh 250lbs-350lbs Mature ewes weigh 200lbs-250lbs Their wool is in great demand