sheep

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sheep

domesticated animal

Also known as: Ovis aries

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 15, 2024 • Article History

Related Topics:: Rambouillet; Merino; Hampshire; Southdown; Suffolk

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sheep, (Ovis aries), species of domesticated ruminant (cud-chewing) mammal, raised for its meat, milk, and wool. The sheep is usually stockier than its relative the goat (genus Capra); its horns, when present, are more divergent; it has scent glands in its face and hind feet; and the males lack the beards of goats. Sheep usually have short tails. In all wild species of sheep, the outer coat takes the form of hair, and beneath this lies a short undercoat of fine wool that has been developed into the fleece of domesticated sheep. Male sheep are called rams, the females ewes, ...(100 of 547 words)

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