sheep breeds
- Related Topics:
- Rambouillet
- Merino
- Hampshire
- Southdown
- Suffolk
Sheep were first domesticated from wild species by at least 5000 bce and are raised for their fleece (wool), milk, and meat. The flesh of mature sheep is called mutton while that of immature animals is called lamb. Of more than 200 breeds of sheep in existence in the world, the majority are of limited interest except in the localities where they are raised. Sheep breeds are generally classified as medium wool, long wool, or fine wool.
Of the medium wool breeds the Hampshire, Shropshire, Southdown, and Suffolk all originated in England. The Cheviot and Black Faced Highland originated in Scotland. The Panama, Columbia, and Targhee were developed in the United States and the Corriedale in New Zealand. After World War II, such larger breeds as the Suffolk and Hampshire increased in popularity at the expense of the smaller breeds.
The long wool breeds, including the Cotswold, Lincoln, Leicester, and Romney, were all developed in England and, in addition to mutton, produce wool of unusually long fiber length that is suitable for rugs and coarse fabrics.
The original fine-wool breed was the Merino, developed in Spain from stock native to that country since antiquity, and it has since become a popular breed around the world. The Merino was the main ancestor of the French Rambouillet, somewhat larger and less wrinkled than the Merino. This breed prospers in the western ranges of the United States, where two-thirds of that country’s sheep are raised. The Corriedale breed, adapted to both farms and ranges, is especially valued in New Zealand and Australia.
The table provides a comparison of selected breeds of sheep.
| name | type of wool | distribution | characteristics | comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Black-Faced Highland, also called Scottish Blackface | carpet | originally Scotland, now also U.S., Italy, Argentina | black or mottled, horned | stylish appearance |
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Columbia | medium | developed in U.S. since 1912 | large, white-faced, hornless | high wool yield; mutton acceptable |
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Corriedale | medium | developed in N.Z., now also in U.S., Australia | white-faced, hornless | bright, soft fleece; good quality lambs |
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Cotswold | long | originally England, now also U.S. | large, white-faced, hornless | coarse, curly fleece; acceptable mutton |
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Dorset | medium | developed in England, now in U.K., U.S., Australia | medium-sized, white-faced | small wool yield; out-of-season lambs; horned and hornless varieties |
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Hampshire | medium | developed in England, now also widespread in U.S. | large, hornless; dark face and legs | superior mutton breed; limited wool |
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Karakul | fur | originally Central Asia, now also Africa, Europe, U.S. | medium-sized, fat-tailed | coats of very young lambs called Persian lamb |
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Leicester | long | originally England, now U.K., North America | massive body, white-faced, broad-backed | heavy fleece |
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Lincoln | long | originally England, now also Australia, N.Z., North and South America | world's largest sheep, hornless | coarse, long wool is used chiefly for carpets |
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Merino | fine | originally Spain, now also Australia, North America, South Africa | horned or hornless, heavily-wooled head | excellent, fine, soft fleeces |
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North Country Cheviot | medium | originally Scotland, now widespread | white chalk; large, deep-bodied | hardy; produces superior fleece |
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Rambouillet | fine | developed in France from the 18th century, now also in U.S. | smooth-bodied, horned or hornless | lambs mature rapidly; bred from Merino |
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Romney | long | originally England, now also N.Z., North America, Australia | hornless with white face and legs | mostly raised for mutton; wool used for variety of products |
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Southdown | medium | originally England, now also N.Z., Australia, North America | hornless with small, rounded body | raised for mutton; fleece is short |
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Suffolk | medium | developed in England, now also in U.S. | black face and legs, large, hornless | fine mutton breed; acceptable wool |