Sheep Flashcards
also known as the Type C Merino, descended from the Spanish
Merino.
The breed has
strong flocking instincts and are white faced (solid white).
Delaine Merino
given by the King of Spain to French King Louis XVI in 1876.
White in color (white face breed = completely white). They are hardy and adaptable to
extreme climates, good foragers,
Rambouillet
are large framed and usually
considered the largest breed of sheep.
they are white with a
black nose. Their coat consists of long fibers, but coarse wool
Lincoln
The breed is hardy and fast maturing, has easy lambing, and good
mothering instinct.
Face and legs are free of wool with black muzzle (nose) and feet, but
otherwise white.
Cheviot
They are a white faced breed whose fleece is medium grade with good
characteristics, including close fibers free of dark ones, very white color and strong.
Dorset
They
were bred and selected to fill specific sheep industry needs in the US, as it efficiently
uses forage for growth and fiber productions, but best known for their fast growth and
carcass merit.
Hampshire
developed in the late 1700s to early 1800s in Sussex, England. The
breed is small to medium in size, early maturing with good lambing ability and
moderate milk production.
Southdown
Gained popularity after World War II. Black face and legs, similar to Hampshires, but
lack the wool cap.
Suffolk
Bred and selected for low fat deposition, but heavy muscled lambs in
Continental Europe.
Medium wool type, where face and legs are free of wool.
Texel
Extremely prolific and high
milk production.
Face and legs are free of
fool with medium grade wool on the body.
British Milk Sheep
All 3 breeds are
similar in appearance with face, ears, tail and legs free of wool and white fleece on the
body. All have a rat tail.
Friesian Milk Sheep
Developed in the US by the USDA to create a true breeding stock
Developed for range conditions, but can also adapt to lush grasses and
farm flock management.
Columbia
Developed in the US in order to have a breed of sheep that produced 2 lamb crops and 1
wool crop per year.
Polypay
Known for its meat taste, even in older lambs.
Considered a longwool breed with the finest fiber
diameter for that type of wool.
Romney
Origins come from the German Merino, but was bred specifically to produce a slaughter
lamb at an early age.
South African Meat Merino
“comeback” sheep (i.e., fine wool, but higher production of meat).
Sheep are typically ¾ find wool and ¼ meat breed
Targhee
Originated in Finland.
Highly adaptable to rugged climate and high roughage feed available in those regions. Selected for their litter size and lamb survival,
mothering ability, growth rate, and wool production (medium grade).
Finnsheep
Known as “Lambs by the
Litter” due to its high prolificacy.
Romanov
Descendants of Merinos that were bred to improve their fertility
Booroola Merino
Originated in South Africa in the 1930s-1940s.
Raised for mutton, but is early maturing and high
carcass quality. Can be solid white or have a black head and neck.
Dorper
Originated in South Africa in the 1930s-1940s.
Raised for mutton, but is early maturing and high
carcass quality. Can be solid white or have a black head and neck.
Dorper
Named after the highest peak in Maine,
Katahdin
Newest breed of sheep in the U.S., developed in Texas and did not use any wool
producing breed to develop it. Use primarily for meat production and has less
maintenance due to having hair instead of wool.
Royal White
originated in England as a long wool breed
Lincoln
They are a very lively and active breed that was developed for its prime lamb quality, but can also use the wool commercially. Their wool is long with a distinct helical crimp that creates resilience and is often used with other yarns to strengthen them.
Cheviot
have black
face and legs with a white wool cap.
Hampshires
has the highest milk production for dairy breeds, but requires intensive management
(Holstein version of sheep?).
Friesian Milk Sheep
Crosses of Rambouillet ewes to different breeds of rams,
but the most promising cross was to Lincoln rams, which was used to develop the
Columbia
Considered rare, but have high
interest in research for heterosis effects in crossbreeding.
Romanov
Coat varies from short hair to coarse wool with large
amount of kemp fibers. Meat is extremely lean and mild
American Barbados
Developed in Maine by crossing “African hair sheep”
The breed
is adaptable, hardy, low maintenance, and docile
Katahdin
