Sheep Breeds (Ovine)🐑 Flashcards
1
Q
How are sheep classified?
A
- geographic orgin (British UK, Continenta/European, Middle East, African, Oceanic/Australia/New Zealand
- goals/traits (meat, wool, dual purpose, speciality)
2
Q
What are the Wool Breeds?
A
- Merino (Spain)
- Rambouillet (France)
3
Q
Merino (Spain) [WOOL BREED]
A
- most dominant breed in worldwide sheep industry
- “golden fleece”
- smaller than other breeds
- hardy, fertile, long lived
- generally have fine fleeces
- one of oldest breeds
- screw worm fly was an issue
- more wrinkles=more wool
4
Q
Rambouillet (France) [WOOL BREED]
A
- descended from Spanish merino but faster growing
- hardy, white faced breed, not extremely prolific (prominent range in Western U.S. and Texas)
- dual purpose sheep in U.S. (produce fine wool yet have acceptable growth)
- selected against wrinkles and wool on face
5
Q
What are the meet breeds?
A
- Hampshire (England)
- Suffolk (England)
- Southdown (England)
- Dorset (England)
6
Q
Hampshire (England) [MEAT BREED]
A
- sire breed, known for rapid growth and muscularity
- black/brown face, legs, ears
- wool cap on head
- most popular sire breed in commercial production
- infused with Suffolk genes
7
Q
Suffolk (England) [MEAT BREED]
A
- old sire breed used in production
- free of wool on head and legs
- alert & active
- profile ewes, heavy milking, produce poor fleeces
- single trait selection has ruined the breed
- spider gene (hereditary chondrodysplasia)
8
Q
Southdown (England) [MEAT BREED]
A
- one of the oldest sheep breeds
- imported in 1803
- small to medium size (light brown face and legs)
- farm flock produce meaty, light weight carcasses
- low maintenance with average prolificacy and milk production
9
Q
Dorset (England) [MEAT BREED]
A
- both horned and polled strains
- medium sized breed
- known for ability to breed out of season, prolificacy, and milking ability
- early sexual and composite maturity
- white faced, light shearing, open fleece
- hot house lambs
10
Q
What are the specialty breeds?
A
- Dorper (South Africa)
- Finnsheep
11
Q
Dorper (South Africa) [SPECIALTY BREED]
A
- hair management, does not require intensive management
- white body and black head
- very fertile, breed out of season
- exceptional ability and hardiness
- exist in harsh terrain
- lambs grow rapidly & have high weaning weights
- composite: dorset & black headed Persian
12
Q
Finnsheep (Finland) [SPECIALTY BREED]
A
- most noted for incredible proficiency (mature ewes produce 3 + lambs)
- noted for milking ability, easy lambing, maternal instincts
- POOR fleeces
- slow growing/ light muscled
- intensive management required
13
Q
Male of Breeding Age
A
Ram
14
Q
Mature Female
A
Ewe
15
Q
Young Male
A
Ram Lamb
