BREEDS OF SHEEP

1. BREEDS OF SHEEP Ms. Keen

2. 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. The sheep industry is grouped into two major categories: • lamb production • wool production. • This means that sheep are raised either for • meat • wool.

4. 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. Classifications of commercial use are: • ewe breeds • ram breeds • dual purpose breeds.

6. The most common method of classifying sheep breeds in the U.S. is by • type of wool produced.

7. 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. 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. Characteristics • 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.

11. Characteristics continued • 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).

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

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

14. Characteristics • 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.

15. Characteristics continued • 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.

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

17. 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. Medium-wool breeds include: • Cheviot • Dorset • Finnsheep • Hampshire • Montadale • Oxford • Shropshire • Southdown • Suffolk • Tunis.

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

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. Characteristics • 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.

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

23. Hampshire • 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.

24. Characteristics • 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.

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

26. Characteristics continued • 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.

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

28. Characteristics • 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.

29. Characteristics continued • 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.

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

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

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

33. Characteristics continued • 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.

34. 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. 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. Crossbred-wool type breeds include: • Columbia • Corriedale • Polypay

38. Columbia • 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.

39. Characteristics • 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.

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

41. 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. 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 Characteristics