Medium wool sheep account for about 15 percent of the world's sheep population. The most popular meat breeds in the U. Carpet wool sheep The coarsest grade of wool usually over 38 microns is used in the manufacture of carpets; hence, the name.
Carpet wool breeds are usually double-coated, with a coarse long outer coat for protection against the elements and a short, finer undecoat.
They are generally adapted to extreme environments. Carpet wool breeds found in the U. Hair Sheep Some breeds lack wool and are covered with hair instead, like their wild ancestors. Some hair sheep have pure hair coats, whereas others have coats that contain a mixture of hair and wool fibers that shed naturally. Hair sheep are found mostly in Africa and the Caribbean, but are also raised in temperate climates, such as the U.
Hair sheep account for about 10 percent of the world's sheep population and are the fastest growing segment of the American sheep industry. In fact, the Katahdin, an American breed of hair sheep, now leads all US sheep breeds in registration numbers and transfers. Interest in hair sheep is also developing in other countries, including Australia and Mexico.
Fat-tailed sheep Fat tailed or fat-rumped sheep are so-named because they can store large amounts of fat in their tail and rump. Fat-tailed sheep are found mostly in the extreme environments in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. They grow wool, but are raised primarily for their meat or milk. Fat-tailed sheep comprise 25 percent of the world's sheep population.
The only fat-tailed sheep in the U. The fat-tail was bred out of the Tunis. The Awassi, a fat-tail sheep from the Middle East was recently introduced to the U.
Short or rat-tailed breeds Short or rat-tailed breeds originate primarily from Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Their tails are thin and free of wool and do not need docked. Double-coated breeds grow a longer outer coat and a short fine undercoat. Primitive breeds have similar types of fleeces inner and outer that naturally shed. There are a few breeds whose fleeces are a specific color or color pattern. The Shetland breed produces wool in the widest range of colors of any breed. Jacobs produce a spotted fleece.
Other characteristics Type of Tail Some breeds are grouped together because they have a special kind of tail. Fat-tailed or fat-rumped breeds make up about 25 percent of the world sheep population. They are well-adapted to arid regions and are found mostly in Africa and Asia. Among U. Though none of these breeds has a significant fat deposits in the tail.
The Awassi recently introduced via semen is also a fat-tailed sheep. The U. The tails of these short-tailed breeds do not need to be docked. In addition to their unique tails, these breeds are known for their prolificacy large litters. P rolifacy Some breeds of sheep are noted for their fecundity: birth of large litters. Prolific breeds of sheep include Finnsheep, Romanov, and Booroola Merino. Most of the hair sheep breeds also have good prolificacy.
The Booroola Merino is noteworthy because it has a single gene that is responsible for its high reproductive rate. The "F" fecundity gene can be transferred to other breeds. A single gene affecting prolificacy has also been isolated in Icelandic and Cambridge sheep, as well as the Chinese Hu.
In most sheep breeds, litter size is a quantitative trait affected by many different genes. Despite its low heritability, prolificacy or litter size is a trait that most sheep producers should select for, assuming the production environment is conducive to the rearing of multiple lambs.
R are and Heritage Breeds There are organizations and individuals dedicated to the preservation of rare and heritage breeds of livestock. Heritage breeds are breeds raised historically -- breeds of a bygone era -- whereas rare breeds are breeds with limited animal numbers and registrations. Many heritage breeds are also rare breeds. The Livestock Conservancy classifies rare breeds into several categories: critical, threatened, watch, recovering, and study.
The Navajo Churro is considered to be the oldest breed of sheep in the United States. Gulf Coast Natives and Florida Crackers are also very old breeds. All three descend from the sheep brought to the New World by Spanish settlers.
Churras are hardy sheep best suited to arid climates, whereas the Natives and Crackers are known for their parasite resistance, having developed naturally under the warm, moist climate characteristic of the Southeast US. A British breed of historical significance is the Leicester Longwool. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation leads efforts to preserve this longwool breed. Hog Island sheep inhabited Virginia's barrier islands and are now raised at Mt.
Vernon, home of George Washington. Santa Cruz is another breed that evolved via natural selection, on California's Channel Islands. While rare and heritage breeds are usually no longer of commercial significance, it is important to preserve their genetics. In addition, some of the heritage breeds may be hardier than many of the more popular breeds that have been altered by the show ring or artificial selection.
Heritage breeds are especially ideal for small, hobby farms or historical farms or estates. Adaptability to the production environment 2. Type of coat or wool 3. Level of reproduction 4. Timing and frequency of lambing 5.
Level of care. Adaptability While any breed of sheep can be raised in any geographic location, it makes sense to choose breeds which are best adapted to the environment in which they are going to be raised. For example, fine wool breeds and hair sheep of desert origin are good choices for hot, dry climates where feed may be scarce. Where it is hot and humid moist , the Gulf Coast Native, Florida Crackers, or hair sheep of tropical origins are good choices, because of their heat tolerance and enhanced parasite resistance.
In cold, wet areas where feed is abundant, the long wool and meat breeds are good choices. Since dairy breeds and prolific breeds are usually raised under intensive management systems, environmental adaptation is usually less important.
Some sheep are adaptable to different climates. For example, hair sheep will grow thicker coats i. Over time any sheep will adapt to the environment. Selection can hasten the development. Type of Wool or Coat The type of wool or coat desired is obviously an important consideration when establishing a ewe flock. If you do not want to shear your sheep, hair sheep or goats are your only choice.
For the commercial wool market sales to wool pools and mills , the fleeces from fine wool ewes and their crosses will bring more money. Due to the absence of dark hairs and fibers, the wool from white-faced breeds is more desirable than the wool from black or other non-white-faced breeds.
If commercial pelts are a consideration, the pelts from white faced sheep and fine wool breeds are more desirable in the commercial marketplace. If you are interested in producing wool for hand spinning, any breed of wool sheep can be raised, but the wool from the long wooled breeds and specialty breeds seems to be in the greatest demand. Natural colored fleeces and pelts are also desirable in niche markets. The leather market is an untapped market in the United States. The pelts from hair sheep produce the highest quality leather.
Level of Reproduction Not all shepherds desire large litters of lambs. Nor can all production environments support prolific ewes. On the other hand, ewes that produce only one lamb are not usually profitable unless feed costs and overhead are very low.
Breed choice can have a large impact on the reproductive rate of the flock. Prolific breed ewes will produce litters of lambs 3 or more. Ewes containing 50 percent or more of a prolific breed will usually drop lamb crops in excess of percent.
Ewes containing 25 percent of a prolific breed are capable of producing percent lamb crops. Hair sheep, of tropical origins, typically produce lamb crops in excess of percent.
Under proper management and nutrition, many other breeds are capable of producing close to a percent lamb crop. Of course, any breed of sheep can be selected to produce larger lamb crops, though it requires a long-term commitment, as litter size is only about 10 percent heritable. In addition, a high litter size is only advantageous if quality lambs are produced and the extra lambs can be raised to market profitably.
It is very important that reproductive rate be matched to the production environment and level skill of management. When to Lamb In temperate climates, most sheep are seasonal breeders, biologically "programmed" to mate in the fall when day length is shorter and to lamb in late winter or spring when the pasture begins to grow and predators have babies to feed! To produce "out-of-season" lamb, that go against this "norm," you need to select breeds or individual sheep that are able to breed at different times of the year.
In the US, the Dorset is best known for its ability to lamb year-round, though there are considerable differences for this trait within the breed. In fact, the Horned Dorset is usually considered to be superior to the Polled Dorset with respect to out-of-season breeding. This is because many Polled Dorsets have been bred for show ring qualities and not production traits. Other breeds with extended breeding seasons include fine wool sheep e. Rambouillet and Merino , hair sheep, Finnsheep, Polypay, and Karakul.
The breeds which are most seasonal in their breeding habits are the long wool breeds and meat breeds of British origin. Any breed of sheep can be selected for the ability to lamb in the fall.
Spring breeding can also be achieved with light control or hormonal manipulation. The introduction of a ram can stimulate estrus activity in seasonally-anestrous ewes. Such breeds include hair sheep, Border and North County Cheviots, Coopworths, fine wool breeds, and some of the rare or heritage breeds e. Let's find out which sheep is your perfect match and which is just baaaaad! Created by: Blue Sheep of Blue Sheep your link here more info. Remember to rate this quiz on the next page!
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