Breeds of Sheep

Methods to Classify Sheep…The most common way to classify sheep in the United States is by the type of wool produced. There are over 40 breeds of sheep in the US today

Fine Wool Medium Wool

Cross Wool

Merino Cheviot Columbia

Rambouillet Dorset Polypay

Finnsheep

Hampshire

Southdown__________Suffolk

Sheep Body Parts

MEAT BREEDSThese breeds of sheep are produced for their carcasses. Their wool is not very valuable, therefore they are selected for mainly carcasses. Usually the Medium Wool breeds.

Accounts for about 15% of the world’s sheep population

Cheviot Originated in Scotland Resistant to cold,

windy conditions White, wool free faces Long wool type Wool has a helical

crimp Tend to be resistant

to worms and footrot

Dorset Originated in Europe Medium-sized breed

with high quality, white wool

Most popular white-faced breed in the United States

Horned and polled varieties exist

Hampshire Originated in

Hampshire, England

Black face and legs Mild demeanor Unbroken wool cap

should extend from the neck over the forehead

Southdown Developed in England

one of the oldest sheep breeds

Medium to small sized with light brown face and legs

Farm flock breed used to produce meaty, light weight carcass

Low maintenance breed with average prolificacy and milk production

Suffolk Originated in England, very

old breed used as a sire breed in commercial production

Most popular breed in the US today

Produce large amounts of meat, heavy milking but poor fleece

Grow fast, produce lean muscular carcasses

White with black faces and legs, free of wool on legs and head

Account for more than 50% of the world’s sheep

Merino Originated in

Australia Very fine fleece,

produce 20 lbs. of wool a year.

White-faced High quality wool

used in the textile industry

Most dominant breed in the sheep industry

Rambouillet Originated in Spain #1 range ewe’s in

Texas Dual-purpose breed,

fine fleece also acceptable growth and carcass traits

White in color

Columbia 1st breed developed in

U.S. in 1912 Lincoln x Rambouillet

crossesDual-Purpose, Produce medium wool

and large amounts of meat

Produce 10-16 lbs. of 3/8 blood wool. (coarser than Rambouillet)

Developed to thrive on Western ranges

White faced, polled breed

One of the largest-sized breeds in US.

Targhee Developed in 1926 at the

U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho

Planned breed, developed for range use in West

White-faced, polled breed of intermediate size

Fleeces are mid-way between Rambouillets and Columbias in fineness

Polypay Developed by U.S.

Experiment Station Five goals of Polypay1. High lifetime

prolificacy2. Good lamb crop at 1

yr.3. Ability to lamb more

than once a year4. Good growth rate of

lambs5. Good carcass quality

Lincoln Originated in England,

heavy fleeced. Imported 1825

Heaviest breed in the world, rams weight 250-350 lbs. ewes, 225-250 lbs.

White faced and polled, face, legs and ears covered in wool

Pronounced forelock between the ears

About 10% of the world’s sheep population.

Dorper The Dorper breed was

developed out of necessity Dorset Horn rams crossed

with Blackhead Persian ewes The Dorper has a white body

with a black head, while the White Dorper is all white.   Otherwise two types are identical but considered separate breeds

Typically hornless Mature male wight 230 lbs,

female180-210 lbs.

References: Sheep 101 (website) Sheep 201 (website) American Sheep Industry Assoc

http://www.sheepusa.org/Meat_Breeds