U.S. Sheep and Goat Breeds

World Sheep Breeds• Breeds of Sheep

– 235 breeds world wide

US Sheep Breeds

• Meat Breeds• Ewe Breeds• Dual Purpose Breeds• Wool Breeds• Hair Breeds

Five Classifications

- 26 – 30 Breeds in US- Only 8- 10 Industry Impact

Meat Breeds

• Developed:– Suffolk county England

• Characteristics:– Black head and legs (Free of any wool)– Largest breed of sheep

• Rams up to 350 lbs• Ewe up to 250 lbs

• Noted For:– Rapid growth rates, and carcass traits

Suffolk

Origin: England

Black face

Meat type

Large frame/growth

# 1 ram breed

Suffolk

Meat Breeds

• Developed:– Hampshire county England

• Characteristics:– Black head and legs with wool on them– Rams can weigh up to 325– Ewes can weigh up to 225 lbs

• Noted For:• Fast rates of growth and excellent muscling

Hampshire

Origin: England

Black face

Meat type

Excellent carcass

Medium wool

# 2 Ram breed

Hampshire

Meat Breeds

• Developed:– Hampshire county England

• Characteristics:– Mouse colored muzzle and legs with wool on legs– Smaller sized– Rams can weigh up to 200– Ewes can weigh up to 150 lbs

• Noted For:• Calm docile sheep, gained popularity due to size for

young exhibitors

Southdowns

Origin: England

Base of all meat breeds

Medium wool

Early maturing

Muscular, light weight carcasses

Southdown

Ewe Breed / Wool Breed

• Developed:– Spain

• Characteristics:– White points, long fleece

– Rams 220 lbs, Ewes 150 lbs

• Noted For:– Highest Quality fleece , up to 14 lbs

– Finest Fleece

– Maternal Strengths

Merino

Origin: Spain

White face

Gregarious

Fine wool

Rams = horned

Ewes = polled

Wool on shanks

Wool blindness

Merino

Ewe Breed / Wool Breed

• Developed:– In France from Merino

• Characteristics:– White with long wool– Ram 300 lbs, ewe 250 lbs

• Noted For:• Excellent mothering• Hardiness – Western Breed• Quality wool, • Heavy fleece up to 18 lbs

Rambouillet

Origin: France

White face

Gregarious

Fine wool

Rams = horned

Ewes = polled

Predominant fine wool breed in U.S.

Rambouillet

Ewe Breeds

• Developed:– Finland

• Characteristics:– Fine boned– Small breed, Rams 175 lbs– slow growers– Light muscled

• Noted For:– Multiple Births– Used best in crossbreeding

Finnsheep

Origin: Finland

Small frame

Fine bone

Highly prolific

Hardy

Strong maternal instincts

Lean carcasses

Finnsheep

Dual Purpose Breeds

• Developed:– First breed developed in the US– Univ of Wyoming– Western Range– Rambioullet X Lincoln (meat)

• Characteristics:– Large Sheep Rams

• Rams 300 lbs• Ewes 225 lbs

• Noted For:– Mothering Characteristics– Good Carcasses

Columbia

Origin: U.S.

Cross of Lincoln & Rambouillet

Meat and wool type

Large frame/growth

Good mothers

Columbia

Dual Purpose Breeds

• Developed:– England

• Characteristics:– White face – horned and polled– Smaller meatier sheep

• Rams 250 lbs, Ewes 175 lbs

• Noted For:– Breeds out of season– Excellent mothering– Excellent carcass

– “True Dual Purpose Breed”

Dorset

Origin: England

Polled or horned

US type is polled

Breed out of season

Excellent conformation

Prolific

Heavy Milkers

Wool down legs

Dorset

Dual Purpose Breeds

• Developed:– 1960’s– Dubios, ID

• Characteristics:– White smaller ears open face– Rams 200 lbs– Ewes 150 lbs

• Noted For:– Prolificacy– Lamb more than once per year– Good growth and carcass

Polypay

Origin: U.S.

4 way crossDorset

Targhee

Rambouillet

Finnsheep

Very prolific

Extended breeding season

Variation

Polypay

Hair Breeds

• Developed:– South Africa– Meat breed that is heat tolerant

• Characteristics:– No wool or very little– Medium size

• Rams 200 lbs• Ewe 150 lbs

• Noted For:– Meat and reproductive traits– No shearing

Dorper

DevelopedBlack Headed PersianSouth African Breed

DorsetEnglish Breed

Wiltshire Horn

Katahdin

Dorper

Royal White/Hair Breed

– Weights:Rams 185-250+Ewes 145-185+

– Resulted from:• St. Croix and White Dorper cross

Origin: U.S.

Hair sheep

Adaptability & Hardiness

Easy lambers & maternal instincts

Extended breeding season

Outer coat –long hair

Inner coat – wool

Hand spinning, carpets

Navajo-Churro