Sheep Breeds

Breeds of Sheep

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Acipayam

Acipayam sheep are a multi-purpose breed (wool. Milk, and meat) that originated in Turkey that was developed by crossing Awassi and Daglic sheep. Acipayam rams average 65 kg (140 lb) and ewes 60 kg (130 lb) at maturity. Both have white, coarse wool.

Adal

Adal are raised for meat and are from Ethopia. They are mainly found in the region surrounding Dancalia in northeastern Ethiopia. They are a hair sheep breed. Adal sheep are smaller sized and unicolored from white to dark brown. Occasionally they are also pied or dark brown. They generally have short ears, and often earless. Both rams and ewes are generally polled (without horns). Their average birth weight is around 2.54 kg, and around 2.26 kg for the ewes. The average live body weight of the mature ewes is around 24 kg. And average live body weight of the mature rams is around 35 kg.  They are hardy and strong sheep. They are especially well adapted to arid and dry climates. They are classified ...

Afghan Arabi

Afghan Arabi sheep are fat-rumpled sheep found in northern Afghanistan used for meat and milk production. They generally are polled and have long pendulous ears. Typically, they are grey or black with white on their face and the average height of mature ewes is 48 cm (19 in).

Africana

Africana sheep (also known as Pelona, Camura, Red African, Rojo Africana, Colombian Wooless, or West African sheep) are found in Colombia and Venezuela. They are very similar to Pelibuey sheep in size and confirmation. They are usually brown, ranging in shade from tan to brown and cherry-red to dark red. They are is raised for meat and classified as a hair breed.

Afrino

Afrino are a fine wool, dual-purpose sheep. During the late 1960s, a request was made to the Department of Agriculture by the wool industry, via the South African Agricultural Union, to develop a white-wooled breed for extensive sheep grazing areas. In 1976, it was evident that the crossing of 25 percent Merino, 25 percent Ronderib Afrikaner, and 50 percent South African Mutton Merino best fulfilled the requirements set for the new breed. It was decided to retain only this cross for further upgrading and development of the breed known today as the Afrino. Eighty percent of the income from Afrino sheep is generated through meat production and 20 percent through wool production. The Afrino produces Merino-type woo ...

Alai

Alai sheep are a dual-purpose breed raised for its meat and wool from Kyrgyzstan. They are white with occasional spots on their legs and heads. Their wool is semi-coarse and often used in carpet. Rams may be either horned or polled; however, they ewes are all polled. Alai sheep are a fat-rump breed and are specifically adapted to living conditions of the Alay Valley region (above 3 km (1.9 mi) above sea level).

Alcarrena

Alcarrena sheep are medium-wooled meat found in the La Alcarria, Guadalajara, and the Cuenca regions of New Castille, Spain. They are of the Entrefino type. Sometimes they have light-brown markings on the head and legs, and occasionally they are all black. Both sexes are polled.

Algarve Churro

Algarve Churro sheep are from Portugal and used for meat. They are white with black spots on the feet and head. However, about 10% of them are completely black. Mature rams grow on average to 95 cm (37 in) at the withers and weigh 75 kg (170 lb). However, ewes grow to 85 cm (33 in) at the withers and weigh 55 kg (120 lb) at maturity.

Algerian Arab

Algerian Arab sheep (also known as Ouled Jellal or Western Thin-tailed sheep) are found throughout Algeria. They are adapted to arid climates and it is believed that they evolved from the Tadmit sheep in Algeria. They produce carpet-grade wool but they are primarily raised for meat. They are white and have long legs. The males are horned and the females are polled.

Alpagota

Alpagota, or Pagota, sheep are from Italy (Lamon, Vicentina and Istriana; Belluno and Venezia Provinces). They are well suited to the local hills and mountains. Content and Photo source: Agraria.org.

Alpines Steinschaf

Alpines Steinschaf are mountain sheep from the Eastern Alps of Austria and southern Germany. They are used for wool and meat… and for keeping the grass down. Alpines Steinschaf sheep are fine-boned and small to medium sized. Rams weigh 55 to 80 kg (121 to 176 lb), and ewes 40 to 60 kg (88 to 132 lb). They are found in all coat colors and sometimes their face and ears are marked with black. Their face and lower legs are without wool and their legs are thin but strong, and their hooves are hard. Rams are often horned, but ewes usually are polled. Their ears are carried horizontally or slightly drooping. They are one of four breeds in the Steinschaf group (the other three are Krainer Steinschaf, Monta ...

Altamurana

Altamurana sheep are a medium-sized Milk sheep from the Bari and Foggia Provinces, in the Apulia Region of southern Italy. Altamurana sheep are white with occasionally dark spots on their faces. They are well adapted to live on arid soils. Altamurana sheep come down from the ovines of Asian race or Syrian of the Sanson and just from the stock of Zackei. Content and photo source: Agraria.org.

Altay

Altay sheep are from the dry, cold mountain basins of China. They are fat-rumped and are sometimes raised for carpet wool (they average 2.5 to 3.5 pounds, 1.3 - 1.5 kg, of wool per shearing), but more often they are raised for meat. Over time Altay sheep gradually developed a fat tail (or rump) as a consistent characteristic. The tail (or rump) weighs about 15 pounds (7 kg). The rams average 180 pounds (82 kg) and the ewes 150 pounds (69 kg) at maturity.

American Blackbelly

American Blackbelly sheep are a composite breed resulting from the crossing of Barbados Blackbelly with Mouflon and Rambouillet breeds. As the name implies, the underbelly of the American Blackbelly is black, as is the inside of the legs, the back part of the thighs, and the hair inside the ears. Two black facial barbs extend down the muzzle medial to the eye, giving the breed an exotic appearance. Through selective breeding, the American Blackbelly has retained the coloration of its Barbados Blackbelly parent stock, but can be easily distinguished by the presence of horns on the rams. It is harder to identify which breed a ewe represents because American Blackbelly females may be polled, scurred, or horned, with the majorit ...

Ancon

Ancon sheep have long bodies with short legs. Their fore-legs are crooked. This type of sheep was bred from a single Massachusetts, USA, lamb. The Ancon sheep are quite desirable because they cannot jump over fences. The Ancon name has been applied to other strains of sheep. Scientists used the Ancon for genetic research and after it was no longer needed for study it was allowed to become extinct. Excavations of the Ancon have been done in the United Kingdom. They have found that the Ancon has a history that dates back to AD 1500. The Ancon sheep have quite a few unique features that were caused by dwarf mutation. They were well-known in the state of Massachusetts in the 1700s. Sheep owners preferred this species as it made things ...

Apennine

Apennine sheep (also known as Appenninica, Bariscianese, Chietina Varzese, or Perugina del piano) are white sheep that were found in the 1970s in central Italy, mainly in Toscana, Emilia, Umbria, arche, Abruzzi regions of Italy. They were developed by crossbreeding the local breed with other Italian or exotic breeds such as: Bergamasca and Ile-de-France. There are an estimated 250,000 heads, spread out over central and southern Italy. They are white with medium-wool that are raised mainly for meat.They are polled and have semi-lopped ears. Content and photo source: Agraria.org.

Arabi

Arabi, also known as Afghan Arabi, Sheep are fat-rumped sheep from Northern Afghanistan. They typically have long pendulous ears; they also generally have black or white faces. The Arabi rams have horns and the ewes are polled (hornless). They are raised for meat and wool production. Most likely Arabi sheep are descended from very ancient importations from Arabia across the narrow Bal-el-Mandeb Straits at the mouth of the Red Sea. They have adapted to extreme temperatures and conditions. Within the foothills of Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, summer temperatures rise to 41 degrees C (110 F) and winter temperatures down to -26 C (-15 F) with less than 400 mm (16 in) rain.

Aragonesa

Aragonesa are a dual-purpose, medium wool sheep raised mainly for its meat. They are the second most important Spanish breed after the Merino. Spanish sheep breeds of medium quality wool are considered to have originated from the crossbreeding of fine-wool strains (Merino) and those with coarse wool (Churra and Lacha), though this viewpoint is overly simplistic. Aragonesa sheep are known for ruggedness, gregarious instinct, pasturing ability, and adaptability to the harsh environment in which it is raised.

Arapawa Island

Historical records suggest that sheep have been known on Arapawa Island, NZ, in the Marlborough Sounds for at least 130 years. Most likely the Arapawa feral sheep are escapees of a flock of Merino Sheep. To those unused to their distinctive appearance, Arapawa sheep may at first acquaintance seem ungainly or even ugly, with their somewhat hunched appearance and often ragged fleece. Certainly they bear little resemblance to their more immediate Merino ancestors and even less to the Merinos familiar to us all today. Arapawas are not large sheep, being rather lean and light-boned. The clear narrow face and head, with alert bright eyes, is set on a long neck and topped with slender ears. Rams may have ...

Argentine Merino

Argentine Merino are dual-purpose (fine wool and meat) sheep from Argentina. They were developed from Criollo sheep crossed with Spanish and Saxony Merinos and later Rambouillets.

Arkhar-Merino

Arkhar-Merino sheep were developed at the Kurmektinski research station between 1934 to 1949 in Kazakhstan. They were produced by crossbreeding wild Arkhar rams and Precoce merino ewes. In 1994 Arkhar-Merino sheep were transferred to Arasbaran research station which is attached to the Research Center for Natural Resources and Domestic Animals of East Azerbaijan. Arkhar-Merino sheep have a firm and expanded skeleton. They are bulky with long legs and a broad chest. Their average staple length is 6.24 to 8.08 cm. The average fiber diameter is 22.99 in ewes and 23.51 in ram. Their greasy fleece weight is about 4.19 kg.

Arles Merino

Arles Merino is one of worlds 20 merino sheep breeds. They were developed in the South of France, by using local merino, Spanish merino (Est a Laine Merinos) and Australian Booroola sheep. The sheep were first selected by the greatest amount of wool and fine wool. However, currently the primary breeding goal is milk production of ewes and the rapid growth of lambs. In addition, those specimens are preferred for breeding who make the breed less dependent on the season, which means that the goal is to ensure good fertility all year round. They have a muscular rump and fine wool. Their wool is white with a fiber diameter of approximately 20 micron (min 17 micron, max 26 micron) and a length of 60 to 70mm. Wool from the ewes wei ...

Armenian Semicoarsewool

Armenian Semicoarsewool are dual-purpose sheep mainly found in Armenia. They are a medium-wool fat tail breed. They are raised as a dual-purpose animal, and are currently raised for milk and meat production. They were developed by crossing Rambouillet and Lincoln with Balbas sheep. They are medium to large sized and are mainly white with a white face. Both rams and ewes are generally polled. The mature ewes average body height is around 26 inches at the withers, and around 29 inches for the rams. Their average live body weight is around 85 kg. And average live body weight of the mature ewes is around 55 kg. They are well adapted to their native environments.

Askanian

Askanian, also known as Askaniysky or Askanian Fine Fleece, sheep are from Ukraine. They were developed in the early 1900s at Askania Nova by crossing American Rambouillet with Merino sheep. There were over 1.6 million Askanian sheep in 1980. Today the breed is raised mainly for it’s fine quality wool. They are medium to large sized sheep. They are mainly white and are unicolored with a white face. Their face is generally free of wool. The ewes are either polled or horned, but the rams are generally horned. Average body height of the mature ewes is around 69 cm at the withers, and the rams are much larger than the ewes. The Average live body weight of the mature Askanian rams is around 115 kg. And the ewes ar ...

Assaf

Assaf sheep are the result of crossbreeding between Awassi and East Friesian Milk sheep. In 1955, researchers of the Israeli Agricultural Research Organization (A.R.O) started this project aiming to improve the fecundity of the Awassi sheep. A combination of 3/8 East Friesian and 5/8 Awassi blood emerged as the best cross. Most dairy sheep breeders in Israel have adopted the Assaf, which is considered not only a top quality dairy sheep and excellent mutton producer, but is also well-adapted to semi-extensive to extensive production systems. Under Israeli conditions, in which ewes have approximately 3 lambings in 2 years, the annual milk yield is 450 liters. The demand for Assaf sheep is increasing every year. They have b ...

Aussiedown

Aussiedowns are large sheep were developed in the early 1990s in Australia. Today they are mainly distributed in New South Wales, Victoria, Australia. They were developed through crossbreeding Southdown and Texel sheep. The resulting progeny have a maximum of 75 percent Southdown and Texel ancestry. They are mainly raised as prime lamb sires, by crossing them over purebred or crossbred ewes. They are very good for meat production. They are generally completely white. Both rams and ewes are generally polled.

Australian Merino

Although Australian Merino sheep derive their name and basic appearance from the Spanish merino breed, they are a distinct breed in their own right. They have been developed and adapted in Australia to the specific conditions of this country.   More than 80 percent of all Australian sheep are pure Merino, with most of the remainder at least part Merino blood. Merino is grown primarily for its heavy fleeces of fine wool. Merino sheep were brought to Australia from the Cape Colony, England, Saxony (South East Germany), France, and America. The Australian Merino is not a single homogenous breed but a number of strains of sheep all of which, regardless of their origins, are uniquely Australian. The major factor deter ...

Australian White

Australian Whites are Australian meat sheep which was developed for Australian conditions. Australian White sheep are a stabilized composite haired meat breed comprising White Dorper, Van Rooy, Poll Dorset and Texel genetics. The development aim was to produce a unique Australian white, shedding sheep breed to quickly produce large framed, heavy lamb carcases. Additionally, walking or mobility ability, good fertility and mothering instincts in the ewes and hardy lambs with good growth weights were required traits to be incorporated into the breed.   In 2011 the Australian White sheep breed was shown at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for the first time.

Avranchin

Avranchin are a grassland breed of sheep. They are hardy and well-adapted to a ocean climate, usually living outdoors in small flocks. They are one of the most prolific French breeds. They have a large or medium-sized frame. They produce lambs of good butchering quality, with very fine textured meat.   The selection of the Avranchin sheep breed tends towards the maintenance of high prolificacy (the optimum sought is the ewe which regularly produces twins at each lambing), and the improvement of the milk value of the dams. Rams for breeding are chosen according to their conformation and the prolificacy and milk value indexes of their dam.

Awassi

Awassi evolved as a nomadic sheep breed through centuries of natural and selective breeding to become the highest milk producing breed in the Middle East. They are similar to the Near Eastern fat-tailed type. They are used for milk production and carpet wool. The average Awassi ewe has single lactations over 300 liters (650 pounds) per 210-day lactation, and it is not uncommon for outstanding females to have 210 day lactations above 750 liters (1,625 lbs).   As a comparison, the lactation of the average U.S. sheep breed is about 100 to 200 pounds per lactation. The breed also has the advantage of natural hardiness and grazing ability. The males are horned and the females are usually polled. The fleece is mo ...

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Babydoll Southdown

The Babydoll Southdown is a sheep of the early Southdown type imported into the U.S. and seen in England in the 1800s through the early 1900''s. They are 18" to 24" at the shoulder and display the original Southdown type and characteristics. The Southdown breed of sheep originated in the South "Downs" of Sussex County, England, and is one of the oldest of the Down breeds. English farms kept these sheep for their flavorful meat and fine fleece.

Badger Face Welsh Mountain

Torddu, the Welsh name meaning ''black belly'' have distinct black stripes above the eyes and a black stripe running from under the chin to the belly and continuing underneath to the end of the tail. The legs are black with a tan stripe. The fleece can be white, grey or light brown, but preference is given to the lighter shades. The wool should be firm and medium length (7-10 cm). The Torwen, the Welsh name meaning ''white belly'' show the reverse coloring, but with a smaller eye stripe. Their bodies should be compact and strong and of medium size. Both Torddu and Torwen rams are horned and weigh up to 90kg. Ewes are polled and weigh up to 60kg. Content and Photo Source: National Sheep Association

Bagnolese

Bagnolese Sheep are an autochthonous breed from Campania, Italy that got its name from the village of Bagnoli Irpino in the province of Avellino. They probably derives from the crossbreeding of the Barbaresca breed and the local breeds of the Apennines. Over time they spread from Irpinia to the entire region up to the provinces of Caserta and Salerno. They are medium-large white sheep with black spots. There are excellent dairy products derived from its milk: pecorino as well as ricotta cheese (fresh or salted and aged). They are also raised for meat. In Irpinia (province of Avellino) they are still largely kept in wild or semi wild state, fed on herbal pastureland with integration only in the winter months.< ...

Balkhi

Balkhi are medium to large sized sheep originated from Afghanistan and North-weste akistan. They are a fat-tailed mutton type sheep. They areraised mainly for meat production, but they are also good for producing wool. Balkhi sheep are hardy and are well adapted to their native climates. They have a low fiber density, and they approximately yield 2 kg of coarse wool with an average 43.5 micrometer diameter. The ewes are pretty good milkers and they produce enough milk for their lambs. The ewes generally lactate for about 105 days and produce around 60 kg of milk. They are black, grey, or tan. They have somewhat long ears, and their body is muscular and compact. Their tail is fat and tucked, and both rams and ewes ar ...

Baluchi

Baluchi are small sheep that originated in southern Afghanistan, eastern Iran, and southwest Pakistan. They are a fat-tailed sheep breed and are raised mainly for wool production. They are also known Araghi, Baluchi Dumda, Farahani, Khorasani, Khurasani, Mengali, Neini, Naeini, Shinwari, Taraki and Yazdi sheep.   They are raised mainly for wool production. Their wool is coarse with modulation. The average annual fleece weight is between 1.3 and 1.8 kg. The ewes are pretty good milkers, and they produce enough milk for their lambs. On average an ewe generally produce around 40 to 50 kg of milk in a lactation period of about 125 days. They are black and white with black marks on the legs and head. Their face is ...

Balwen Welsh Mountain

The Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep is a sheep for all seasons. One of the original Welsh breeds of sheep the Balwen remains as one of the most striking and versatile of all the rare breed sheep. The sheep has a base color of black, dark brown or dark grey. It has a white stripe running from the pole of the head to the top of the nose, four white feet and half white tail. Average mature ewe weighs 40-50kgs, rams 45-60kgs. Content and Photo Source: National Sheep Association

Barbados Blackbelly

Barbados Blackbelly sheep are indigenous to the Caribbean island of Barbados. They descend from sheep brought to the islands from West Africa during the slave era. Blackbellies are antelope like in appearance, brown tan or yellow in color, with black points and under-parts. Both ewes and rams are polled or have only small scurs or diminutive horns. They may have some visible fuzzy wool undercoat within their hair coat, but it should shed along with the hair each year. Barbados Blackbelies are noted for their extreme hardiness and reproductive efficiency. They are one of the most prolific sheep breeds in the world.

Barbaresca Siciliana

Found in Sicily in southern Italy, the Barbaresca Siciliana (Sicilian Barbary) was developed from the Tunisian Barbary and the Pinzirita. They have coarse to medium wool and are kept for both milk and meat production. The Sicilian Barbary is polled and usually has dark spots on the face and legs. They have lop ears and stores fat at the base of their tail. Content and photo source: Agraria.org.

Bardoka

Bardoka are a multi-purpose sheep found mainly in the Metohia region of Kosovo. Its name is derived from the Albanian word Bardoka which means white. They are mainly found in Kosovo and partially in Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia. They are medium-sized sheep. They are mainly white with a white face. Their face is generally free of wool, and their skin color is pink. Both rams and ewes are generally horned. Their horns are generally long and spiraled. Rams weight around 3.5 kg at birth and the ewes around 3.2 kg. The mature Bardoka rams average body height is around 70 cm at the withers, and around 60 cm for the ewes. Bardoka rams is around 65 kg. And average live body weight of the mature ewes is around 50 kg

Basco-Bearnais

Basco-bearnaise sheep originated from the Basque country, and also known as Vasca Carranzana, France. They were developed during the 1960s from Basque and Béarnaise sheep. They mainly are raised as a milk breed, and an ewe on average produces around 120 liters of milk per lactation. And their lactation period is around of 130 days. Their milk is of good quality containing around 5.39 percent protein. Basco-bearnaise sheep are medium to large sized. They are mainly white and have long, white and hanging wool. Their head and hooves are reddish-yellow colored. The rams have spiral horn around the ear. And the ewes can be either horned or polled. The average body height of the mature Basco-bearnaise rams is around ...

Bavarian Forest Sheep

Bavarian Forest sheep are an old and once wide-spread breed from Bavaria. Unfortunately they are decreasing in popularity. They are a small to medium sized sheep. They are mostly white, though brown and black animals do occur.   Their fleece contains a mixture of fibers: kemp, hetero type, and wool fibers. Forest sheep are aseasonal: they usually lamb 3 times in 2 years. Their fertility amounts to about 180 percent. They are a hardy, weather and disease-resistant breed. They have good mothering ability.

Belgium Milk

Belgium Milk Sheep are strongly influenced by Friesian Milk Sheep. In all probability, the Belgium Milk Sheep descends from Flemish sheep. Since the 19th century, Flemish sheep were selected for milk character. After the Second World War, the other milk sheep breeds were added. The Belgium Milk Sheep is a finely-built sheep which stands on high legs. The body is wedge-shaped. The head is covered with fine white hair. The abdomen is wooly, but slightly hairy. A typical characteristic of Belgium Milk Sheep is the so-called "rat-tail." The fertility of the breed is high. The udder is well-developed and the animals give much milk with a creamy taste.

Bellary

Bellary are medium-sized sheep native to the districts of Bellary and Davanagere and the adjoining areas of Haveri and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka, India. They are medium-sized with body colors ranging from white through various combinations of white and black to black. Most rams have horns, though ewes are generally polled. Their ears are medium long, flat and drooping, their tail is short and thin, their fleece is extremely coarse, hairy, and open and their belly and legs are devoid of wool. In farmers flocks lambing percentage is 80 - 85% and the litter size is generally single. Breeding is mostly pure. Rams are selected on the basis of size. They are primarily maintained for meat. The ewes are milked ...

Beltex

The Beltex is a medium sized sheep, long in the body. It is wedge-shaped from a narrow shoulder to a distinctive large, double-muscled hindquarter. The head is generally white in color but may have black, blue or brown shadings or patches. The fore face is short and thick. The fleece is tight, dense of medium staple length. Average male body weight 95kg. Content and Photo Source: National Sheep Association

Bentheimer Landschaf

Bentheimer Landschaf (A.K.A The Landrace of Bentheim) are medium-sized German sheep. They were developed by a cross between German and Dutch heath sheep and marsh sheep. They have been bred in the northern German Emsland area since 1934, especially in the county of Bentheim.   They are mainly white and have black around their ears, eyes, and legs. They have a slender body, long head and Roman nose. Their ears are small and the tail is long and woolly. Both rams and ewes are generally polled. The average body height of the mature ewes is around 67 cm at the withers, and the rams are slightly larger than the ewes. The average live body weight of the mature Bentheimer Landschaf rams is around 75 to 80 kg. And averag ...

Bergamasca

Bergamasca, also known by: Bergamasker, Gigante di Bergamo, Bergamacia (Brazil), sheep have white coarse wool and are raised for meat. Bergamasca sheep are found in the Lombardy, region of northern Italy. They are a basic breed of the Lop-eared Alpine group and are polled. The Bergamasca is the foundation of the other Lop-eared Alpine breeds and of Fabrianese. Content and Photo source: Agraria.org.

Berrichon du Cher

Berrichon du Cher sheep have been bred for meat production since the 18th century. This long-lasting breeding process has resulted in a well-conformed breed, characterized by early growth. Berrichon ewes have a natural ability to lamb out-of-season: 60% of lambs are naturally born from September to November, a schedule which provides high flexibility in terms of production. Berrichon du Cher Sheep are hardy and are able to cover wide distances, which render the breed suitable for various livestock management systems.

Beulah Speckled Face

Speckled-face sheep have been bred on the hills of Eppynt, Llanafan, Abergwesyn, and Llanwrtyd Wells for over 100 years, without introduction of female stock. On the hill, the ewes are normally purebred, providing flock replacements, finished lambs for the meat trade, or store lambs for finishing on lowland farms. Beulah ewes are also idea for crossing with most continental rams, as well as Suffolk and Down rams to produce high-quality carcasses. Rams have found great demand in many mountain flocks to improve size and wool quality. They have very clean soft handling wool. Ewes are hornless, as are the majority of rams. Their face is free from wool and distinctly speckled.

Bibrik

Bibrik are medium-sized sheep that originated from Pakistan. They are a fat-tailed breed and are raised mainly for meat production. They are found mainly in the parts of Sibi and Loralai districts in Baluchistan Province of Pakistan. They are mainly white with a black or brown head. Both rams and ewes are generally horned, and the rams have pretty large and curved horns. The rams generally weight around 2.8 kg at births, and the ewes around 2.4 kg. Average body height of the mature ewes is around 19 inches at the withers, and around 25 inches for the rams. The average live body weight of the mature Bibrik rams is around 37 kg. And the average live body weight of the mature ewes is around 31 kg. They ...

Biellese

Biellese sheep are from the Piedmont region of northern Italy. They are a polled carpet wool breed used for meat production. They are one of the Lop-eared Alpine group of sheep breeds. Content and photo source: Agraria.org.

Bizet

Bizet [bi.ze] sheep originating in France. They were developed between 1830 and 1900 by first crossing Caussenards sheep with Southdown and Dishley English sheep. In 1905, steps were taken to start standardizing the breed. In 1952, Bizet were introduced on the Kerguelen archipelago, where they are raised for food for the scientific station there. They grow wool but they are primarily raised for meat. The rams have horns and ewes are polled (hornless). At maturity, rams grow to 80 cm (31 in) and ewes 75 cm (30 in) at the withers. On average, rams weigh 90 kg (200 lb) and ewes 55 kg (121 lb). Ewes can lamb up to three times in two years.

Black Hawaiian

Black Hawaiian Sheep are the source of some controversy. Some say they are a cross of Mouflon and black hair sheep from the Hawaiian islands. Others say they are Barbados sheep with a dilution of the red color gene making them black. They have a thick black coat and are usually black all over, although some sport a white muzzle.   Like the other species of sheep of this type, their horns grow up, back, down, forward, up again, and then tip out. The horns of the Black Hawaiian are jet black. Males can weigh up to 140 to 150 pounds while females usually weigh about half that much. They are raise primarily for trophy hunting.

Black Welsh Mountain

Hardiness and self-reliance are the outstanding features of this ancient breed. Hill flocks of this breed, in normal conditions, require no supplementary feeding, they thrive on the short rough grasses and herbage of the unploughable uplands. They are an ideal breed for the smallholder as well as being used in their natural environment on the hill. They are a good breed for children to work with as they are shown on halters and the lambs are easy to handle. They cross well with terminal breeds to produce good quality tasty meat both as a crossbred and as a purebred. Average mature ewe weighs 45kg, rams 60-65kg. Content and Photo Source: National Sheep Association

Blackhead Persian

Blackheaded Persian sheep originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. They are a fat-rumped breed and both sexes are polled. Blackheaded Persians have a white body and black head and neck with the two colors sharply distinguished. They found their way to the tropics of the Caribbean region via South Africa many years ago. The Caribbean population has adapted well to the humid tropics. Blackheaded Persian sheep are one of the breeds that were used to develop Dorper sheep. Harlequin or Speckled Persians Some Blackheaded Persians have solid colored heads, legs and tails, while their body is covered with spots and patches on a white background. The pattern on each indiv ...

Bleu du Maine

Bleu du Maine are a large grassland sheep with slate blue/grey coloring heads. They originated in Western France in the region of Mayenne. They were developed from crossing Leicester Longwool and Wensleydale sheep. The breed has no wool on its head or legs. They are similar to Texel sheep but they have a higher litter size and age of sexual maturity. Their average daily gain, carcass leanness, milk yield, and lambing interval are similar to the Texel, but the Blue du Maine are lighter muscled. They have a very alert eye, large nostrils and ears, and no horns. Blue du Maine sheep are large; the average mature ewe weighs 80-120 kg, rams 110-180kg. Both sexes are polled.

Blue Texel

Blue Texel sheep are a color variant of the normally white Texel sheep. Blue Texel sheep come from white Texels who carry the color factor "blue" with them. This factor is a recessive factor. From a mating of two white Texels who both carry the factor for the blue color, there is a 25 percent chance blue lambs will be born while a mating between a Blue Texel and another Blue Texel always gives blue lambs. Texel sheep evolved as a result of crossbreeding the Dutch polder sheep with several English breeds, such as Leicester, Wensleydale, and Lincoln at the beginning of the 20th century.   Today, as a result of efficient selection, the Texel breed has developed into a meat-type sheep of outstanding lean meat quality ...

Bluefaced Leicester

The Bluefaced Leicester is the single most significant sheep breed in the UK today, with nearly 50% of the UKs commercial breeding flock being sired by the Bluefaced Leicester. Of the remaining  50%  around half are being mated with  Bluefaced Leicester rams to produce Mule ewes. The great strength of the Blueface, is that no matter what breed of sheep its crossed with, its progeny the Mule proves a better commercial ewe than its mother. The Bluefaced Leicesters improve prolificacy, mothering ability, ease of management and most importantly financial return. The breed started in Northumberland around 100 years ago. Over the last half century the breed has spread all over the UK, especially into Scotland and Wales whe ...

Bond

Bond sheep evolved in Australia in 1909 as a dual-purpose breed, using Peppin Merinos and imported Lincoln rams. Bonds are tall, long-bodied sheep, heavy in the bone and with open faces and a robust constitution. They produce bulky, long-stapled, bright 22-28 micron wool. Lambs are long, lean, and fast growing. Bond rams weigh up to 150 kg (330 lbs.).   Bond sheep are mainly found in the south east portion of Australia. They have the ability to produce economic results in a wide range of climatic conditions of rainfall from 350-1140 mm (14 to 45 inches).

Booroola Merino

Booroola Merino sheep were developed on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. They differ from normal Merino in two ways. First, they are more fertile; their fertility is as high as any breed in the world. The number of lambs born per ewe lambing is 2.4, with a range of 1 to 6. Half-Booroola ewes on average wean 20 percent more lambs than comparable Merinos under the same conditions. Secondly, Booroolas have the ability to breed at most times of the year, thus extending the breeding season.   The high profligacy of the Booroola Merino is due to the action of a single gene. Booroola actually refers to a gene called the B gene (also called F for fecundity). The B gene can be transferred into any bre ...

Border Cheviot

Border Cheviot sheep originated as a mountain breed, native to the Cheviot Hills between Scotland and England, where the climate is harsh and the conditions are rugged. Cheviots are extremely hardy and can withstand harsh winters and graze well over hilly pastures. They were bred to look after themselves. Recognized as early as 1372, the breed is reported to have developed from sheep that swam ashore from shipwrecked Spanish ships that fled northward after the defeat of the Armada.   Cheviot sheep are a distinctive white-faced sheep, with a wool-free face and legs, pricked ears, black muzzle and black feet. They are a very alert, active sheep, with a stylish, lively carriage. Cheviot wool has a distinctive helica ...

Border Leicester

Border Leicester sheep are one of three distinct breeds of Leicester sheep. Border Leicester sheep were developed in 1767 by George and Matthew Culley of Fenton, Northumberland, England. They were friends of Robert Bakewell and had access to his improved Leicesters. Some believe that the Culley brothers developed the Border Leicester by crossing Bakewell''s improved Leicester rams with Teeswater ewes. Others argue that Cheviot blood was introduced. In any case, the breed was firmly established in England by 1850 and Border Leicesters have now surpassed the old English Leicester in popularity in the British Isles and in other countries.   Border Leicesters are a distinctively large white sheep, long in ...

Borderdale

Borderdale sheep were developed in New Zealand. They are the result of breeding the Border Leicester and Corriedale breeds and interbreeding each generation until the F5 stage. Borderdales are a medium-large, hardy, long-woolled breed, with a comparatively low susceptibility to foot rot. They have a good growth rate. Ewes are often used for crossbreeding with terminal sires from the meat breeds. Borderdales are found mainly on the plains, dowlands, and foothills of Canterbury (New Zealand).

Boreray

Boreray sheep originated on the island of Boreray in the St Kilda archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. And the breed was named from this island. It is also known by some other names such as Hebridean Blackface and Boreray Blackface sheep. They were developed during the late 19th century from Scottish Blackface and a Hebridean type of Old Scottish Shortwool sheep. They have been largely feral since 1930. Their fleece is white to light tan, but occasionally darker. Both sexes are horned. The ram''s horns are large and spiraled. Adult ewes weigh about 28 kg (62 lbs) and stand 55 cm (22 inches) at the withers.   Today, it is the rarest sheep breed in the United Kingdom and there are less than 300-500 ...

Bovska

Bovska Sheep got their name from the small town Bovec that lies in upper Soflorina valley which is in the Northwest part of Slovenia near the Italian border. In Trenta valley this breed is also called trentarka or pure trentarka if it has the short ears sometimes seen with this breed. The Bovska sheep breed originated in the white sheep which were once distributed throughout the Alps. Bleiweis (1871) mentioned the Trbiska sheep breed and reported that sheep with shorter ears produced more milk. Pirc reported that Tolminska and Bovska sheep breeds originated from the peat sheep while in the German literature it is stated that in some Alpine valleys and swampy areas Stonesheep (Steinschafe) or Zaupelschafe were found which ...

Braunes Bergschaf

Braunes Bergschaf, or Brown Mountain, sheep are from the alpine regions of Bavaria (Germany), Tyrol (Austria), Southern Tyrol (Italy), and the Swiss Canton of Engadine. In recent years, Braunes Bergschaf Sheep have gained popularity beyond their original borders. Brown Mountain Sheep are descended from the Tyrolean Steinschaf (Stone Sheep), which can be of all colors, one color per sheep, and is rarely white.  Braunes Bergschaf are medium-sized with a slender, hornless head, and a Roman nose profile. Their ears are long, broad, and hanging. They have strong legs with hard hoofs. They are extremely hardy and show no fear of heights. Non- seasonal breeding is possible three times in two years, and twins are the norm.

Brecknock Hill Cheviot

Brecknock Hill Cheviot sheep were developed from Scottish Cheviot sheep that were introduced to Wales in the 1850s. They are known for their longevity. They have a white face and legs. Their ears are erect with no ruff of wool behind them. They have no wool on their face or on their legs below their knees or hock. They have broad, strong backs. The rams are occasionally horned, and ewes are polled. The average mature ewe weighs 60kg and rams weigh 90kg. Ewes and usually rams are polled.

Brentegana Scelta

Brentagana Scelta are large white sheep raised for wool and meat. They are an Italian breed andbelong to the Alpine group. They are known for their adaptation to the local marginal conditions. Content and photo source: agraia.org.

Brianzola

Brianzola are large white sheep related to the giant Alpine meat sheep coming from Ovis aries sudanica of Sanson. They come from Brianza, Italy, a territory including the provinces of Como, Lecco and Monza (Lombardia). They are raised for meat. Brianzola are large white sheep related to the giant Alpine meat sheep coming from Ovis aries sudanica of Sanson. They come from Brianza, Italy, a territory including the provinces of Como, Lecco and Monza (Lombardia). They are raised for meat. Content and photo source: Agraria.org.

Brigasca

Brigasca sheep are a local breed whose name is linked to the border territory between Liguria, Piedmont and Provence. They are descended from the Frabosana breed and likely crossbred with Langhe sheep. The Brigasca is a rustic animal, perfectly adapted to the traditional rearing system of a minimum of six months in alpine pastures. Brigasca sheep are used for milk and meat. Their milk is used to produce three different kinds of cheese: Sora, Toma, and Brus. All are made with techniques and tools bound to the ancient tradition of transhumance. Content and photo source: Agraria.org.

Brillenschaf

Brillenschaf sheep are from Carinthia, Austria. They are a member of the Alpine Mountain Sheep Breeds. They are named for their eyeglass marks around their eyes, under the eyes, and on their ears. They are a cross between the Landschaf, Bergamasca, and Paduaner Schaf sheep. They are hardy and frugal; they can cope with high precipitation and are experts in climbing, therefore they are used for grazing high alpine areas which are inaccessible to cows. They are endangered and since 1938, they have almost completely died out.

British Milk

British Milk sheep are medium to large polled sheep with a predominantly white face and legs. Their head is usually free from wool, the muzzle broad and the ears long. The ewe is naturally prolific and is noted for its quiet temperament which is important in the management of high performance sheep. The conformation of the ewe, particularly the roomy pelvic area, ensures that lambing is easy. The rams have a long body and good hindquarters. They are robust and active being keen and vigorous workers all through the year. Average mature ewe weighs 80kg, rams 110kg. Content and Photo Source: National Sheep Association

Brogna

Bragna sheep have white coats and rosy skin. They are used mainly for meat, but also for milk. They are an autochthonous breed of uncertain origin. They are mainly reared in the province of Verona (Veneto), particularly in Lessinia, Italy. Content and photo source: Agraria.org.

Brown Headed Meat

Brown Headed Meat, or Braunkopfiges Fleischschaf, are one of the four predominant sheep breeds in Switzerland. They are the heaviest breed. They were developed by crossing Oxfords from England and German Blackheaded Mutton sheep onto landrace sheep.   The breed is seasonal, lambing once per year, usually in the winter, averaging 1.7 lambs.

Bundner Oberland

Bundner Oberland (also known as Bunder Oberlanderschaf, Grisons, or Graubunden) sheep are from Switzerland. They are found in white, brown, or silver-grey. Their head is slender and bare. Rams have substantial horns while ewes have small horns or are polled (hornless). Both sexes display rather primitive behavior. Multiple births are common. When mature, rams weigh on average 72 kg (159 lb) and ewes 50 kg (110 lb). After reaching maturity, rams grow to 72 cm (28 in) and ewes 68 cm (27 in) at the withers. In 2007, there were less than 1,100 but their population is increasing and are used primarily for vegetation management.

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Calabrese

Calabrese, also known as Sciara or Moscia Calabrese, sheep are an autochthonous breed from the provinces of Cosenza and Catanzaro (Calabria), reared in the high hills on poor steep grazing land. They belong to the group with soft hanging woolly coat but it is smaller than Altamurana and Leccese breeds. They have white coats and are raised for milk. Content and photo source: agraria.org.

California Red

California Red are medium-wool meat and wool sheep developed in 1970. They are a cross between Barbados and Tunis sheep.   Mature rams weigh 225 to 250 pounds and ewes range from 130 to 150 pounds. Both sexes are naturally hornless. Lambs are born a solid rust or cinnamon red color, a color that is retained as they mature.   At maturity, their fleeces turn a beige or oatmeal color. Their legs and faces are free of wool with long pendulous ears. Their wool is silky in texture and has found a specialty market with hand-spinners and weavers. They breed all year-round.

California Variegated Mutant

California Variegated Mutant Sheep, or simply C.V.M. Sheep, are the result of many crossbreeding started in 1915. In 1915 A.T. Spencer developed the Romeldale breed. He purchased several New Zealand Romney Rams in 1915 that were brought to the Pan-American exposition in San Francisco. He felt the Romney breed would increase the staple, length, and carcass quality of his Rambouillets. Through many years of selection, the Romeldale breed was developed, with fleece properties of 60-64s, extremely high yield, and uniformity, including carcass cutability superior to other white-face breeds. During the 1960s, Glen Eidman, a partner of J.K. Sexton, found in his purebred Romeldale flock a multi-colored ewe lamb. Two year ...

Cambridge

Cambridge Sheep are a very prolific breed that has particular value in crossbreeding. The Cambridge is a dark faced medium size sheep. The mature weight of rams and ewes is 100 kg and 67 kg respectively. They are long lived with excellent teeth and are hardy and resilient to environmental extremes. Ewes lambs easily, are good mothers and the incidence of mastitis is low. The breeds high prolificacy means that it can be mated with a variety of other breeds and crossbreeds to produce, high performance commercial ewes. Content and Photo Source: National Sheep Association.

Cameroon

Cameroon are hair sheep from West Africa. Instead of wool, they carry a hair coat that in the autumn forms an additional undercoat, which is shed after winter. Cameroon sheep do not require shearing.   Cameroon sheep are very prolific and reach puberty very early. They are aseasonal and can produce two lamb crops per year. They are a resistant, problem-free sheep. Their most common color is brown with a black belly, head, and legs.

Campbell Island

The first sheep were landed on sub Antarctic Campbell Island (over 600 kilometers south of the New Zealand mainland) in 1895 after a grazing lease had been taken up. Two thousand more were introduced in 1901, and a further thousand in 1902. Both of the first introductions are known to have been Merinos, but the last was of an unknown breed - at least some must have been longwools such as Lincolns or Leicesters. As a result, the Campbell Island sheep are one of the few feral breeds known to have anything other than Merino blood; they range from quarter- to half-bred Merino-longwool crosses. Campbell Island sheep do not have the high proportion of colored animals that occur in some feral flocks. When farming was ...

Canadian ARCOTT

Canadian Arcott sheep are raised primarily for meat. As the name suggests, they were developed in Canada. And the later half of their name, ARCOTT, is an acronym for the Animal Research Center in Ottawa. They were developed from crossbreeding Romnelet (6%), North Country Cheviot (7%), Leicester (14%), Ile de France (28%) and Suffolk (37%) sheep. The remaining 8 percent was contributed from Shropshire, Lincoln, Corriedale, East Friesian, Finnsheep, and Southdown Dorset. They are medium to large sized hardy sheep, and are well adapted to their native climates. They are able to adapt to pasture or confinement systems easily. The lambs grow relatively fast and produce excellent carcass meat and reach a market weight of 37 kg at ...

Castlemilk Moorit

Castlemilk Morrit Sheep were developed during the the early years of the 20th century. The late Sir Jock Buchanan-Jardine began a breeding program on his Castlemilk Estate in Dumfriesshire. Using Manx Loghtan, moorit Shetland, and wild Mouflon, he developed a breed to beautify his parkland and provide fine, kemp-free moorit colored wool. On the death of Sir John Buchanan-Jardine the flock was dispersed in 1970, and six ewes and a ram were bought by Joe Henson at the Cotswold Farm Park.   All of todays Castlemilk Moorits are descended from these few sheep. The Castlemilk Moorit is one of the larger primitive-type breeds, with mature ewes weighing in the region of 40 kgs. (85 lbs.) and rams 55 kgs. (120 lbs.) The e ...

Charmoise

Charmoise sheep are polled white faced and white legged sheep with a deep body coated in a tight fleece of good quality. It has the most excellent conformation with short neck well-muscled loins and strong gigots. It is light of bone and very alert and lively from birth. Average mature ewe weighs 65-70kg, rams 80-90kg. Content and Photo Source: National Sheep Association

Charollais

Charollais Sheep are a medium to large sized sheep. They are long and well-muscled with thick, deep gigots. The body is long with a well-muscled broad loin and wide deep chest. The head is free from wool, pinkish/grey in color sometimes with spots. The line of the shoulders should retain a wedge shape which is so important for ease of lambing. The legs are clean, quite short, colored but never very dark. The front legs should not be set too wide apart and animal must be well balanced. The gigots are well developed, thick and deep. The breed is primarily a terminal sire and the fleshing quality is of the highest importance. Excessive bone is undesirable in the breed; the fineness of bone contributes to the high killing out percentag ...

Chatham Island

Near the southwest corner of the main island of the Chatham group, NZ, is a small flock of feral sheep which appear to have certain Merino characteristics, and thus may predate the Islands change to longwool breeds. It is believed that Chatham Island ferals have been living wild for almost a hundred years, and it is possible that they originated from some Saxon Merinos that were taken to South East Island (another of the Chatham group) in 1841. The most noticeable difference between these and the feral sheep of Pitt Island is that the Chatham ferals are mostly white-woolled, whereas those on Pitt are mostly colored. Content and Photo Source: New Zealand Rare Breeds (

Merino Landschaf, also known as Wurttemberger, sheep are a German variety of Merino. They constitute about 30% of the sheep population in Germany and are the most common commercial breed. They descend from Merino sheep first brought to Saxony in 1765.

Nera di Arbus, or Pecora Nera di Arbus ("black sheep of Arbus"), Sheep are medium-small from Arbus in the south west coast of Sardinia, Italy. They are found in the provinces of Cagliari, Nuoro, Oristano and Sassari. Their hair is black, sometimes with shades of gray lead.

They have course wool and it used to produce orbace, a coarse hand-woven cloth, used to produce traditional Sardinian garments.< ...