sheep breeds

ram breeds

have good growth and meat quality, but lower quality wool.

Rambouillet

France, developed from merino. popular in western range flocks. fine wool, medium-high growth rate, longevity, hardy, and strong flocking instinct.

Awassi

dairy breed, middle east. white with brown heads. fat-tailed breed, natural hardiness, grazing ability, heavy lactation, males are horned, females are polled, used for meat, milk, and wool.

barbados blackbelly

hair breed. barbados. antelope appearance. high quality meat, hardy, reproductive efficiency, prolific, disease resistant, lean muscling = low pounds

dairy breeds

used in specialty markets for cheese production

Dorper

hair breed. south africa. polled, black head, high growth rates, very muscular, thick skin (most sought after sheepskin), average lambing,

dorset

ram breed. england. either horned or polled. medium wool. medium-high growth rates, heavy muscled carcass, prolific, heavy milkers, docile, adaptable to any environment.

East friesian

dairy breed. germany. large, highest producing dairy sheep, do best in small flocks, docile, course long wool.

sheep hair breeds

look like goats. have better survivability, parasite resistence, and an extended breeding season

Hampshire

ram breed. england. scattered or destroyed during the civil war but later reintroduced. Medium wool, high growth rate, large, black face with wool cap and wool on legs, quality carcasses, susceptible to parasites and footrot, not good in damp environments.

Karakul

dual purpose breed. fat tailed breed. central asia. specialty breed in the US. Large tail that stores fat, silky prized fleece, source of milk, meat, tallow and wool, survive in adverse conditions with very little forage, and a low twinning rate (100%)

Katahdin

hair breed. maine. medium frame size, improved carcass quality. natural resistance to internal parasites, low maintenance, 150-170% twin rate, do well on pasture, color variety.

Lacaune

dairy breed. france. most popular dairy breed in france, second in the US. do well in rough terrain and harsh climates. Milk is used to make famous cheese: roquefort cheese, wool breed, course long wool.

Merino

ewe breed from spain. white, fine wool, low-medium growth rate, adapted to range, foundation breed for most modern day fine wool breeds.

Navajo-Churro

first domesticated sheep in north america. small, hardy, disease resistent, long and coarse fleece, 125% twinning rate. rams have 5 horns.

polypay

ewe breed. created at the US sheep eperiment station. Cross of the targhee, dorset, rambouilett, and finn sheep. Developed to produce two lamb crops and one wool crop per year. Mixed wool, medium size, prolific, extended breeding season. acceptable growth, high carcass quality.

southdown

ram breed. england. one of the oldest breeds. medium wool, medium growth rate, small, easy keepers, heavy quality carcass, early maturing 200% twinning rate

suffolk

ram breed. england. most popular breed in the US. medium wool, high growth rates, large, heads and legs free of wool, heavy high quality carcass

Texel

ram breed, from the island of texel in the netherlands. medium frame size, heavy muscled, good quality lean carcass, medium grade white wool, docile and calm, feed efficient, do well on pasture.

ewe breeds

white faced breeds with fine wool, have good mothering ability, hardiness, good fleece, good volume of wool, and slower growth rates.

awassi, east friesian, lacaune

the 3 dairy breeds

Barbados blackbelly, dorper, and Katahdin

the 3 hair sheep

Hampshire, suffolk, southdown, dorset, texel

the 5 ram breeds

merino, rambouillet, polypay

the 3 ewe breeds