Ovine

Cheviot

Sheep type: Meat

International origin: Scotland

Distinguishing characteristics: White bare face; upright ears; medium build; bare legs

Horned or polled: Polled

Breeding characteristics: Hardy; good carcass quality

Other information: Adapted to harsh uplands.

Dorset

Sheep type: Meat

International origin: England

Distinguishing characteristics: White face; medium-large body; bare face/legs

Horned or polled: Horned and polled strains

Breeding characteristics: Out-of-season breeding; good mothers

Other information: Popular for fertility and lambing.

Hampshire

Sheep type: Meat

International origin: England

Distinguishing characteristics: Large; black face with wool cap; black legs

Horned or polled: Polled

Breeding characteristics: Rapid growth; carcass quality

Other information: Common terminal sire breed.

Southdown

Sheep type: Meat

International origin: England

Distinguishing characteristics: Small-medium; gray/brown face; wool on face/legs

Horned or polled: Polled

Breeding characteristics: Early maturing; good meat conformation

Other information: Old English down breed.

Suffolk

Sheep type: Meat

International origin: England

Distinguishing characteristics: Large; black bare face and legs; long body

Horned or polled: Polled

Breeding characteristics: Fast growth; terminal sire breed

Other information: Most popular US purebred meat sheep.

merino

Wool type: Fine Wool

International origin: Spain

Distinguishing characteristics: Fine-boned; white face and legs; dense body; skin folds in some strains

Horned or polled: Rams horned; ewes usually polled

Breeding characteristics: Extremely fine wool; high fleece weight

Other information: Foundation of fine-wool industry; wool highly prized

Debouillet

Wool type: Fine Wool

International origin: United States (New Mexico);

Distinguishing characteristics: White face; medium size; dense fleece; hardy frame

Horned or polled: Mostly polled

Breeding characteristics: Fine, long-staple wool; hardy in arid climates

Other information: Developed from Rambouillet × Merino.

Rambouillet

Wool type: Fine Wool; International origin: France (from Spanish Merino); Distinguishing characteristics: White face/legs; deep body; clean head; Horned or polled: Rams horned or polled; ewes polled; Breeding characteristics: Fine, dense fleece; quality wool clip; Other information: Major fine-wool breed worldwide.

Border Leicester

Wool type: Long Wool

International origin: England

Distinguishing characteristics: Roman nose; long upright ears; large frame

Horned or polled: Polled

Breeding characteristics: Long, lustrous fleece; heavy staple

Other information: Adaptable; used in crossbreeding.

Lincoln

Wool type: Long Wool

International origin: England

Distinguishing characteristics: Large; long body; heavy bone; white face/legs with wool to knees/hocks

Horned or polled: Polled

Breeding characteristics: Heaviest, longest-staple wool (~12 in); Other information: One of the largest sheep breeds.

Romney

Wool type: Long Wool

International origin: England (Kent)

Distinguishing characteristics: Medium-large; white face; blocky build; wool on legs

Horned or polled: Polled

Breeding characteristics: Heavy fleece, lustrous wool resistant to felting

Other information: Adapted to wet climates; dual-purpose.