Livestock Final - Sheep Breeds

Wool Breeds

Merino, Rambouillet, Lincoln, Columbia

Merino

finest quality fleeces of the wool breeds

developed in the US - originated from the Spanish Merino

appearance: white faced, dense, high quality fleeces, wool on forehead and legs, moderate in frame

strengths: known for hardiness and longevity, out of season breeder, maternal

Rambouillet

most popular fine wool

developed in France

appearance: white faced, dense high quality fleeces, wool on forehead and legs, largest framed fine wool breed

strengths: known for hardiness, out of season breeders, maternal

Lincoln

long wool breed

developed in England

appearance: bluish-white face, wool on forehead and legs except lower part of front legs which should be bare, polled, large framed, deep bodied

strengths: produce a lot of wool, maternal

Columbia

“dual-purpose” breed

developed in US from Lincoln x Rambouillet

appearance: white faced, wool on forehead and down legs

large in size

Meat Breeds

Suffolk, *Hampshire*, Shropshire, Southdown, Oxford, Dorset, Cheviot, Montadale

Suffolk

meat breed, developed in England

strengths: high cutability, terminal

appearance: largest US breed, black head, legs bare of wool

Hampshire

meat breed, developed in England

appearance: large framed, black face & white legs w/ wool caps & wool on legs

strengths: terminal

Shropshire

meat breed, developed in England

appearance: medium frame, dark face and legs, wool cap, cheek wool, and leg wool

strengths: terminal

Southdown

meat breed, developed in England

appearance: small framed, light brown face and legs (mousey gray), wool covers entire body, pigmented nose and hooves

strengths: terminal

Oxford

meat breed, developed in England

appearance: large framed, light muscled, dark brown face, wool on face and legs

Dorset

“dual-purpose” - maternal ability + meet breed

developed in England

appearance: totally white, wool on forehead and legs, medium sized

strengths: prolific, heavy milking females ~ sometimes have triplets, out of season breeders common

Cheviot

meat breed, developed in Scotland and England

appearance: small in size, white faced w/ bare head and legs, hooves and nostrils are black

strengths: terminal

Montadale

“dual-purpose”

meat breed, developed in US from a Cheviot x Columbia

appearance: medium size, white face, black nose and hooves

strengths: prolific, good milking ability

Extra Breeds

Texel, Tunis, Dorper, Katadin

Texel

extraordinary muscle content, lambing difficultly, terminal

Tunis

meat breed, maternally strong, red face and legs

Dorper

extreme growth in recent years

naturally drop their fleece ~ sheering not required, hair breed

can look like cross between sheep & goat

Katadin

naturally drop fleece

white face and body