Sheep Breeds

Hampshire

superior meat breed; common use as a terminal sire; wool cap on face and legs

Suffolk

largest sized breed in U.S. and most popular; bare black head and legs with long ears

Columbia

used as dam breeds in range flocks; white faces with wool on legs

Dorset

used as a cross with fine-wool ewes to produce crossbred females; medium sized, white-faced with wool on legs

Southdown

farm flock production of lambs at light weights; light brown/gray face with wool on legs

Merino

no other wool can compare with their wool in its color, uniformity, strength, density, and fineness

Rambouillet

foundation of most western U.S. range flocks; produces high-quality, fine-wool fleece; white-faced with wool on legs

Lincoln

largest breed of sheep; fleece is ideal for spinning; white face with wool on legs

Dorper

have a mixture of hair and wool

Katahdin

breed of hair sheep developed in U.S.; have good parasite tolerance; wool can be any pattern or color