Common Breeds

Cheviot (Border or North Country)

• Cheviots are extremely vigorous, hardy, and good foragers that can survive harsher conditions than many other sheep

• Cheviot ewes are smaller framed, therefore take less feed for maintenance (55–70 kg overall)

• Not wooly, white face with black nose (meat)

• They are a quick and alert breed who are excellent mothers requiring little help at lambing time, possessing good udders and small teats so that newborn lambs can nurse easily

• The lambs are vigorous and will finish on good pasture at 25–40 kg live weight. Border Cheviot rams are used to produce smaller heads and shoulders for easier delivery in first-time ewes.

Suffolk

• Still one of the dominant breeds in the Canadian industry. Because Suffolk lambs exceed all other breeds in rate of gain, and respond well to confinement

• Large in size

• Meat breed

• Black face with white/cream body

• Free of wool

• Smooth all over

Dorset (horned or polled)

• Dorset ewes are relatively prolific, good mothers, and breed out of season

• The breed adapts well to confinement and is readily used in accelerated crossbreeding programs

• Medium sized breed with good muscle formation

• Mature ewe – 55 to 90 kg

• Lots of wool coverage (fiber)

• White face, pink nose

Canadian Sheep Breeders

The Canadian Sheep Breeders' Association is an organization of over 1,000 breeders of purebred sheep across Canada, representing over 40 breeds of sheep.