Sheep Breeds

ANSC Animal Evaluation and Handling

Ewe Breeds

Merino

Rambouillet

Corriedale

Dual-Purpose Breeds

Columbia

Dorset

Corriedale

Cheviot

Ram Breeds

Suffolk

Hampshire

Shropshire

Southdown

Cheviot

Fine-wool Breeds

Merino

Rambouillet

Medium-wool Breeds

Suffolk

Hampshire

Shropshire

Southdown

Corriedale

Cheviot

Dorset

Columbia

Long-wool Breeds

Lincoln

Cotswold

Hair Sheep

St. Croix

Dorper

Katahdin

Barbados

Blackbelly

Delaine-Merino (Merino)

Hardy, long-lived, gregarious, unassisted lambing

Out of season breeders

Medium size, moderate growth rate

Highest quality, finest fleeces

Merino Origin

From Spain

Closely controlled Genetics

Bred to reduce folds in skin

Contributed to wealth of Spain

Rambouillet

White colored

Females are polled, but rams usually have long sprial horns

Fleeces are fine-quality, long staple, fair density, good uniformity, and moderate shrinkage

Year round breeders

Acceptable meat conformation

Rambouillet Origin

From France

Descended from Spanish Merino

Dominate commercial sheep industry

Suffolk

White colored

Solid black head and legs

Good grazer and rustler

Excellent mothers

Suffolk Origin

From Suffolk county, England

Southdown x Norfolk

Farm-flock production

Noted for alertness and active disposition

Hampshire

White colored

Black faces and legs

Wool-cap on forehead and wool on legs

Hampshire Origin

England

Southdown x Cotswold x Wiltshire and Berkshire Knot

Used for crossbred lamb production

Rapid growth rate

Excellent meat-type

Good milkers

Good maternal instincts

Shropshire

White colored

Black face

Black lower legs

Originally smaller than Hamps

Less muscular than Hamps

More wool on head and legs than Hamps

Shropshire Origin

Western England

Excellent “utility” breed for farm-operations

Good crossing ability

Hardy, early-maturing, long-lived, prolific, easy lambers, good milkers, good mothers

Meaty, heavy-muscled carcasses

Southdown

White colored

Mouse brown on muzzle and legs

Black nose and hooves

Short ears w/ wool

Southdown Origin

From England

Oldest and smallest of “Down” breeds

Early maturing

Adaptable to varied and wet climates

Dorset

White head

Long legs

Pink nose and white hooves

Dorset Origin

Southern England

Not a “Down” breed

Both horned and polled strains

Hardy and long-lived

Out of season breeders

Noted for prolificacy and heavy milk production

Cheviot

White colored

White face and legs

Black nose and hooves

Very erect ears

Cheviot Origin

From Scotland

Developed for hardiness, vitality, and ability to withstand cold climates and heavy snow

Easy lambers, good mother

Exceptional maternal instincts

Small breed with rapid growth rapids

Columbia

White colored

White faces and legs

Pink nose and white hooves

Columbia Origin

Lincoln x Rambouillet

Hardy sheep, adapted for Western US ranges

Both sexes polled

Possess good herding instinct

Corriedale

White colored

Black nose and hooves

Corriedale Origin

From New Zealand

Lincoln x Leicester x Merino

Gregarious and early-maturing

Mid-length breeding season

Good prolificacy and milking ability

Finn Sheep

Several colors and patterns

Finn Sheep Origin

From Finland

AKA Finnish Landrace

Known for litters of lambs

Used to increase lambing percentage

Montadale

White colored

Black hooves and pigment

Very little lanolin

Montadale Origin

From USA

Columbia x Cheviot

Oxford

White colored

Dark brown face

Wool on legs

Oxford Origin

From Oxford County, England

Large breed

Romney

White and natural colored

Grey or black nose pigment and hooves

Romney Origin

From Kent, England

Unique fleece that hangs in separate locks

Finest of long wool breeds

Barbados Blackbelly

White/tan colored

Dark underbelly

Barbados Blackbelly Origin

From Africa

Introduced to Caribbean region in 1500s

Resistant to parasites

Used for brush control

Dorper

White colored

Either solid white or w/ a black head

Dorper Origin

From South Africa

Blackhead Persian x Dorset

Highly fertile

Long breeding season

Have a mixture of hair and wool, no shearing

Katahdin

White or natural colored

Largest hair-sheep breeds

Katahdin Origin

From Maine

St. Croix x Suffolk x Wiltshire Horn

Excellent maternal instincts, prolific, and good milk production

Unusually tolerant to heat and humidity, as well as cold environments

St. Croix

White colored

Bump on front chest and small camel hump

St. Croix Origin

From Virgin Islands

Climate adaptable, early-maturing, fertile

Excellent foragers

Docile, calm temperament, with good flocking instincts