A FEW SELECTED BREEDS OF SHEEP

Stephen R Schafer, EdD

2008

University of Nevada-Reno

Partially Funded By

Ag Council of Nevada 4 Hall Lane Yerington, NV 89447

This presentation was developed for use as an educational resource and is provided as an educational service. User/purchase fees are not associated with this presentation.

Information Development
Much effort and time was devoted to:
developing accurate/current information incorporating appropriate pictures/graphics providing proper credit of pictures/graphics obtaining copyright/educational permission

Any and/or all errors, omissions, etc. are purely unintentional/accidental.

Information Sources
Auburn University (Sheep Identification)
National 4-H/4HCCS (4-H Sheep Manuals) Ohio State University (Sheep Resource Handbook) Oklahoma State University (Sheep Breed Ident) University of Kentucky (Agripedia) University of Maryland (Sheep & Goat Breeds) University of Wyoming (4-H Sheep Manuals) Wikipedia
{internet site}

(Internet Encyclopedia)

TYPICAL OR COMMON BREEDS OF SHEEP

Author Dr. Steve Schafer, University of Nevada-Reno Reviewers Mr. Ron Cunningham, University of Wyoming Dr. Terry Dumas, Louisiana State University Dr. Susan Kerr, Washington State University

Barbado

Photo: Lynn Magedson

Originated in Texas Tan, tan with pale belly, tan with black belly, or pied are most common color/color pattern Face is light/white colored Females are polled Males have large horns that curl & sweep Due to distinctive horns, used as trophy animal on big game ranches

California Red
Originated in California

Beige/oatmeal color wool

Legs, face, forehead, poll, & around ears (to under jaw/throat) is wool free Wool-free areas are red in color, the area around nose/mouth is whitish Both sexes are polled
Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Medium size, meat sheep

Cheviot

Originated in the hills of England & Scotland Wool-free face & legs White face & legs Black nose/muzzle & feet, dark eyes, & erect ears; give it a distinct, perky, & stylish appearance

Hardy, easy lambing, good mothers, & fast maturity

Photo: Unknown Source

A smaller breed of sheep

Columbia

Originated in US, by US Dept of Agriculture (Wyoming & Idaho) It is all white; with light pigmentation of nose, muzzle, mouth, & ears Has wool on legs & poll Developed for range, but have proven adaptable to pastures & grasses

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

A large breed of sheep

Corriedale
Originated in Australia & New Zealand It is all white; with dark pigmentation of nose, muzzle, & mouth Has wool on legs & poll It is a polled sheep breed Its a dual-purpose breed
Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

It is a larger sheep breed

Cotswold
Originated in England (Hills of Gloucester) Has white face & legs Dark pigmentation of the nose, mouth, inside the ears, & on the hooves Fleece is carried in locks & is quite abundant from the foretop/poll
Photo: Unknown Source

A medium to large breed

Dorper

Originated in South Africa Has white body & usually a black head/neck (85% of Dorper Sheep Breeders of South Africa)

Skin is lightly covered with mixture of hair & wool

Dorper skin is thick, which is why it is most sought sheepskin in the world
Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

It is a meat breed of sheep

Dorset

Originated in Wales
They are all white Can be polled or horned Have wool on legs & head, except for face

Light pigmentation of nose, hooves, mouth, ears, etc

A thicker breed, with good muscle conformation; so has a desirable carcass
Photo: Unknown Source

It is a medium sized breed

Hampshire
Originated in England It has black hair on its legs & head, it has also black pigmentation of nose, mouth, & hooves

The legs are free of wool below the knee/hock

The face is free of wool, but wool is present on the forehead/poll
Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

A medium to large breed

Lincoln

Originated in England It is all white; with dark pigmentation of the nose, mouth, & inside the ears The fleece is carried in very heavy locks & it is well wooled to knees/hocks It has a well pronounced foretop/poll of long wool It is often or commonly referred to as the worlds largest breed of sheep

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Montadale
Originated in the US
All white; with dark pigment of nose, mouth, & hooves Face & legs are free of wool Were developed as a dual purpose breed (meat/wool) They are very adaptable
Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

They are medium size breed

Rambouillet
As the name indicates, the breed has roots in France It is all white, with light pigment of nose & mouth Wool covers the whole body, except for face of sheep Both sexes are horned, & they are very distinguished & regal in appearance Has loose skin from neck to breast/chest floor area It is a large breed of sheep

Photo: Unknown Source

Romanov
Originated in Russia in the Volga Valley near Moscow It is born black; but lightens to white, silver, gray as they mature & make fleece Fleece is white; face & legs have black & white hair Very early sexual maturity, in as little as three months Have litters, 4-6 is normal; the record is 9 that lived

Photo: Unknown Source

Shropshire
Originated in England Wool covers most of the sheep; & must extend at least to knees/hocks & it covers most of the head including poll & lower jaw Areas not covered in wool, are covered by black hair A medium to large sheep, has oily wool which shields it from harsh weather

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley University of Nevada-Reno

Southdown
Originated in England It is all white; with grayish pigmentation of mouth, nose, & ears Is completely wool covered, from its nose to its hooves It is a polled breed of sheep Adaptable & early maturing
Photo: Sally Anne Thompson

Small to medium size breed

Suffolk
As the name could infer, it developed in England Legs & head are free of wool; & possess black hair Are long legged & muscular

Has very regal appearance

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley University of Nevada-Reno

It is a large to very large breed of sheep

Tunis

Photo: Unknown Source

One of oldest breeds that is indigenous to the US Beige/creamy color wool Legs (below knees/hocks), face, & forehead (to the poll/foretop) are wool free Wool-free areas are red in color, & the area around nose/mouth is whitish Both sexes are polled, & the ears are rather large Adaptable & disease resistance Medium size, meat sheep

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Dorset

Identify

Photo: Lynn Magedson

Barbado

Identify
Originated in California

Beige/oatmeal color wool

Legs, face, forehead, poll, & around ears (to under jaw/throat) is wool free Wool-free areas are red in color, the area around nose/mouth is whitish Both sexes are polled Medium size, meat sheep

California Red

Identify
Has its roots in France It is all white, with light pigment of nose & mouth Wool covers the whole body, except for face of sheep Both sexes are horned, & they are very regal in appearance Has loose skin from neck to breast/chest floor area It is a large breed of sheep

Rambouillet

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Columbia

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Suffolk

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Romanov

Identify
Originated in England/Scotland Face & legs; white & wool free Black nose/muzzle & feet, dark eyes, & erect ears; give it a perky & stylish appearance Hardy, easy lambing, good mothers, & fast maturity A smaller breed of sheep

Cheviot

Identify
Originated in England

Has white face & legs

Dark pigmentation of the nose, mouth, inside the ears, & on the hooves Fleece is carried in locks and is quite abundant from the foretop/poll A medium to large breed

Cotswold

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Tunis

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Shropshire

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Hampshire

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Suffolk

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

California Red

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Cheviot

Identify
Originated in Texas Tan, tan with pale belly, tan with black belly, or pied are most common color Face is light/white colored Females are polled Males have large horns that curl/sweep Due to distinctive horns, used as trophy animal on big game ranches

Barbado

Identify
Originated in Australia & New Zealand It is all white; with dark pigmentation of the nose, muzzle, & mouth Has wool on legs & poll It is a polled sheep breed Its a dual-purpose breed

It is a larger sheep breed

Corriedale

Identify
Originated in Wales

They are all white

Can be polled or horned Have wool on legs & head Light pigmentation of nose, hooves, mouth, ears, etc Has a desirable carcass It is a medium sized breed

Dorset

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Dorper

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Corriedale

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Cotswold

Identify

Photo: Sally Anne Thompson

Lincoln

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Columbia

Identify
Originated in the US

All white; with dark pigment of nose, mouth, & hooves

Face & legs are free of wool Were developed as a dual purpose breed (meat/wool) They are very adaptable They are medium size breed

Montadale

Identify
Originated in South Africa Has white body & usually a black head/neck Skin is lightly covered with mixture of hair & wool The skin is thick, which is why it is the most sought sheepskin in the world It is a meat breed of sheep

Dorper

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Southdown

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Dorset

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Tunis

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Montadale

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Rambouillet

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Hampshire

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Barbado

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Corriedale

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Lincoln

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Cotswold

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

California Red

Identify
As the name could infer, it developed in England Legs & head are free of wool; and possess black hair

Are long legged & muscular

Has very regal appearance It is a large to very large breed of sheep

Suffolk

Identify
Originated in England It is all white; with dark pigmentation of the nose, mouth, & inside the ears The fleece is carried in very heavy locks and it is well wooled to knees/hocks It has a well pronounced foretop/poll of long wool Largest breed of sheep

Lincoln

Identify

Photo: Stephanie Burrows/Oklahoma State University

Southdown

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Montadale

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Cheviot

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Cotswold

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Dorper

Identify
Originated in Russia, near Moscow Born black; but lightens to white, silver, gray as they make fleece Fleece is white; face & legs have black & white hair Very early sexual maturity, in as little as three months Have litters, 4-6 is normal; the record is 9 that lived

Romanov

Identify
Originated in England It has black hair on its legs & head, it has also black pigmentation of nose, mouth, & hooves The legs are free of wool below the knee/hock The face is free of wool A medium to large breed

Hampshire

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Shropshire

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Columbia

Identify

Photo: Terry & Viki Clark, Oklahoma State University

Rambouillet

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Tunis

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

California Red

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Romanov

Identify
Originated in England Wool covers most of the sheep; and must extend at least to knees/hocks and it covers most of the head including poll & lower jaw Areas not covered in wool, are covered by black hair A medium to large sheep, that has oily wool

Shropshire

Identify
Originated in England

All white; grayish pigment of mouth, nose, & ears

Is completely wool covered, from its nose to its hooves It is a polled breed of sheep Adaptable & early maturing Small to medium size breed

Southdown

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Corriedale

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Dorset

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

California Red

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Romanov

Identify

Photo: Oklahoma State University

Lincoln

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Dorper

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Rambouillet

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Suffolk

Identify
Old indigenous breed to the US Beige/creamy color wool Legs (below knees/hocks), face, & forehead (to the poll/foretop) are wool free & are red in color, area near nose/mouth is whitish It is polled, with large ears Adaptable & disease resistance Medium size, meat sheep

Tunis

Identify
Originated in US, by US Dept of Agriculture It is all white; with light pigmentation of nose, muzzle, mouth, & ears Has wool on legs & poll Developed for range, but have proven adaptable A large breed of sheep

Columbia

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Cheviot

Identify

Photo: Sally Anne Thompson

Southdown

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Shropshire

Identify

Photo: Oklahoma State University

California Red

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Barbado

Identify

Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Montadale

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Hampshire

Identify

Photo: Unknown Source

Dorset

Other Breeds
There are many other breeds that could have been included in this presentation; and maybe some of them should have been included, and maybe some of those that were included should have been excluded. Regardless of your thoughts and opinions concerning the inclusion/exclusion of the various breeds, it can be agreed that it would be very difficult to reach agreement.

Other Breeds
Given the thoughts stated in the previous slide, the following breeds are listed as breeds for additional review and study.
Katahdin Polwarth Romney Oxford Dala Bond Lonk Texel Drysdale Galway Polypay Devon Coopworth Targhee Merino Cormo

Conducting an internet search for sheep breeds is an excellent starting point.