Sheep Breeds 9780648323280

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Contents Credits

6

Chapter 1 Domesticated Sheep in Human History

7

Types of Sheep

7

Ovis aries

7

Ovis canedensis

8

Ovis dalli

8

Ovis ammon

8

Ovis nivicola

8

Sheep in History

8

Science in Sheep Farming

9

Sheep Farming is No Easy Feat

9

Wool

11

Hides

12

Milk

12

Meat

13

Types of Domestic Breeds

14

Breeds for Fine Wool

14

Breeds for Long Wool

14

Breeds for Meat

14

Dairy Breeds

14

Chapter 2 Biology & Behaviour

15

Sheep Biology & Appearance

15

Sheep Behaviour

17

Chapter 3 Husbandry Practices

19

Introduction

19

1) General Daily Care

20

2) Scheduled Practices

21

Drenching (as required)

21

Injecting (as required – often twice annually)

22

Dipping (once a month – depending on seasonal and climatic conditions)

22

Hoof trimming (once annually)

24

Shearing and crutching (once a year) 

24

Tail docking (soon after birth)

24

Castration of lambs

24

3) Responding to Problems

25

Ewes and lambs that don’t pair-up after birth

25

Weeds in the pasture and poisonous plants

25

Pests and diseases

26

Breech births and problems during lambing

26

Administering first aid

27

Chapter 4 Breeds & Breeding

29

Breed Types

29

More about Breed Categories

29

Breeds for Smaller Properties

30

Meat and Wool Sheep

30

Mini Breeds

30

Milk Sheep

31

Feeding Sheep

31

Chapter 5 Overview of Breeds

32

Further reading and study

85

More ebooks available

85

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THE AUTHOR John Mason graduated from Burnley Horticultural College, Australia, in 1971 with a Diploma in Horticultural Science. In the early 1970’s and again in the early 80’s, he owned and operated small retail/wholesale nurseries. During the mid 70’s, he developed nurseries for two municipalities while working as their Parks Manager. Since 1979, he has been principal of the Australian Correspondence Schools, an international distance education college offering more than 200 different horticultural courses, and with students spread across more than 150 countries.

John Mason

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John has written hundreds of newspaper articles and more than a 150 books, and has been editor and principal writer of four Australian magazines (including Your Backyard, and Garden Guide). He is a board member of the Australian Garden Council, and an active member of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, Queensland Nursery Industry Association and the International Plant Propagators Society. John is also a fellow of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (U.K.) and Parks and Leisure Australia.

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The information in this book is derived from a broad cross-section of resources (research, reference materials and personal experience) from the authors and editorial assistants in the academic department of ACS Distance Education. It is, to the best of our knowledge, composed as an accurate representation of what is accepted and appropriate information about the subject, at the time of publication. The authors fully recognise that knowledge is continually changing, and awareness in all areas of study is constantly evolving. As such, we encourage the reader to recognise that nothing they read should ever be considered to be set in stone. They should always strive to broaden their perspective and deepen their understanding of a subject, and before acting upon any information or advice, should always seek to confirm the currency of that information, and the appropriateness to the situation in which they find themselves. As such, the publisher and author do not accept any liability for actions taken by the reader based upon their reading of this book.

Published by: ACS Distance Education P.O. Box 2092, Nerang MDC, Queensland, Australia, 4211 [email protected] www.acsbookshop.com UK & European Representative: ACS Distance Education UK P O Box 4171, Stourbridge, DY8 2WZ, United Kingdom [email protected] www.acsebooks.com

ISBN: 978-0-6483232-8-0 page 5

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Credits Contributors John Mason Dip.Hort.Sc. Jade Sciacia B.Sc.(Biol) Kara Wight BSc (Zool), HND (Animal Care) Peta Jinnath Abdul B.Sc. Dr Maria L. Schmitz Fontes PhD, MSc, BA Hons Jacinda Cole B.Sc., M.Psych.

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Chapter 1 Domesticated Sheep in Human History The needs of our woolly companions are more complex than we realise. They have intelligence which is repeatedly underestimated. Don’t misjudge their ability to comprehend us. The apparent senseless behaviour of sheep comes from their natural position as a prey animal and their innate flighty behaviour is fear-based, it is not necessarily mindless. Sheep should be valued the same as any other animal however humans have significant practical reasons to raise sheep. For most of us, their uses outweigh the benefits of keeping these gentle animals simply as pets.

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Types of Sheep Sheep are bovine animals (as are cattle, antelope and goats) which belong to the genera ‘Ovis’. There are five living species in this order as follows:

Ovis aries This species name was given by Linnaeus in 1758 and is the preferred species name for what are commonly known as Domestic Sheep, Red Sheep or Mouflon. There are over 10,000 page 7

distinct breeds developed within this species that are diverse in size and many other characteristics. There are also various old species names given to sheep which are now redundant, including: Ovis musimon (from 1762) Ovis orientalis from 1774 and Ovis ophion from 1841. Some experts consider the domestic sheep’s wild ancestor to be a separate breed known as Ovis orientalis, and identify two subspecies: Ovis orientalis orientalis (the Moufloun Group) and Ovis orientalis vignei (the Ural Group).

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Ovis canadensis Big Horn Sheep Colorado

Ovis canedensis

Ovis ammon

Commonly known as Bighorn Sheep, from the Rocky Mountains in North America, rams of Ovis canedensis can reach 125 kg.

Commonly known as Argali sheep, from central Asia, these are the largest species at up to 125 cm at the shoulder and 185 kg.

Ovis dalli

Ovis nivicola

Commonly known as Thinhorn Sheep, from Alaska and Northern Canada, rams of Ovis dalli can reach 110 kg.

Commonly known as the Snow Sheep, or Siberian Bighorn, this species is endemic to northern Russia. It can weigh up to 120 kg.

Sheep in History

Ovis dalli

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Throughout recorded history, sheep are known to be one of the earliest animal species domesticated by humans. At about 10,000 years ago, sheep provided humans with textile products, clothing for warmth and meat for consumption. Sheepskins were also the original product utilised from animal carcasees for parchment. The various uses of wool came some 3,000 years after their initial domestication.

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The mostly docile and social nature of sheep made them ideal for domestication. Ewes and wethers (castrated male sheep) were manageable in size for the average farmer to both handle and house. Depending on the breed, rams sometimes may have been somewhat more challenging to handle, as you might expect. Stubborn and strong, a butt from a frightened or protective ram would have caused injury. Nonetheless, their relatively high and successful reproduction rates was an added advantage to the earliest farmers. Since then, humans have continued to produce sheep to our advantage.

Science in Sheep Farming Sheep and wool research is conducted mostly in university research institutions or independent laboratories. Research relates to areas of economics, genetics, biochemistry, nutrition, wool metrology (objective measurement of wool properties), animal welfare and animal health. In wool metrology, much of the scientific research is concerned specifically with wool follicles and the biology of fibres which results in wool measurements. In turn, the results of those measurements affect sheep selection in breeding for performance and productivity gains by farmers. Cloning technology in agricultural science means offspring have 99.8% of the genetic identity from carefully selected adult animals. The ability to control the genomes of the offspring also supports reproduction of farm animals such as sheep with a remarkably high value. Cloning farm animals is a highly popular new biotechnology service in the agriculture industry in many countries. page 9

One well-known example of sheep used in genetics research is from the successful birth of Dolly the sheep in Scotland in 1996. Dolly was cloned however she was not cloned from embryonic cells like had been previously successful at that time in cows, frogs and mice. Instead she was cloned from an adult sheep cell. The significance is that a single adult cell, which is specialised in its function, provides the DNA necessary to make an entirely new organism with approximately 200 specialised cells. As cloning technology improves, so too do the options available to researchers such as zoologists and geneticists. With enough advances in technology, we may eventually have the opportunity to use cloning as a way to protect and grow endangered populations.

Sheep Farming is No Easy Feat Sheep enterprises can be divided into specialities of wool production, prime lamb production and breeding studs for flock replacement. The success of any enterprise will depend mostly on the suitability of the breed selected and, of course, the husbandry skills and knowledge of the farmer. Sheep breeds differ greatly. Understanding this is the foundation for a thriving enterprise in sheep farming. Husbandry skills can be learned, however there are basic initial considerations for those entering or expanding any sheep farming enterprise: ●● Is there enough space available for

the numbers you want to run?

●● Is the pasture green and the ground

not overly moist?

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●● Is grazing land cleared - free of

shrubs, poisonous weeds or plants?

●● Is there access to holding sheds

and pens to protect vulnerable lambs, and sick or injured animals?

●● Is the land securely fenced to keep

the sheep in and predators out?

●● Do you have sufficient time, skills

and resources needed to care for the sheep effectively?

●● Can you financially afford the

associated services such as shearing or veterinarian services?

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Sheep are a great asset to hobby farms, providing a ready supply of meat, wool and milk. There are hundreds of sheep breeds in Australia and more than a thousand worldwide, though there are only a handful or breeds suited to the smaller land plots of a hobby farm. Before selecting a breed, it’s necessary to think about why you’ll be keeping sheep. Different breeds are suited page 10

to different purposes and there are several breeds which can be used for both wool and meat. Although all sheep can produce milk, non-dairy sheep produce very little milk compared to specialised breeds. Some hobby farmers keep sheep for their own use. Others sell sheep products to niche markets such as meat sheep for buyers who are looking for a “farm-to-table” supplier. If you’re hoping to turn a profit off your wool, remember that wool must be of the highest quality, and many sheep require shearing expertise. Your herd must be large enough to produce enough wool to sell, and most hobby farmers are not likely to produce enough wool to make any serious money from it. If you are going to sell wool, smaller producers can also sell to niche markets such as local spinners and weavers. If you’re committed to high quality wool and are willing to “jacket” your sheep by putting sheep-sized jackets on them to protect their fleece, you may also be able to sell to specialist garment manufacturers. Some hobby farmers add sheep to their land for pasture rotation because they graze lower down than larger herbivores, like cows and horses. Sheep do a great job cleaning up paddocks after cows and horses have been through, readying it for rest. Their feet (cloven hooves) are smaller than the hooves of cows and horses and so work well at flattening out the land which has been rutted. It’s a common soil management procedure on grazing land to run both sheep and cows together. Horses and sheep are often run together to help in parasite control. Multi-species grazing like this lessens

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the parasite load since sheep eat a larger variety of grasses and they eat lower to the grass root (generally) than horses. Additionally, sheep can inadvertently eat the larvae of the equine specific parasites which is beneficial for horses because the parasite growth cycle is halted.

Wool can also be used in the garden, to edge beds and keep snails out, or as turned into mulch pads. On an industrial level, it is increasingly used for insulation, and even brick reinforcement. On a smaller scale, Wool is also used as a ground cover around plants to deter slugs and snails.

Wool

Raw wool is also greasy due to its high lanolin content. This fat is used in many beauty products and hair and skin conditioners. Lanolin is recovered during the scouring process, and can be turned into a variety of cosmetic products for sale.

The best known use for wool is fabric making, and many sheep farmers sell wool raw to garment makers, spinners, and crafters. Some also spin it or have it spun into yarn to sell to local artisans.

Wool

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If you’re interested in harvesting wool from your sheep, you must either choose a shedding breed, which doesn’t require shearing, or be willing to shear your flock. Although you can do your shearing yourself, improperly sheared sheep can be hurt or develop infections which require a trip to the vet, and potentially cost thousands of dollars in lost product or revenue. Experienced shearers can be hired to come to you, or you can take your sheep to a local shearer or farm.

product in the manufacture of coats, ugg boots and linings for bags and pockets. Some hides are kept with the hair on and sold as sheepskin rugs. In particular, some lambskins are sought after for this purpose.

Hides and fleece have been used tor clothing including footwear for thousands of years.

Milk Some breeds like this are shorn; but other breeds shed wool without shearing

Hides The hides of sheep are also a valued commercial product. Sheepskins are tanned and made into leather. This is soft leather which is made in chamois cloths used for buffing vehicles after they have been washed. However, sheepskin is typically tanned with the fur still attached. Sheepskin has very good insulation properties making it cool in summer and warm in winter. The fibres also ‘breathe’ and absorb moisture making sheepskin a useful page 12

If you want to produce milk, you will need to breed your ewes at some point. Milk sheep, or ‘milkers’ as they are called, can be purchased ready to milk or you can acquire your flock and then breed ewes when ready. Purchasing a ram can be both expensive and troublesome, as rams need to be separated from ewes most of the time. They can also be quite aggressive. Many hobby farmers choose to take their ewes out for breeding rather than keep their own ram. Sheep milking can be learned easily, with a little trial and error. It requires no specialised training. Sheep are best milked from the rear rather than the side, as their udders are farther back between their legs. Milk production is also seasonal.

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Milk is nutritious, high in vitamins A, B, and E, and the essential nutrients calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. It’s also very rich, high in butterfat, and its higher solid content renders it ideal for cheese-making. Milk is well-suited to freezing, so it can be saved for making cheese, yoghurt, or ice cream at a later date. The high fat and vitamin E content means milk can also be used for beauty purposes, and turned into soap, lotion, and bath milks.

Meat Meat is usually divided into mutton or lamb. Lamb is produced from sheep under a year old; mutton is all other sheep meat. Some farmers also refer to ‘yearling mutton’ which is the product

Lamb chops

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of sheep between one and two years of age. It is possible to butcher your flock at home, but food and safety standards still apply and you will need appropriate certification for producing the meat. If you’re willing to acquire those, several resources on slaughter and butchering at home are available online and in print, or you can have the flock slaughtered separately, and butcher at home. However, most hobby farmers take their flock to a licensed abattoir for slaughter. Some abattoirs also provide a butchering service. If yours does not, you can talk to your local butcher. All butchers learn how to process sheep, and if you intend to sell your meat, this is the best option since your produce will meet all appropriate certifications and standards.

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Types of Domestic Breeds There are over 10,000 named breeds of domestic sheep. These are often grouped according to their use, or sometimes their genetic closeness. Breeds that have been developed primarily for dairy may or may not be suited to use for meat or wool production. There are even different types of wool breeds; those with fine wool which may be preferred for clothing or other fine fabric production, and those with a coarse wool which may be more hard-wearing and better suited for carpet making. Groups of breeds may also be referred to in other ways, such as according to a particular characteristic they have, the part of the world they came from, or their original ancestry. “Fat tailed” breeds have wide or fat tails and tend to originate from the Middle East or Asia. “Landrace” breeds are fastgrowing breeds which have an ancestry that can be generally traced back to marsh sheep in Scandinavian regions. ”Forest” sheep have an ancestry that can be traced back to forested areas. “Coloured” sheep have wool that is not pure white but more commonly brown or black. “Merino” breeds have an ancestry that began in the 12th century, or earlier, in Spain. They are fine wool breeds which are adapted to semiarid areas.

Breeds for Fine Wool American Cormo Booroola Merino Delaine-Merino Debouillet Rambouillet Panama page 14

Breeds for Long Wool Bluefaced Leicester Border Leicester Coopworth Cotswold Leicester Longwool Lincoln Perendale Romney Scottish Blackface Teesdale Wensleydale

Breeds for Meat American Blackbelly Barbados Blackbelly Dorper Katahdin Romanov Royal White St. Augustine St. Croix Wiltshire Horn Border Cheviot California Red Charollais Dorset Hampshire Ile de France Montadale North Country Cheviot Oxford Rideau Arcott Shropshire Southdown Suffolk Texel Tunis

Dairy Breeds Acıpayam Adal Africana Afrikaner

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Chapter 2 Biology & Behaviour The domesticated sheep, Ovis aries, belongs in the genus Ovis within the subfamily Caprinae and the family Bovidae. Sheep are even-toed ungulates belonging in the Order Artiodactyla. There are many variants of breeds, from the smallest Ouessant weighing around 20 kg as an adult, to breeds such as the Lincoln Longwool weighing around 160 kg.

top of shoulder crops rump

loin

poll forehead face

rack

nose mouth

dock

shoulder

leg

breast

stifle hock annon

elbow rear last rib belly flank fore flank

foreshank knee fetlock pastern coffin

hoof

Sheep body parts

Sheep Biology & Appearance When compared to other ruminant species, sheep are relatively small. Depending on the breed, some have horns which are spiral shaped and grow laterally and some breeds have no horns. Their bodies are covered in thick wool which can vary in colour depending on the breed. Most breeds have shorter page 15

hair on the face and legs. The upper lip is divided by an evident ‘philtrum’, and this is one factor which shows a clear difference between sheep and goats since the upper lip in goats is not divided by a philtrum. Philtrum The musculoskeletal system of the sheep is much the same of any mammal, with the exception of a few adaptations similar to other ruminant herbivores. For example, the masseter muscles which

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are used for mastication are extremely strong in the sheep which enables them to chew almost continuously. The gluteus muscles in the hip area, and the hamstring and quadriceps areas, are quite well built in sheep breeds which are used for meat production.

Note the philtrum at the centre of this sheep’s upper lip

Sheep have eight incisors on the lower mandible and none present on the top. In place of the upper incisors is the hard palate. They also have twenty four molars, six on each upper and lower side. Sheep are ruminants and therefore have a complex digestive system with a fourpage 16

chambered stomach. They use their lips and tongue to grasp the most nutritious section of the fodder or grass, and once selection of feed has taken place they will use their lower incisors and hard palate to grip and pull the food into the oral cavity. They then grind their food with their molars into a form referred to as the ‘bolus’. Once swallowed down the oesophagus, the bolus enters the rumen and the reticulum. These are the first two sections of the four-chambered stomach. The rumen is the place of fermentation and mechanical digestion. Bacteria here aid in the breakdown of plant material into cellulose. The reticulum allows the bolus to be regurgitated and allows the sheep to ‘chew the cud’ to then reprocess the bolus. Further mechanical digestion takes place in the omasum which is the third section of the four-chambered stomach. The bolus then moves to the fourth chamber, the abomasum, otherwise known as the ‘true stomach’. Here, digestive enzymes break down proteins in the bolus chemically to prepare it for further digestion when it enters the small intestines. The small intestines are around 80 foot in length and are made up of three sections; the duodenum, jejunum and the ileum. It is in the small intestines that liver bile is excreted, alongside pancreatic and intestinal enzymes, which all aid in absorption of nutrients. Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and sugars are absorbed in the small intestine. The large intestine provides further fermentation and adds water to assist in additional absorption of nutrients. Any undigested food now will be excreted through the rectum as faeces.

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small intestine

rumen

esophagus

large intestine

anus

reticulum omasum

abomasum

Sheep digestive system

Sheep Behaviour Sheep are herbivores who consume grasses and roughage. They are diurnal and spend most of their time feeding throughout the day from dawn until dusk. They use their lips and tongue to select the most nutritious section of the grass and fodder. When they are not grazing they will be spend their time chewing the cud. Sheep have excellent peripheral vision which provides them with a wide angled view. Sheep have binocular vision of 25° to 50° and panoramic vision of 330° to 360°. It is believed they can see a variety of colours including; green, yellow, brown, red, black and white. The olfactory system is thought to be more advanced than a humans. This assists in detecting their lambs and also in feed selection of grass and plants. Taste also assists in detecting the most page 17

nutritious grasses and fodder. They also have good hearing which, with their peripheral vision and good sense of smell, helps them to detect predators. Sheep are gregarious and will, both naturally and domestically, live in flocks. Since they are naturally a prey animal, flocks provide safety in numbers. Sheep that become separated from their flock can become quite stressed. Sheep have a tendency to flee with the flock and this can make them appear quite flighty. Within these flocks, there can still be a dominance hierarchy which is established through aggressive threats and fighting. The most dominant animals will feed first from the troughs and tend to be the most insistent member of the flock. Sheep movement between grazes can be seen by distinct tracks which form a path. Some breeds will also use the

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same area to sleep at night, and then move to where they graze through the day. Sheep are quite intelligent and can be trained similarly to other animals. They can become accustomed to humans and learn to recognise people who work with them on a daily basis. They are also able to identify members within their own flock. Eyesight is very good and individual sheep will raise their head up throughout grazing time and make eye contact with different individuals. This is most likely due to each member keeping an eye on the movement of the flock throughout the day and also to remain alert for predators.

Sheep have good eyesight and can raise their head and look at a person’s eye or hand when approached.

Reproductive behaviour in sheep tends to be controlled by humans. One ram will mate with many ewes, and the ram is usually selected by the farmer for the quality traits required. If left to completely natural reproduction, then the most dominant ram will be the one to mate with the ewes. Rutting behaviours will occur including; display rituals, hoof stamping and head butting. The winner will be the one to mate with the ewes.

Sheep are intelligent and relatively easily trained.

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Although breed types differ slightly, the ram will reach sexual maturity approximately four to six months old, and the ewe around six to eight months old. Ewes are usually in oestrus every 17 days, and once mated the gestation period will last around five months. Most individual ewes will have single or twin lambs however some breeds are more likely to have larger litters, for example Finn sheep.

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Chapter 3 Husbandry Practices Husbandry practices are essential because these are the management tasks which help to prevent disease and ensure your herd, flock or mob is kept sound and thriving. Financial losses can be extreme when stock is lost.

Introduction This chapter is divided into 3 sections: 1) Firstly, we consider the general daily care of sheep, as individuals or in a herd. 2) Secondly, we look at planning which should be given to the care and husbandry tasks that are required at certain times of the year, or at certain life stages. We could call these ‘scheduled practices’.

●● Provide a high standard of nutrition

for the lactating ewe since she has to provide a lot of milk for her fastgrowing lamb.

●● Cull old ewes and poor milkers to

allow you to concentrate on the productive animals.

●● Castrate and dock late in the day

because wounds heal more quickly in the cool of the evening when flies are less of a problem.

3) Finally, caring for sheep, like any animal, requires responding to problems and we shall review some of those.

●● Treat disease as soon as it appears.

Read and understand the following points, before delving into the detail of this chapter:

●● Carefully administer vaccinations,

●● If sheep are housed (at night, for

example) ensure adequate feed is provided to allow for continued grazing. Control the chances of respiratory infection with good ventilation in sheds.

Attend to lame sheep immediately. Inoculate following a rigid schedule.

medications or preventative health treatments such as drenches. Worm remedies are potentially dangerous and can be fatal if you overdose.

●● Provide all sheep with clean water.

Dirty watering points are a source of worm infestation.

●● Provide sheep with trace element

licks. Sheep are particularly sensitive to mineral deficiencies.

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Turkidale Sheep Ram

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1) General Daily Care There are a number of everyday activities any shepherd or sheep owner should perform. One such activity is checking paddocks and pastures for any sheep which have been injured or become sick. Sheep can be susceptible to fatal parasite infestations. As prey animals, they face deathly situations from animal attack. It is necessary, even when running sheep through mountainous terrain or on vast arid land, to be checking regularly on their wellbeing. Sheep kept on smaller paddocks and acreage are more easily checked upon. Other than looking out for sheep that appear to be in distress or ill-health, you should check any dams, swamps, mud plains or other watercourses for sheep that have gone into the water and become stuck. Sheep are timid animals that are easily frightened and should never be chased around. For this reason, untrained dogs and small children should be kept away from sheep flocks. Dogs have been known to chase sheep into a watercourse, where ultimately they drown. In cold climates, checks should be conducted regularly for sheep buried under snow. To shelter from harsh winds or driving rain, it’s common for sheep to position themselves closely against walled boundaries, for example, yet drifting snow can build around them making it almost impossible for them to move. In such circumstances, they can and sometimes do end up buried. Any kinds of checks on animal welfare should also involve inspecting the environment in which they live. page 20

Inspections of fence lines for the likes of fallen trees which may threaten perimeter security, or looking for any gates which have been left open is also important. Sometimes animals just get out of their enclosures or pastures by pushing their way through wire fencing to get to attractive greener pasture on the other side. Watch for any strays who make their way out. Lambing is a time when extra checks should be done and time out in the pasture is necessary. A good shepherd will know their herd, observe their ewes and lambs, and aim to pair up any lost lambs and distressed mothers. In most cases, the ewes and lambs are pretty good at doing this on their own, but not always. It is not necessary to offer supplementary feeding for sheep that are normally kept out on green pasture. If sheep have access to green fodder they will survive. However, in extreme situations supplementary feed may be required. For example, during prolonged drought climatic conditions can result in pasture grasses dying, or being burnt off, so understandably this situation puts enormous pressure on the survival of sheep. Feeding hay during times of extreme drought might be necessary. Do not feed with pellets or fattener under normal conditions. If you can’t provide salt and mineral licks at all times to all sheep, for whatever reason, you should aim to at least have salt and mineral licks available to your ewes pre-conception, during pregnancy and post-parturition. They should also be available to the herd whilst being held in pens, when brought into barns or sheds during

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extreme conditions, when sick or injured, when being held in quarantine in smaller areas or fenced paddocks, or any other testy situation which arises. Fresh clean water should be provided at all times. Sheep should not be expected to drink from ponds or water sources which are contaminated in any way. For example, they should not have to drink water with excessive algal blooms or with bird or animal carcasees present.

2) Scheduled Practices The following tasks need to be carried out regularly, at birth or annually. It is wise to set up a schedule or reminders to keep track of the herd, what is due and when it is due.

Drenching (as required) The aim of drenching is to kill all the worms or flukes in the animal and reduce the level of worm eggs and larvae on the pasture. The frequency and timing of drenching depend upon: ●● The climatic location – climate

influences rainfall and temperature.

●● Husbandry practices - such as

spring or autumn lambing.

●● Class of sheep - lambs, pregnant

ewes and lactating ewes are more susceptible to worms.

●● Nutrition - good nutrition (as well as

good husbandry) practices reduces the effects of parasitic worms.

●● Development of drench resistance

Lambing is a time when extra checks are needed whether animals are housed or outdoors.

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within the flock - decisions on when to drench should be based on the results of early worm check tests and conducted at strategic periods. Drench resistance is directly related to the number of times a drench has been used and can be overcome by changing the products on a cycle.

Remember! If you are in any doubt about drenching your animals, you should seek advice from a veterinarian.

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Injecting (as required – often twice annually) Sheep can be vaccinated against a number of common (infectious) diseases. Vaccines are often given as a 5-in-1 or a 7-in-1 shot, depending on what the sheep owner or farmer needs to vaccinate against. Such toxoid vaccines protect against common clostridial diseases, such as: ●● Pulpy kidney ●● Tetanus ●● Black disease ●● Blackleg ●● Lamb dysentery ●● Struck ●● Braxy

Injecting sheep can be carried out quickly and easily if they are standing in a race or being held firmly by a vet. To carry out the subcutaneous injection, which is given just under the skin at a point just behind the shoulder, midway up the neck or just behind the ear, the wool is parted and a “tent” of skin is held up between the thumb and forefinger. A 1 cm needle is inserted at an angle under the tent of skin. An intramuscular injection is given in the shoulder area or directly into the muscle of the back leg. In meat-producing animals, the latter site should not be used as needle damage can result in downgrading/ condemnation of meat at the abattoir.

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Remember! Intravenous injections should only be administered by your veterinarian or a highly skilled technician.

Dipping (once a month – depending on seasonal and climatic conditions) The purpose of dipping or ‘backlining’ sheep is to cover them in pesticide or fungicide to protect the sheep from external parasites such as ticks, lice, and itch mite. Dipping is necessary for the health of the animal and should be carried out regularly, ensuring the entire sheep including its head is submerged in the dip. All animals must be kept in the dip for at least one minute and, during that time, the head should be pushed under the water three times. Dipping lambs should take place separately to ewe dipping to avoid drowning. Lambs can be dipped by holding their front feet and letting them slide into the dip-wash. Spraying (also called backlining) is less effective and needs to be carried out more frequently. It is illegal to use a dip-wash which is at the incorrect strength. Most modern active dipping ingredients do not dissolve in water but merely float about in the water as tiny particles. These particles are picked up by the wool as the sheep go through the dip. The liquid that flows back into the tank is almost pure water. Therefore, if the dip is not regularly replenished the last sheep in the flock will be dipped in what is essentially only water and the parasites will not be killed.

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One sheep removes about 3 litres of dipwash on average. Therefore, 100 sheep will remove about 300 litres of dip. The water in the dip is necessary to properly wet the sheep so both water and dipping ingredient must be replenished regularly. This can be done by one of two means the conventional system or the constant replenishment system. In the conventional system, dipping continues until the volume of fluid in the tank has dropped by one quarter. Dipping must then stop so that the tank can be topped up with water. The recommended quantity of dipping fluid is then thoroughly mixed in a container and poured over the entire surface of the water in the tank. The fluid in the tank is then thoroughly stirred with a bucket on a rope or with a perforated metal paddle.

Caption goes here page 23

In the constant replenishment system, the pesticide dip is continuously topped up from supply tanks so there is no need to stop dipping once it is underway. Also, the dip concentration remains constant throughout. Used dip-wash must be disposed of safely. Insecticides and fungicides are often highly toxic to people and other animals, including fish and water life. A well-drained hole in the ground near the dipping facility could receive the fluid however the hole must not drain into drinking water sources, boreholes, creeks or rivers etc. The hole should be fenced securely also.

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Hoof trimming (once annually) This topic is divisive in the sheep farming industry. Around 50% of farmers claim they do not regularly trim hoofs, with the other 50% stating that feet or hoof trimming is performed once or twice each year. The hooves of sheep grow fairly quickly and should be checked for size. If necessary they should be trimmed. Overgrown hooves are prone to splitting which allows the footrot bacteria to enter and lameness will occur. Sheep on native grass suffer more wear and damage to the feet than those on pastures or in feedlots. Some hooves are naturally worn down by the land. The biggest risk to farmers is lameness caused by over-trimming and not allowing the hoof to grow naturally. The sheep must be immobilised before foot trimming by turning it up and sitting it on its rump. The sheep should be supported against your knees. Trim off the overgrown part of the hoof with a sharp knife or foot shears so that the sole is level. Do not cut too deeply or the hoof will bleed and could become infected. This is extremely painful and results in lameness. A lame sheep’s survival rate is reduced. While trimming the feet, always look out for ticks in the soft part between and behind the hooves. After trimming the feet, run the sheep through the footbath with either a 10% copper sulphate solution or a 5% formalin solution.

Shearing and crutching (once a year)  While not carried out as a blowfly control, shearing does contribute to blowfly control. The wool is shorn close page 24

over an area extending from above the tail, down each side of the breech to include the crutch, and down the back of the legs to the hocks.

Tail docking (soon after birth) Tail docking should be carried out to reduce the likelihood of the area around the rump and back legs becoming dirty with faeces and urine which is attractive to blowflies. The tail is cut so that the stump just covers the vulva in the case of females. The usual practice is to dock the tails of ewe lambs but to leave the tails of ram lambs that are going for slaughter (although ram lambs are docked if there is any chance that they might be kept for breeding). A humane method of docking is the placement of tight rubber rings around the tail. This is routinely carried out in lambs when the tailbone is still soft. The tail will wither and drop off within two weeks. It has been found that the length at which the tail is docked is very important in the prevention of crutch strike. To obtain maximum protection in ewes, the tail must be cut so that the tip of the tail is level with, or just below the tip of the vulva. Do not cut too short either. Tails should never be docked shorter than the 3rd palpable joint. There have been significant health impacts on sheep that have their tails docked too short, including arthritis, infections, vulval cancer, rectal prolapse and more. This procedure needs to be carried out correctly for both the short and long-term impact.

Castration of lambs Castration is done to remove the testicles of young rams, either by cutting

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or by crushing the spermatic cord. If lambs are sold fat at weaning there is no need to castrate them. If, however, they are to be kept longer than weaning, they must be castrated to prevent them from developing “ram” characteristics. Ram meat often has a taint to it. The three methods of castration are: Rubber ring - carried out 2-3 days after birth. The ring must be placed ABOVE the testicles and not on the testicle itself (which would kill the lamb). The testicles should shrivel and drop off within two weeks. Burdizzo - carried out up to 12 weeks after birth. A special burdizzo for lambs must be used. The burdizzo is a tool used to crush each of the two spermatic cords and therefore cut off the blood supply to the testes which shrivel and die. Each cord should be crushed twice in different places. Knife - as this involves a wound, precautions must be taken against infection and blowfly strike. The bottom tip of the scrotum is cut off and the testicle is drawn out and cut off. Castration by a knife can cause a noticeable slowing of the growth in the lambs. The wound is swabbed with an antiseptic fly-repellent solution. In some sheep, one or both testicles fail to descend from the body cavity of the scrotum. These animals, known as rigs, cannot be castrated. They should be marked so that they can be identified and marketed or killed for meat at weaning. Rigs are fertile and can do great damage to a flock by inseminating ewes and ewe lambs.

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3) Responding to Problems Ewes and lambs that don’t pair-up after birth Lambs need colostrum from the ewe. Ewes which are not pairing with their offspring need to be milked for their colostrum and that needs to be syringefed to the lamb(s) within 6 hours of birth. In the event the ewe cannot be located, or she has died, cow colostrum is an acceptable alternative however it is not as rich in antibodies as the ewe’s colostrum, and so should absolutely be the second choice. Bottle feeding of lambs can continue. They should be kept warm and dry and bottlefed frequently in the event of being orphaned or abandoned.

Weeds in the pasture and poisonous plants Some weeds are poisonous to sheep and they also compete with pasture for moisture and nutrition. As such, weed control is paramount for good pasture management. Weeds which are problematic for sheep in particular include ragwort, lantana, capeweed, and bracken. Consumption of these weeds results in different biological outcomes which ultimately can be fatal for sheep. Poisonous plants include privet, rhododendrons, oleander, hellebores, etc. Also, garden refuse can be toxic foxgloves and many other garden plants are poisonous, so don’t feed garden clippings and pruned plant material to your sheep.

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Pests and diseases If you select your preferred breed carefully and give your sheep access to healthy grass and supplementary feed, you can avoid a lot of problems. You can vaccinate your sheep with a 5-in-1 injection, which was mentioned earlier, against a range of what are known as clostridial diseases (pulpy kidney is one). It is common to vaccinate pregnant ewes in the last stages of pregnancy to give them some immunity too. Pregnancy toxemia and milk fever during pregnancy can occur, especially if the diet is inadequate. Make sure your pregnant sheep are maintaining their correct body weight. A calcium/glycerine solution in the last trimester of pregnancy can help protect sheep from milk fever. Injections of the solution can also be administered should a sheep come down with either of these conditions. It is a great idea to always have a pack on hand in case of emergencies.

Breech births and problems during lambing Lambing generally goes well if the lambs are not too big or breech. Ewes will lie down to birth and immediately get back up on their feet as quickly as possible. The placenta should be passed out soon after the lamb is born. Maiden ewes may require assistance. You should not try to pull a lamb – this is not the correct sort of intervention. Careful observation of a ewe that is struggling during birthing should be undertaken. In normal delivery the two front feet with the head between them page 26

appear first, but there are a range of different presentations. A breech birth is where the lamb is facing backwards with its legs tucked underneath so only the tail is visible. Breech births often require assistance. If necessary, and if the lamb is not too far down the birth canal, a breech lamb can be maneuvered manually and be repositioned by an experienced farmer to allow the birth to continue. Alternatively, you can assist by cupping your hands on the fetlocks and bringing the rear legs forward and quickly delivering. The latter method will sever the umbilical cord and it is really important that the lamb is not left inside once the umbilical cord is severed because it will begin to breathe and can drown. Lambs observed ‘hanging’ from the birth canal, assumed dead, should be removed as quickly as possible from the ewe. Weighing and recording of lambs is a useful practice. Remember! If you are unsure how your ewe is coping during birthing, or if there is a concern for the health of the lamb or ewe, you should call a veterinarian for advice.

New lambs

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Administering first aid A sheep farmer should always have certain medicines on hand for emergencies and supportive treatment. The following will provide a useful reserve but please be aware that, because of differing regulations in different countries, not all of the drugs will be available to you. Use the list as a starting point only as it is not meant to be definitive: ●● Digital thermometer

●● Terramycin eye ointment ●● Injectable vitamin A & D for newborns ●● Vitamin B complex ●● Clostridium perfringens Types C & D

Tetanus Toxoid (i.e. CDT or Covexin 8)

●● A range of syringes and needles ●● “Probios Paste” or similar remedy (for

rumen problems)

●● Crepe bandages

●● Suitable worm treatment

●● Long-acting penicillin

●● Lamb replacer milk/teats/bottles

●● Blunt-ended scissors

●● Electrolytes

●● Hoof trimmers

●● Tincture of 7% iodine

●● Livestock crayon (for marking

●● A styptic powder to stop bleeding

animals already treated)

●● Liquamycin LA 200 (for upper

respiratory problems)

●● Coopermycin LA (treatment of tick-

borne diseases)

●● Sulphamezathine 16% (coccidiosis in

lambs)

(especially where horn injury occurs)

It has to be said, there are a range of things that can cause illnesses in sheep and some are less hardy than others, including: ●● Viral and rickettsial diseases ●● Bacterial infections

●● Zinc sulphate (post-dipping lameness

●● Metabolic issues (disorders in the

●● Wound oil (for external injuries)

●● Protozoal infections

●● Antiseptics/disinfectants (for external

●● Poisoning (common problems

and control of lumpy wool)

injuries)

●● Eye powder (treatment of infected eye) ●● Vinegar (for accidental urea poisoning)

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body function)

involve ingesting excessive urea or copper, phosphorus, arsenic and salt poisoning, and plant poisoning)

●● Parasitic problems

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Sheep can be kept in harsher drier environments if appropriate breeds are used.

Good management can go a long way to preventing disease on the sheep farm. As with all other classes of farm livestock, a good sheep manager pays attention to detail, is acutely observant, makes accurate records and has the page 28

necessary knowledge and skill to judge animal health. That said, you should never hesitate to call for a veterinarian if a situation arises which is out of the scope of your knowledge or skills.

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Chapter 4 Breeds & Breeding There are many thousands of known breeds of sheep but many are old, threatened with extinction or already extinct, or perhaps not even registered. By contrast other breeds are well-managed, wellmaintained, and registered.

Breed Types Cross-breed sheep are where father (sire) and mother (dam) are different breeds. Pure breeds are where both father and mother are of the same breed. A registered breed is an animal with a documented pedigree which could be either a pure breed or a crossbreed where the parentage is clearly documented.

More about Breed Categories Breeds are often classified according to the purpose they are primarily used for. This may be for wool, meat or dairy. Most sheep are relatively good for more than one purpose (often meat and wool); but few excel at all three. Fine Wool breeds include: American Cormo, Booroola Cormo, Delaine Merino, Debouillet, Rambouillet, Panama

Note: The difference between hair and wool sheep is in the ratio of fine fibres (wool) to coarse fibres (hair). Dairy breeds include: Awassi, East Friesian, Lacaune Landrace breeds are ones that have developed in a particular locality over a long period, to become naturally adapted to the conditions in the locality where they developed. They may be unimproved by the farmer, but they can be a valuable genetic resource for breeding from. Landrace breeds include: Black Welsh Mountain, Clum Forest, Florida Clacker, Gotland, Gulf Coast Native, Herdwick, Hog Island, Jacob, Karakul, Kerry Hill, Navajo Churro, Racka, Shetland, Soay.

Long Wool breeds include: Blue faced Leicester, Border Leicester, Coopworth, Cotswold, Leicester Longwool, Lincoln, Perendale, Romney, Scottish Blueface, Teesdale, Wensleydale Hair Sheep produce hair rather than wool and are generally good for meat. They include: American Blackbelly, Barbados Blackbelly, Dorper, Katahdin, Romanov, Royal White, St Augustine, St Croix, and Wiltshire Horn. page 29

Choose a breed category; then select a breed.

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Breeds for Smaller Properties Hobby farmers should look for sheep suited to small pastures which adapt to a range of environments well. Most farmers also want sheep that are fertile and lamb easily. There are also several breeds of ‘mini sheep’ available. These grow to around 45 to 60 cm tall at shoulder height, and you can run more sheep per hectare resulting in higher production than their larger brethren.

Meat and Wool Sheep Dorper – these are low maintenance, tough, highly fertile sheep which are able to live in less-than-perfect grazing conditions. Their thick skin protects them in harsher climates. They gain muscle easily with minimal feed inputs, and produce a low-fat meat. They are woolshedding, so no shearing is required, and have very few issues with flystrike, parasites and diseases. Dorper is wellknown for its black face and white body. Suffolk – these thrive in all environments. They are black-faced with hard black feet which protect against footrot and other foot diseases, and they are parasite-resistant with minimal flystrike problems. Rams are active and long-lived, ewes lamb easily which minimises lamb losses and postlamb problems in ewes. Lambs mature within 9 to 12 months. Meat is lean. Suffolk sheep are often crossed with Merinos to produce strong, durable wool. Considered a good meat and wool sheep, this breed does require shearing. Wiltshire Poll – these are large, lowmaintenance, wool-shedding sheep. page 30

Their docile nature along with their reputation for being a healthy breed makes them good for beginners. They have no wool on the face, belly or crutch, so no flystrike issues. These long-lived sheep are prolific breeders, although they only produce lambs once a year. Twins and triplets are common. They are called “polls” because they are hornless. They are a good meat sheep or grass ‘mower’ and they can be used for milking.

Mini Breeds Harlequin – these are easy to handle, are found in a range of colours, and are good meat producers. This makes them excellent for starting out. They shed wool and are low-maintenance and hardy. These attractive and excellent meat sheep also work well as pets or keeping down grass. Babydoll Southdown - these are bred from Southdown sheep which is a UK breed. They are docile and easy to handle, and are often used in vineyards and orchards to keep down grass and weeds without damaging vines or trees. They are resistant to footrot and parasites. These sheep are also good for meat and wool, and they do require shearing. Soay - these are small and agile with short tails. They make for easy lambing and are a breed from the island of Soay in Scotland. They have a brown coat patterning with a pale rump and belly. The mature ewes weigh 24 kg, and rams are about 38 kg. Meat is very low in cholesterol and because they are a ‘wild’ breed it is a lot more gamey in flavour when compared to other lamb. This breed is good for meat and grass mowing. As a shedding sheep, the wool can be plucked, or ‘rooed’, by hand.

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Milk Sheep If you intend to milk your sheep, a specialised dairy breed is your best bet. East Friesian - this breed can be used for meat, wool, and milk. Lambs are meaty, and sheep have high quality fleece but they are delicate and do not tolerate high or low temperatures well. They are also susceptible to skin cancer and pneumonia, and they require shearing.

You should never feed sheep with cow pellets because they are toxic to sheep because of the extra copper in them. Nor should you feed them with poultry or pig pellets which contain meat products – it is illegal to feed to sheep. Also, never feed your sheep bread as it isn’t good for them!

Grandvewe - bred specifically for Australian climate, this is a robust and drought-tolerant breed. It can be used for meat and wool, and is an excellent milk producer. It does require shearing too.

Feeding Sheep Sheep eat grass so why would we need to feed them? This is a question many people ask but there are good reasons for supplementary feeding. Importantly, not all grass is equal. Some pasture may be of low nutritional value, and this is often the case on hobby farms where the pasture is unimproved. Good pasture that produces healthy sheep is a blend of various species of grass and herbage, for example: clovers, rye grasses, cocksfoot, phalaris, etc. If you don’t improve the pasture, or you intend to keep your sheep as backyard lawn mowers, then you should really provide extra nutrition in the form of supplementary feed. This is especially important during summer and also late winter when grass may be quite low. Supplementary feeding usually includes feeding with sheep pellets and good quality hay. page 31

Feed for housed animals is best kept off the floor so the food does not become contaminated.

Do provide sheep with a mineral lick. This is a salt lick which comes in a block. They should have uncontrolled access to the lick and it helps with mineral deficiencies. Sometimes, if tests prove the need, your vet can place a ‘bullet’ (selenium and cobalt) in the sheep’s rumen that is slowly released over several years. Always give sheep access to fresh clean water. Never overstock your paddocks i.e. don’t stock more sheep than your conditions or land can handle. The Department of Primary Industries, or other similar governmental bodies, has lots of information and much of this is published on their websites – so make sure you consult these resources!

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Chapter 5 Overview of Breeds The breeds that follow include a broad cross-section of living breeds that provides an overview of the diversity of domestic sheep that are being kept for a wide variety of purposes today across the world.

There are thousands of different sheep breeds

Acıpayam

Africaner/Afrikaner

This is a relatively new breed which was developed in Turkey in the 1990’s from three different breed variants. The breed was developed for both their meat and wool.

Afrikaners are indigenous to South Africa. One of the oldest native sheep breeds in the world, they were discovered living with the Hottentot populations when colonisers arrived in 1652. These may also have been among the first Australian imports, coming over with the First Fleet. This would date their presence in Australia to 1788. Merinos replaced Arikaners, though the breed was revived in Australia via imported embryos in 1999.

The wool and body is usually fully white, however some individuals may have dark patches on their face. Their weight averages around 60 kg, with males being larger than females. Adal This is a domesticated breed from Ethiopia, raised mostly for meat. Wool is white to dark brown. It is a “hair” breed and as such has thick hair fibres rather than fine wool. page 32

Generally, Afrikaners are fat-tailed hair sheep. They come in two varieties: Namaqua and Ronderib. The long, fat tail is an important adaptation in these sheep, allowing them to live somewhat comfortably through long, dry seasons.

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The slow breakdown of fat in the tail keeps the animal supplied with both energy and water. Namaqua Afrikaner is quite a tall sheep with long slender legs and a slender body. They are white with a black or red head and thick tails. It is a tough sheep that is able to withstand harsh desert conditions and extremes of temperature but it is not favoured for its meat so there is little demand for it. Ronderib Afrikaner sheep were originally a mutton breed and, as such, purebreds grow quite slowly. Slaughter mass is achieved at around 6 to 7 months but the carcase is not good, so most producers wait until 10 to 12 months. Ronderibs breed well, with fairly high reproduction performance rates. Breeding may be started successfully quite early, and is possible throughout the year. The hide of the Ronderib Afrikaner is said to make skin blankets due to the mixture of hair and wool, but it is a specialised craft and only a few people have the skills to do it. The skins are also use din the manufacture of leather gloves. The Ronderib variety of Afrikaner is further broken down into two subvarieties, the Blinkhaar and the Steekhaar. Blinkhaar Ronderibs have shiny hair, with a soft and fine texture. Steekhaar Ronderib Afrikaners have coarse hair. Their coat is quite distinctive with the sheep being covered with a light cream fleece. Wool is soft, and the hairs are glossy. In crosssection, you can see flat ribs rather than oval ones.

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Steekhaars shed in summer. Due to their adaptations, they live well in desert/dry conditions, even with very little water. Ewes sometimes display small horns, though many hornless ewes are seen. Weight ranges from 60 to 80 kg. Rams most often display horns with one and a half turns, and these are amber in colour. Polled rams are seen on occasion. Weight ranges from 60 to 80 kg. A mane is displayed along the neck and onto the point of the chest. Heads are narrow and Steekhaars display a long, concave profile. They also have the characteristic “Roman Nose”, as seen in other breeds such as the Border Leicester. The well-adapted tail is divided into three sections and can weigh 8 to 12 kg on its own. It usually hangs down, and can be long enough to come close to the hocks. The breed fault of a corkscrew tail, or one-sided hang on the tail, is sometimes seen. Steekhaar Ronderibs are especially notable due to their history: common knowledge had it that they were extinct, until a twenty-strong flock was discovered at a farm just outside Upington, along the Northern Cape, in 1995. African Four Horned Sheep Introduced in the early 2000s by Denis Russell of Genelink, in South Australia, African Four Horned sheep come in a variety of striking colours, along with parti-coloured and spotted. Embryos were transferred from a quarantined flock residing in their native South

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Africa. The original flock was red but other colours also appeared. In 2016, four breeders worked with African Four-horned Sheep. Different breeders have demonstrated interest in different traits, depending on desired outcome. Some breeders have focussed on keeping the breed as cleanskins for carcase breeding, while others have kept flocks showing some wool. An increase in numbers is causing an increase in breed populations, as sheep become available to other breeders for purchase. This is a meat breed, with a robust body. The majority of the breed members have long, hanging ears although smaller ears are sometimes seen. The breed is quite tall and longlegged, with a big frame. It does well on big country. Rams grow four horns and are often quite large. In some cases, 3, 5, and 6 horns are seen. Some ewes also display four horns, but they are usually unicorns or bicorns. Given their scarcity, fourhorned females are sought after. Good horns are sought after in general, which means sheep lacking 2 or 4 horns are usually culled and sold as meat. Flocks do well on low quality feed and are also fast-growing. They are a good option for meat in difficult conditions or terrain. Cleanskins come into a protective coat of down in the winter months. This is shed as summer comes. Alai This is a very hardy breed from Kyrgyzstan. It is medium to large size, with mostly white wool sometimes with spots, and is kept for both wool and meat. page 34

Alcarreña This Spanish breed is raised for meat. They are mostly white with pale brown marks on the legs and head. Rams and ewes are polled. Algarve Churro A Portuguese breed with white wool and black spots on face. Some animals can also be black, and they have horns. It is raised primarily for meat, and sometimes for carpet wool. Alpines Steinschaf A multipurpose breed from Austria and Southern Germany, this sheep is grown for wool, meat and to control vegetation. Altay This is a breed from cold and dry mountain valleys in China. It is raised mainly for meat but also for carpet wool. Their meat is very fatty due to these animals storing body fat to cope with the harsh mountain conditions they are kept in. Ancon This breed has a long body with short legs and crooked forelegs. It was bred from an individual animal born in Massachusetts in 1791, and is commonly known as the “Otter Sheep”. Considered easier to keep, it does not need high fencing because of short legs. Appenninica Originating from the Apennine mountains in Italy, this is a breed of strong animals developed by cross-

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breeding local breeds in the 1970’s, although it was only officially recognised in the 1980’s. Its ears are horizontal and it has no horns. They are mostly white with a face free of wool, and are a medium size and weight. It is raised mainly for meat. The wool has medium coarseness. Arabi This is a medium size breed from Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It is raised mostly for meat but also wool. The rams have horns. Afghan Arabi This is a common breed in and from Afghanistan which is primarily raised for meat. It is mostly grey in colour, with a black or white face and long drooping ears. Ewes and rams are both polled. Algerian Berber This long-legged breed occurs across Algeria where it is grown for meat, and also carpet wool. Rams are horned, and females are polled. It is thought to have been developed from the Algerian Tadmit Sheep, and has adapted to live in arid places. Arapawa This breed is from from Arapawa Island which is located in the Marlborough Sounds off the South Island of New Zealand. It is farmed for both wool and meat. Although no clear origin is known, it is possible they derive from a flock of Merinos once left on Arapawa Island which, over time, developed into a hardy page 35

type of Merino. The original flock is said to have been left sometime in the 1860s. This breed is quite hardy, and does well in colder climates. Arapawa sheep display a light frame with several colour varieties, though brown and black are the most common. Mottled fleeces are often seen, with colour variation and bleached “rustbrown” tips. Its wool is fine and domesticated flocks will retain wool for shearing, though their wild breed counterparts usually shed it. Like other wild breeds, Arapawa are quite resistant to flystrike. This makes them reasonably easy to keep. Rams grow spiral horns, as seen in Merinos. Ewes are polled. Meat is popular with restaurants due to its fine texture and gamey flavour. Feral Arapawa are hunted in New Zealand. Due to hunting, the breed fell to only 20 sheep; Picton-based Betty Rowe set up a sanctuary to help the breed survive. They are now raised domestically in New Zealand. At the time of writing, the only Arapawa flock in Australia is located at Caversham Wildlife Park. These ewes were part of a larger flock brought into the country by the University of Western Australia and split between two setups. All nine remaining sheep are ewes. Arapawa wool is prized by spinners due to its fineness, softness, strength, and elasticity. Though it has an uneven staple, it can be spun into a fine yarn. This yarn displays flecked colouring, similar to tweed.

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Armenian Semicoarsewool This breed is raised for both meat and milk. It was developed as a cross between Rambouillet and Lincoln sheep. Askanian Developed in the early 1900’s in the Ukraine, this is a cross between Merino and Rambouillet. They are medium to large animals, mostly grown for their fine wool. Rams are horned and Ewes may be polled or horned. Assaf This is a very hardy breed developed in Israel by crossing Awassi and East Friesian. It is now farmed in other Mediterranean countries where it is grown for both dairy and meat. It is a medium size animal and generally the ewes and rams are both polled. Aussiedown Developed in Australia from Texel (25%) and Southdown (75%), this breed is used mostly as prime lamb sires. They are white all over and both rams and ewes are polled. They are an easy-care type of sheep. Australian White These are large, white animals suited to Australian conditions. Mobility and conformation (shape and structure) is good. These animals mature early and breed easily. They have a white coat that sheds well. Awassi From south west Asia, Awassi is an page 36

important breed across many Middle Eastern countries. Sheep resembling and thought to be the forebears of this breed are known to be in the Middle East as far back as 5,000 years ago. They are a very hardy breed, which are well-adapted to semiarid and subtropical climates. They are kept for meat and dairy. These are fat-tailed and mostly medium sized although there are variations within the breed. Larger types have been developed for improved dairy production. Badger Face An ancient Welsh breed from the mountains, Badger Face sheep are the most commonly shown sheep at the Royal Welsh Show. Badger Faces come in two colours, being Torddu (more common) and Torwen (quite rare). Torddu (“black belly”) are white sheep displaying black eye stripes. They have a black underbelly, with colouring that reaches the jaw. Torwen (“white belly”) are the reverse, a black sheep with a white belly and tiny white eye patches. Both are very attractive. Both parents must have the badgerface gene to produce a badger-face lamb. Although the breed is unique to Wales, many other breeds also have the badger-face gene. A hardy sheep, Badger Faces are well-adapted to harsh environments. Sheep do well in lowland and upland conditions, though they breed more prolifically in the lowlands. According to the Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep Society (formed in 1976), the females possess strong mothering ability, and lambs are quite fast-growing.

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Badger Face sheep are an ancient breed with a long history. As one of the oldest British breeds, some believe they originated in the 1st century AD. When whiter cloths and fleece came into demand in the Middle Ages, the breed grew popular, with breeders deliberately selecting for the whitest fleece. Bannur This is a very old breed from India with a higher than average muscle-to-fat ratio which gives a superior quality meat. Relatively small in size, this breed has coarse wool, short legs, long drooping ears and a short, thin tail. It is sometimes compared to “Wagu” beef because of the meat quality. Balkhi From Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, the Balkhi sheep is fat-tailed. The rams and ewes are both horned with long ears. They are a medium to large size, very muscular, and coloured black, grey or tan. It is kept mostly for meat, but also wool. Baluchi From Pakistan and Southern Afghanistan, this is a fat-tailed breed. It has a white fleece but head and legs may be darkly coloured, partly or fully. This sheep adapts to harsh arid and hotter climates and make good foragers. It is mostly kept for its wool which is coarse. Balwen A Welsh hill breed, the Balwen is a particularly handsome sheep and a maternal hill breed. It displays uniform facial markings and a long tail with a white tip, similar to those seen in some page 37

foxes. The breed also has four white ‘socks’, which is a mandatory marking for males. Balwen is Welsh for “white blaze”. The breed is from the Tywi Valley in Carmarthenshire. It was almost extinct in 1947 when only one surviving ram was known of. However, due to growth in smallholder interest the population has since grown and from around 1970 it has become popular further afield. The Balwen Welsh Mountain Sheep Society was established in 1985, and they promote the breed as being one with few health problems that only needs minimal supplementary feeding. These sheep come in black or brown with a “white blaze” running from the top of the head onto the nose. The tail is usually white. Grey coats are also seen. Balwen also have white socks, and males display horns. Females are small and hardy, and have a strong mothering ability. As such, lambs can be reared in difficult environments. Despite their near extinction in the 1940’s which was the result of an especially harsh winter in 1946-7, the Balwen was established as a breed in the UK in the 19th century. Today, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust recognises the Balwen as a rare breed. Barbados Blackbelly Developed in Barbados, this sheep is almost certainly from sheep that originated in West Africa. The breed adapts to cold and hot environments, reproduces very well, and is relatively resistant to diseases and parasites. It is farmed for meat which has a mild flavour although marbling is less well-developed than in some other meat breeds.

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Bardoka This is a multipurpose medium size breed from Kosovo, which adapts to low temperatures and most other environmental extremes except for high humidity. Its skin is pink, wool is white, and its face is free of wool. It is commonly known as the “White Mountain Sheep” and “White Metohian Sheep”. This breed is kept for meat, wool and dairy. Basco-béarnaise Developed in the 1960’s from Basque and Béarnaise breeds, this is a dairy breed from the Basque area of Spain. They are a longwool type of sheep which are white all over except for some reddish yellow markings on the face and feet. Rams have long curly horns but ewes may be hornless. Beltex With their distinctive muscular body and calm nature, Beltex sheep bear lambs with high meat yield. The breed displays a short and thick neck, white face, white body, and medium white fleece. Sometimes the head is bacl or brown coloured. The body is long but mid size and features doublemuscled hindquarters. These create the characteristic Beltex wedge shape. Shoulders are narrow, and widen toward the rear. Beltex are a lowland sheep and terminal sire. Beltex sheep hail from Belgium. The name is a hybrid of “Belgium” and “Texel” and it was originally known as the Belgian Texel. The breed was brought into the UK in 1989 and the Beltex Sheep Society was formed in 1991. page 38

This breed was developed by selectively breeding double-muscled sheep. The result was a breed is best known for its excellent conformation and superior carcase. Bentheimer Landschaf A medium size breed from Germany, this is a particularly hardy heathland sheep with hard hoofs and long legs. It is rare today, raised mostly for managing vegetation and landscape preservation. Bergamasca This is a large and relatively common breed from Italy. It adapts to varied climates, and produces white wool. It is farmed mostly for meat, but also dairy and wool. Berrichon du Cher Also called the British Berrichon, these are a large, medium-boned breed. They have a white face and both males and females are polled. Berrichon du Cher is known for its high quality white fleece. This breed hails from the Cher region of France, and today it remains popular throughout France. In the 1780’s, it was improved by the Merino, and in the 1800’s it was improved by the British Dishley Leicester. The breed was then established in the UK during the 20th century, and the British Berrichon is found in different parts of the UK. The British Berrichon Sheep Society was established in 1986. It is mainly used as a terminal sire breed i.e. for meat production since, according to the British Berrichon

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Sheep Society, this breed lambs easily and lambs are quick to their feet. Lambs are also fast-growing. Purebred Berrichon ewes can also bear lambs throughout the year which is unusual for sheep and enhances their value as meat. Beulah Speckled Face An upland UK breed, these elegant polled sheep have long been bred in Wales. With their white fleece and their legs and face which are speckled with black and white, they are an attractive sight over the hills of Eppynt, Llanafan, Abergwesyn and Llanwrtyd Wells in the Powys region of eastern Wales. Although the Beulah Speckled Face was almost exclusively bred in Wales for over 100 years, demand for the larger draft ewes has grown in recent years. This is because the ewes provide a good cross option for lowland farmers looking to breed Continental, Suffolk, and Down rams. Beulah Speckled Face’s were bred from a mountain sheep. They are slightly larger than their forebears, and are described as “less extreme”. A hardy sheep on uplands, the Beulah Speckled Face produces purebred lambs which do well in harsh conditions. According to the Eppynt Hill & Beulah Speckled Face Society, originally formed in 1958, ewes in the hills are purebred and used for replacing flocks, to produce lambs for the meat trade or for finishing on lowland farms. They require little attention, so are easy to manage. Also, draft ewes (those that are too old to graze on the hills) are page 39

desirable to farmers on the lowlands for crossing with Down rams because these ewes are renowned for good mothering and milking. Bibrik This is a medium size fat tailed breed from Pakistan. It is white with a black or brown head, and is kept mainly for meat. Biellese From north-west Italy, this breed was previously considered a subvariety of Bergamasca. In the past it was dualpurpose but is now mainly kept for meat. They are large animals and very hardy in temperate climates similar to northern Italy. Bizet The Bizet sheep comes from France where it was developed throughout the 19th century. It is mostly kept for meat, though it does produce wool. Blackface With distinctive black, or black-andwhite, faces the Blackface sheep have elegant and sometimes curved horns. While there are several distinct types, the best-known is the Scottish Blackface. The Scottish Blackface has three key subdivisions: Perth, Lanark, and Northumberland. The Blackface is a quite hardy maternal hill breed which displays a strong mothering ability. This means they can rear lambs even in extreme locations or terrain. They are easy to heft, rendering them an excellent choice for locations with large amounts of hill country.

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Believed to date back to the 12th century, the Blackface is in the same genetic grouping as the Swaledale and Rough Fell (also horned sheep). According to the Blackface Sheep Breeders Association, Blackfaces make up around 35% of the UK sheep population. As a breed, it is established throughout Scotland, North East England, Northern Ireland, and the US. According to the association, Blackfaces can be bred to produce stock well-suited to all climatic conditions. This is a result of the distinct subtypes within the breed.

It is a large sheep combining maternal and terminal sire traits, grown for meat and wool. The meat is said to have a delicate flavour and the wool is average coarseness. Lambs have a low mortality rate and they gain weight quickly due to high fat content in the ewe’s milk.

Blackhead Persian

The Bluefaced Leicester originated in Northumberland, United Kingdom. With a long Roman nose and upstanding ears, this breed has a distinguished appearance. The head is lightly covered in white hair, though it may have patches of brown with blue-grey skin visible beneath this which adds to the breed’s attractiveness.

Originally from Africa, and sometimes called the Somali Blackhead, this is a fat-tailed breed. Being a hair sheep it is grown mainly for meat production. Distinctive in appearance this breed has a white body with a contrasting black head and neck. The body has a compact conformation with a fat rump. Bleu du Maine With its distinct head shape and colouring, the Bleu du Maine has a striking profile. The smallish head has a wide forehead and long ears tapering down to a longish nose. The skin is bluish-grey and the head is absent of both horns and wool, though the body displays a white fleece. Dating back to the 19th century, the Bleu du Maine comes from Western France. Today, the breed is popular in France and the Netherlands. A breed society was established in 1978 in the UK, with the breed introduced between 1978 and 1982. In 2000, a Bleu du Maine ewe was crossed with a Beltex ram to create the “Millenium Bleu”. page 40

In the UK, Bleu du Maines have been promoted as good female producers, though they are also used as a terminal sire for both hill and lowland breeds. Bluefaced Leicester

Bluefaced Leceisters are known for their curly fleece which can be used in hand spinning. They are also used in meat production. Originating as part of a breeding scheme in the 19th century, Bluefaced Leceister sheep are sometimes known as “Hexham Leceisters”, a reflection of their Northern English roots. A hardy and prolific breed, Bluefaced Leceisters mature early. As a lowland breed, Bluefaced Leceisters can also be crossed with hill breeds to create useful mule breeds. Bond Developed in NSW, Australia from Merino and Lincoln breeds in 1909 Bond sheep were previously called “Commercial Corriedale”. Large and tall

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with long bodies, these sheep are kept for both meat and wool. They tolerate most climates, but lambs grow faster if conditions are better.

native breed in the British Isles which produces multipurpose mule sheep.

Border Leicester

The Boreray breed is one of the rarer breeds and originated from West Coast of Scotland in the Outer Hebrides. This breed is more feral than domestic and is now mainly used for conserving, although it was once used for both meat and wool. They are a small breed with short tails. Their wool is usually off white to brown in colour, and is quite a rough fibre. Their fleece actually moults naturally so now shearing or clipping required. Both sexes in this breed are horned. This breed is one of only a few surviving breeds originally descending from the Scottish Dunface, and is quite long-lived.

With large, upstanding ears and a hornless, distinctive head, the Border Leiceister is an eye-catching specimen. The head and legs are white and covered in short hair, while the body displays a white, semi-lustrous fleece. Prolific breeders and good milkers, this hardy breed is found in high rainfall wheat/sheep areas as well as more marginal areas. It produces soft, lustrous wool growing 20 cm or more in 12 months. This breed is excellent for crossbreeding where ewes are bred with short wool rams for lamb production. Indigenous to Britain, the Border Leiceister is descended from the Dishley Leiceisters. Due to the versatility of its cross-breeding, this sheep is also known as “the Great Improver”; at one time, it was arguably the most in-demand breed in the world for cross-breeding. At the time of writing however, the Border Leiceister is labelled as “at risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). As such, it is now recognised as a rare breed. Most current flocks are located in Northern England, and around the Scottish lowlands and borders. Border Leiceisters have good mothering ability. They are fast growing and lambs mature early. These favourable traits are passed on to mule sheep if they are crossbred with hill breeds. In fact, according to the Border Leicester Sheep Breeders society, the breed is the largest page 41

Boreray

This diminutive breed – Borerays are often only around 55cm high – displays attractive speckled markings on the face and legs. Speckling is sometimes seen over the shoulders and body. On occasion, darker specimens are also seen. The Boreray’s ancestors were domesticated sheep on the islands of St. Kilda. Sometime during the 19th century, these sheep were developed into a clear breed of their own. At the time of the Hirta Island evacuation in 1930, a flock was left on Boreray which is a small, uninhabited island. After these sheep were rescued, they were listed with the Rare Breed Survival Trust who registered their status as “critically endangered”. In 2003, a flock book was brought into the Soay and Boreray Sheep Society. At the time of writing, small Boreray flocks are found throughout the UK in an effort to preserve the breed and its genetics.

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A small hill and upland breed, Borerays are quite hardy. They can thrive even with sparse grazing, across most conditions and environments. Bovec

British Milk sheep are, unsurprisingly, an excellent breed for milkiness having been bred for this trait initially in the 1960s. Flocks are primarily found in the UK, Canada, and Hungary, usually in small numbers.

From Slovenia, the Bovec is a small to medium size sheep with varied colour including black, brown to grey, or whitish. They are strong animals with back legs developed to suit walking steep landscapes. They are dualpurpose, being grown for milk and meat.

According to the British Milk Sheep Society, the breed is “robust” and “adaptable”. Males sire crossbred females that show good milk yield so purebred ewes are often used as dairy sheep. They also have a mild temperament making them easy to keep.

Braunes Bergschaf

Campanian Barbary

From Tyrol area of Austria and Italy, this breed is also known as Brown Mountain Sheep. They are a multipurpose breed kept for meat, wool and vegetation management. These black or brown coloured large animals are very hardy and strong, and they adapt well to different climates in their native areas.

From southern Italy, this breed came from crossing the Tunisian Barbary and a local Italian sheep. They are raised mostly for meat and milk. Males are horned, and females are polled. It produces carpet grade to medium grade wool.

Brazilian Somali This breed was developed in Brazil by crossing local sheep with the Blackhead Persian. It is a fat-tailed breed with a white head with black markings, and it reportedly has an extremely low mortality rate in newborn lambs. British Milk Sheep Perhaps the most recognisable as a “standard sheep”, British Milk sheep are medium to large sized. They have a white head and legs, white fleece and display a broad muzzle. The ears are long, though not as distinctive as those on their Border Leiceister kin.

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Castlemilk Moorit Originally developed as a purely decorative breed by Sir Jock BuchananJardine for his Castlemilk estate, the Castlemilk Moorit displays a soft, milkcoffee coloured fleece (“Moorit” is the lowland Scots word for this colour). Rare Breed Society Trust founder Joe Henson kept the breed alive at Cotswold Farm Park. All of today’s Castlemilk Moorits are descended from this flock. With a light belly and fine, usually kemp-free fleece, Castlemilk Moorits are a large, primitive, horned breed (kemp refers to the brittle fibres found interspersed in sheep fleece). Ewes have two uniform horns, widely spread; rams show two even-spiralled horns. Castle Moorits are particularly fine-

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boned sheep with small feet and they are known for their agility. The tail is short and narrow, with an overall triangular shape. Ewes display strong maternal instincts. According to the Castlemilk Moorit Breed Society, the original Castlemilk Moorits were bred from Manx Loghtan, Moorit Shetland, and wild Mouflon. Charmoise Hill This breed originated in the 18th century in the Loir et Cher region of Central France. It was a cross between native hill sheep and Kent rams from England. The breed is grown in France but also in selective areas of the UK, especially the Welsh hills. With fine bones and a short body, the Charmoise Hill sheep boasts a pinkish head, small ears and large eyes. It may be used as a terminal sire to enhance meat yields, and it tolerates harsh conditions and environments. It is also reported as being capable of lambing out of season by the Charmoise Hill Sheep Society. Charollais This breed was developed in France by breeding the British Dishley Leicester with local sheep. The result was a large, muscular sheep a pinkish head with a white fleck above hte eyes, and cream to white hair. Being a hair sheep it is generally used as a terminal sire giving rise to prime lamb meat. The breed is grown in France and also the UK. Cheviot page 43

The Cheviot, or Border Cheviot, is native to the Scottish Borders and England where it originated along the Cheviot Hills. It is thought that this breed originated as early as 1372. Being raised on the hills, they are a hardy breed which can withstand hill heights of 3,000 feet where they graze all year round. The breed has a white face with a black muzzle, and very dense wool. The ram can produce horns. The ears are erect on this breed. Originally, Cheviots were bred for both their meat and wool. The wool was mainly used to form tweed however the public need for tweed has declined and, as such, so has the use of cheviot wool. The breed is still very popular for its meat. Merinos were imported to the UK from Europe in the 15th century, and it is possible the Cheviot flocks had Merino added. In the mid 18th century, James Robson added Lincoln to create a meatier sheep and improve the heaviness of the fleece. This “improved” Cheviot was popular and quickly spread across the area. During his project to improve native wool, Sir John Sinclair moved 500 Cheviots to his farm in Caithness, Scotland. This ultimately led to the North Country Cheviot (also known as the Scottish Cheviot). As a result of this, the original breed became the South Country Cheviots (also known as Hill Cheviots). Border Type Cheviots are the result of the infusion of North Country and South Country Cheviots. The remaining Cheviot type, the Brecknock Cheviot,

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was developed in Wales. Cheviots arrived in Tasmania, Australia in 1832 via the Van Diemen’s Land Company. By 1840 they were doing better than other breeds and became popular before disappearing towards the late 1800’s. Later in 1938 they were reintroduced, this time in South Australia by HR Walsh and Company. These sheep came from New Zealand and reached their height of popularity during the 1950’s and 60’s. These days there are few grown in Australia. Nevertheless, it makes a good dualpurpose meat and wool breed and is very hardy, particularly to cold conditions and their black feet give protection against footrots. The fleece of Cheviots is known as a ‘downs fleece’ and is the wool used most frequently for tartans. Its strength and durability make it ideal for other purposes e.g. socks, mittens and hats. It is also sought after by hand spinners and can be used to produce a fluffy yarn. Brecknock Hill Cheviot This breed was originally developed in Wales by crossing three breeds, including the Cheviot. It is thought to have been developed 400 years ago. Like the Cheviot, it also has a white face and black muzzle with erect ears. Usually, both sexes are hornless, however sometimes rams can have horns. The main breeding purpose of this breed is for meat. North Country Cheviot

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This breed is farmed all over the UK however they originated in Scotland in the late 1700’s to the early 1800’s. Border Cheviots were brought to more northerly areas of Scotland such as Caithness and Sutherland. This is another white faced sheep, however the wool is longer and they are larger than their cousins. They are used both for meat and wool. Clun Forest The Clun Forest is named after the town of Clun in Shropshire on the Welsh border with England. It was first described in 1803 and since that time its white face has darkened. It is a cross between the Shropshire, Longmynd and Radnor breeds. This breed is medium sized with a white fleece and a dark face and legs, and upright ears. Today, it is still found along the Welsh border in Shropshire and Powys but there are flocks in other parts of Wales as well as England and Scotland. The Clun Forest Sheep Breeder’s Society has been running since 1925. It is considered a maternal breed ideal for crossing with terminal sires to give half-bred females and mules which give birth to lambs with good quality meat. It also adapts well to different climates and conditions. Columbia The breed Columbia is one of the larger breeds of sheep and holds a heavy white fleece. The breed was created in the United States, and some would say the first true American breed. It is now

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quite popular although it’s mainly used for crossbreeding. It originates from a cross between the Rambouillet and Lincoln breeds by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1912. It was purposefully bred to cope with the harsher environment of the western region of the United States and is quite a large sheep. This breed is a good dual purpose sheep grown both lamb meat and wool. Comeback This breed was developed by crossing Merino with Corriedale. It is a dualpurpose breed. These are large animals with no neck folds and males and females are polled. It is used for wool production in higher rainfall places, but also crossed with short wool rams to produce prime lamb. Coopworth This is a fairly modern breed that began life in the 1950’s. It is a cross between the Border Leicester and Romney breeds. The offspring were also interbred in order to arrive at what are now known as Coopworths. By 1968 the breed was finally established.

wool which grows up to 17 cm per year. They have a large wool top-knot, white face and nostrils, and black feet. It is a dual-purpose breed grown for meat and wool. This breed was developed in Australia and NZ, and is now popular in South America. It suits good or marginal pasture land. Cotswold The Cotswold sheep is thought to have been brought to the UK by the Romans, and it later became the most significant export from the UK during medieval times. Indeed, the Cotswold region in the south-west of England where the sheep was grown built its wealth from these exports. Despite this popularity it almost went out of existence during the early 20th century due to the rise of synthetic fibres. However, some hobby farmers and breeders brought about its resurgence in the 1960’s. Nowadays it is found in specialist flocks in the Cotswolds and beyond but it is listed as rare by the Cotswold Sheep Society which was originally formed in 1892, lapsed in the 1920s, and then reformed in 1966.

There has been further development of this breed since by crossing Coopworth rams with other white faced breeds. These sheep have a reputation for a high lambing rate, lambs which fatten up quickly, and good mothering with selfreplacing ewes. Corriedale These are very large animals which are polled. They produce thick, good quality page 45

Cotswold sheep breed

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The Cotswold sheep is notable for its thick and long, lustrous, white fleece which comes right up onto the head. It usually has a white face and ears, though sometimes the ears can be speckled with black. They are quite tall and long sheep and neither rams nor ewes have horns.

Its fleece is highly prized by spinners and craftspeople, and it was once known as the ‘golden fleece’. This breed does also produce large lambs which fatten quickly, and mothers are good milkers, making it also a good meat lamb.

Upright ears as seen here (or drooping ears) is one tell tale characteristic in different breeds.

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Dalesbred The Dalesbred sheep comes from the Pennines in England around the Yorkshire Dales, northern Lancashire and Cumbria. It originated from Swaledale and Blackface sheep. Dalesbred have been crossed with Teeswater sheep to produce Masham sheep. The Dalesbred sheep have a black and white head, black and white legs, and a black face with distinctive white marks around the mouth and nose. The fleece is deep-set and white and of good quality. Rams and ewes have rounded low-set horns. Described as a very hardy and longlived hill breed by the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders Association, these sheep are adaptable to a wide range of environments. The ewes make excellent mothers and this breed has dense wool used mainly in carpet-making. Rams can be crossed to produce good meat lambs.

these colours. They are horned sheep with spiral horns, though ewes may sometimes be hornless. Damaras don’t have much body fat but they do store fat in their wedge-shaped tail which is utilised when food is scarce. Rams have strong profile with a Roman nose and prominent horns, and are sturdier than the females. The ewes by comparison are more delicate and feminine. These sheep are very good grazers because they’ll eat a wide range of vegetation including weeds species. Therefore, they can used in rotational systems where they reduce the need to use weed killers. Lambs feed and grow quickly, and they reach sexual maturity by 6 months and can be bred at 10 to 12 months. The ewes make good mothers and can have three lambs every two years. They sometimes give birth to twins.

Damara This is a very old breed of sheep which is believed to have originated in East Asia and Egypt at around 3000 BC. It was introduced to Australia via South Africa in 1996 where it has thrived because it has high heat tolerance, can walk long distances and survive in harsh conditions. They have mainly been grown in pastoral areas of Australia and along the wheat belts. These are large sheep with long bodies and a lively disposition. They have short hair which may be white, black or brown and various combinations of page 47

Damara

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Damara Cross There are a number of Damara cross breeds. The first cross (F1) has strong vigour and the usual Damara appearance. The F2 has bare legs and bellies with less wool overall. The F3 and F4 are like purebred Damaras. These animals don’t need shearing and are low maintenance. They will eat shrubby plants as well as grass and weeds and can survive on low quality vegetation. They tend to graze in flocks and stay close to one another. Lambs can be weaned from 10 weeks and are ready to harvest at four to seven months. Live exports of Damara Cross breeds are particularly popular in the Middle East where they are used they use for religious ceremonies, although in recent years there has been growing pressure from animal rights groups to cease live exports due to some cases where animals on ships were not treated humanely. Danish Landrace These are small to medium size animals, endemic to Denmark and Jutland, which were bred in the 19th century from Merino and Heath sheep. They are mostly used for wool. About 10% of rams are horned, otherwise they are polled. This is a hardy breed with a white body and greyish head. The face and tail are speckled with brown. This breed came close to extinction in 1986 but has since been revived. These sheep do well even in very harsh conditions and they are quite wild in page 48

their nature, preferring to roam long distances. They don’t carry a lot of meat so are best kept for wool which is used in carpet and blanket making. Debouillet The Debouillet breed comes from New Mexico where it was developed by a sheep producer in 1920 from a cross between a Merino and a Rambouillet. As such, it has the hardiness of the Rambouillet and the quality wool of the Merino. It is a mid-sized sheep with a white face and legs. Its small ears are semi-erect and the wool comes up onto its head. Although it is uncommon in the United States it is well-suited to the conditions in New Mexico. Derbyshire Gritstone The Derbyshire Gritstone is thought to be one of the oldest native breeds in the United Kingdom. It is farmed across Derbyshire and other midland areas through to the upper England counties. They are a good hill breed and are quite hardy and are thought to be resistant to disease. This breed has predominant facial and leg markings of black and white, alongside finer wool covering the body only. Both sexes are polled and are said to have good genetics for breeding. They are mostly kept for meat production, although the wool is fine. Devon Closewool The Devon Closewool was developed around the mid to late 1800’s. Two breeds, the Devon Longwool and the

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Exmoor Horn, formed this hardy breed. In general, this breed makes easy keeping and is docile making these sheep easy to work with. They are a stocky breed with thick white wool, and have full white faces. Their main uses in production are meat, wool and cross breeding. Devon and Cornwall Longwool The Devon Longwool, or Devon Longwoolled, originates from Devon in the southwest of England. It was developed from crossing the South Devon and Devon Longwool and became established in 1977. They are a hardy white-faced sheep with very thick, heavy wool. The wool comes onto the head forming a fringe and they carry more wool than most other breeds. In fact the lambs bear so much wool that they have to be sheared. This makes this breed great for wool production, though they are also grown for meat. Being quite durable, the wool is used mainly in carpet-making though it is also used for some craft products. They are a resilient sheep whilst also being a docile breed which makes them easy to work with. Dorper In 1942 the Dorper breed came into existence in South Africa where it was the result of a cross between Dorset Horn rams with Persian Blackheaded ewes. Later it was exported to other countries and today is found in North America, Canada, South America, Australia, Europe and the UK. The Dorper has a black head and white body. There is also a White Dorper page 49

which has a white head and body. These sheep are fast-growing with good carcasees for the meat trade. They can also be bred throughout the year and are relatively easy to keep since they don’t need shearing and are hardy animals capable of withstanding extremes of temperature. It has a thicker than average skin which makes it resilient to insect bites. According to the Dorper and White Dorper Society of Great Britain this breed may be crossed with native British breeds to give composite breeding ewes.

Dorper

Dorset Dorset sheep are prolific, large animals with a white face, pink nostrils and no dark markings. They originated from Dorset in southwest England. There a number of variations. For example, the Dorset Horn has large spiral horns on the male and lighter horns on the female, whereas the Poll Dorset is hornless. It is popular for lamb production where it grows fast under good conditions; but it can also do well under less than perfect conditions.

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Dorset Down The Dorset Down was developed in the early 1800’s from Bekshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire ewes bred with Southdowns. It produces a fine textured fleece and has long loins that are wellcovered with meat. Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset These sheep can be traced back to the late 1600’s though it wasn’t until 1891 that it was officially recorded along with it breed standards. Both the horned (Dorset Horn) and hornless (Poll Dorset) are stocky sheep with white faces, a pink nose and cream-coloured fleece. The spiral horns of the Dorset Horn rams are larger than the female’s horns. It wasn’t until the Dorset Horn was exported to Australia in the early 20th century that it was crossed with other breeds to produce the Poll Dorset. This breed was exported back to the UK where it displaced the Dorset Horn in terms of popularity.

Dorset Horned Sheep

Dorset sheep have a slightly shorter gestation period than many other breeds and can also be bred out of season with three lambs per ewe every two years being common. page 50

These days Dorset sheep are found throughout the UK and not just in Dorset. They are mostly the Poll Dorset breed and the Dorset Horn is considered rare. Poll Dorset sheep are also found in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America and South Africa. Drysdale The Drysdale is a horned breed in both sexes which originated in New Zealand. The ewe’s horns are usually smaller than the rams. The fleece is white and the breed is renowned for its coarse fibrous wool. The breed has been exported to the United Kingdom and Australia. It is mainly used for its wool and meat production. This breed emerged in the 1930’s from research by Dr. Francis Dry of Massey University, New Zealand who was looking into a ‘hairy’ gene. Dr. Dry crossed hairy Romney sheep with Cheviots to produce a breed that was hairy. The Drysdale required shearing twice a year but it coarse, long wool was well suited to upholstery and carpet-making. Whilst the hairy gene means both male and female sheep are horned, the ewe’s horns are considerably smaller than the rams. These sheep have a sturdy body which gives rise to a good carcase meat which has a rich flavour. Being strong, they make hardy sheep for different environments. They are also considered to be attractive looking sheep that are good natured and very friendly. Both of their annual shearings produce a good quantity of fleece. The wool is white, non-lustrous and suitable for insulation. It has also been used for blankets and felt products. The durability and

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insulation properties of the wool have seen it used in army blankets and mountaineering products. It is also good for upholstery and carpet-making. Easycare This breed emerged in the 1960’s through crossing Wiltshire Horn with Nelson Welsh Mountain sheep. The Wiltshire Horn has very little wool and so this breed was purposefully bred to be a low maintenance, ‘easy care’ sheep. There have been a number of genetic improvements since its origin and it was first recognised as a separate breed in 2009. Today, it has become well received in the UK but is also now grown in Europe, notably in Germany, France and the Netherlands. These sheep are on the small side and they naturally shed wool. They have white faces and bodies. Easycare sheep are also hardy and are capable of thriving in a range of different environments and various weather conditions. The breed was also developed for easy lambing, and according to the Easy Care Sheep Society, the breed needs little shepherding or veterinary care but gives good lambing rates and superb meat yields. East Friesian The East Friesian is an old breed which originated in the Friesland area of Germany. The breed became popular milkers and has given rise to many other milk breeds in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. They have a reputation for being the best milking sheep in the world. page 51

They are an attractive sheep with a white face and upright stature. They have an even fleece with no hair on the legs or tail. Both rams and ewes are polled. This breed is also very fertile and they have developed a docile nature due to many years of interaction with humans. A single ewe can produce up to 700 litres of milk during its 7 to 8 month lactation period, and it is richer in vitamins and proteins than cow milk or goat milk. It is also very creamy with a high fat content and can be used in cheese manufacturing and for other dairy products like yoghurt. These animals don’t thrive in extremes of temperature and have to be kept in barns in very cold weather. They are also prone to sunburn in very hot weather. This breed is ideally suited to moderate conditions. They benefit from supplementary feeding during milking periods. The East Friesian is typically kept as a milker but it is also crossed with other sheep to increase fertility and milk yield in flocks grown for wool or meat. They have been crossed with native sheep to produce new milk breeds in a number of countries. Elliottdale This breed can be traced back to the 1960’s where it was developed at the Elliott Research Station in Tasmania where it was bred from the Romney ram which was a good carpet wool breed. It became commercialised in 1976 with the establishment of the Australian Carpet Wool Industry. The Elliottdale is a mid-sized sheep which is white all over and produces

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a quality fleece. The ewes are polled but the larger rams may or may not be polled. Sheep need to be sheared twice a year and each shearing produces up to 8 kg of wool. Although the breed was originally bred for carpet wool it is now considered a dual-purpose sheep which is also grown for meat since it produces fast-growing lambs of prime meat quality. This breed is close to extinction today. Mr Carl Terrey, a researcher and member of the Elliottdale research team has tried to keep the breed going but its future looks uncertain. English Leicester The English Leicester, or English Longwool, originated around the 1700’s from the midlands of England, hence the name. It is believed to have been introduced to Australia around 1826. This breed is now a rare breed in the United Kingdom. This is a medium to large, stocky sheep with a strong body and stance. The fleece and head are white, although some black markings may be on the face. The wool is spiral-tipped and grows to 20 cm or more in 12 months and is thick and full. The main uses of this breed were for meat and for the good breeding line. Although it is only average with regards to fertility these sheep produce fullflavoured, fatty lamb meat. However, the English Leicester’s wool has also been used since it produces such a long and lustrous fleece. The fleece comes in different colours from white through to black, and is favoured by spinners due to its longer length and ease of dying. This page 52

breed is also recognised as having good milking ability. Exmoor Horn Exmoor Horns originated from Exmoor, Devon around the 19th century. They are a hardy breed, which developed from the moorland sheep generations back. Both the male and females in this breed have curly horns and white faces. They are bred for their wool which is regarded as superior to most hills breeds, but they are also used for breeding meat stock. In particular, when it is crossed with the Leicester it produces a high quality mule. Its popularity as a meat sheep has increased along with a resurgence in interest in mutton meat. Fat-tailed sheep This is a group of breeds that have distinctly large tails and hind quarters. They are common through parts of Africa and the Middle East through to northern India, China and other parts of Asia. These breeds are generally hardy, and grown more for their meat than their wool which is frequently coarse. Finnsheep Also called “Finnish Landrace”, this breed is native to Finland. It has a high breeding rate (high incidence of multiple births), is usually polled, and occurs in many colours but most often is white. Friesian Milk Sheep The Friesian Milk Sheep breeds mainly originate from the Frisian Islands and Friesland. These breeds separate

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into various locations across northern Germany, the Netherlands and neighbouring Belgium. For example, there are East Friesian Milk Sheep, Dutch Friesian Milk Sheep and the Zeeland Milk Sheep. The breeds have a white face, legs and wool. Both sexes are polled. The main purpose of this family breed is for milk production. Galway The Galway breed originated in Galway, Western Ireland (hence the name). The breed is typically white faced with wool on the legs and a tuft on the head. The breed is mainly used for meat. Gotland This comes from an ancient breed which was established on the Swedish island of Gotland by the Vikings. It is thought to have been the result of crossing native Gute sheep with Karakuls or Romanovs. Its modern form was developed in Sweden in the 1940’s and it was exported to Scotland in 1972. It is a mid-sized sheep with uniform conformation, a short tail, long slim black legs, and a black head that occasionally sports a white cap. Both ewes and rams are polled. Its dense fleece is long and curly and may be in various shades from dark grey through to pale grey. Grown for its fleece, the Gotland is reasonably hardy breed which can adapt to different environments and farming systems. In the UK, the British Gotland which began life in Scotland is now grown in other parts of the page 53

mainland. Gotland sheep are also grown in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, the United States, New Zealand and Australia. These sheep are said to be quite docile and friendly compared to other shorttailed breeds. The breed is sought after for its quality fleece which is long and lustrous. Its soft texture makes it valuable for knitted clothing as well as sheepskins. It is sought after by spinners, weavers and other craftspeople due to its softness, strength and ease of dying. The British Gotland Sheep Society also claims that females are prolific and good milkers with good mothering ability. Its meat is said to have a good flavour. In Australia, it has been imported into Victoria where the flock has been carefully managed and bred for fibre quality, meat production and pelt production. Greyface Dartmoor The Greyface Dartmoor originated from Dartmoor, England, hence the name. It is also known simply as the Dartmoor, and also the Improved Dartmoor since it crossed with longwools and Leicesters in the 19th century. The breed is quite large and holds a long, thick woolly coat. It has curly fringe and a black nose. Its white face has grey mottling, as do its legs. Meat is the main use of this breed however it is now a relatively rare breed for production uses. This is most likely because they are a slow-to-mature breed.

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Hampshire Down Originating in the 1800’s in the hilly land of Hampshire Down, England, this sheep emerged from crossbreeding Southdowns with the Wiltshire Horn and Berkshire Knot. Today the breed is widespread throughout the UK and is popular in Ireland and Scotland. It is also grown in Holland, France, and Belgium. It is also used as a terminal sire in Australia and South America. Its face and ears are dark brown to black, it has a strong muscular neck, and its wool is white, fine textured, and a moderate length. The breed was mainly used for wool and mutton. Ewes are long-lived and are reported to be highly fertile. This breed makes a good terminal sire breed bearing quality, fast-growing lambs for the meat trade which are said to produce excellent lamb chops. Han From Mongolia, there are two types of Han sheep i.e. Langzhou Large-tail Han, and the Small-tail Han. They are small animals producing medium wool. Rams have large curved horns, and ewes have shorter horns. Hebridean The Hebridean sheep comes from the Hebrides islands off the coast of western Scotland. It was officially recognised as an independent breed in the 1970’s and later in 1994 a breed society was established. This breed is a small sheep which is black in colour and bears four horns. page 54

It is said to have a steely stare. The sheep was close to extinction but has been saved by hobby farmers and landholders. Although it came from a feral sheep they are reported to be quite happy and friendly animals and they are mainly used for grazing in conservation projects. Heidschnucke There are three different breeds in this group, and all come from the moors in northern Germany. They include: Graue gehörnte Heidschnucke (German Grey Heath), Moorschnucke (White Polled Heath) and Weiße gehörnte Heidschnucke (White Horned Heath). All three breeds are said to be easy to care for. The meat is described as having a “gamey” taste. The coarse wool is used in carpets. Herdwick The Herdwick breed dates back to the 12th century in the UK, although it is thought to have descended from a Scandinavian breed that was introduced by the Vikings in the 8th century. Indeed, the name ‘Herdwick’ is thought to have derived from the Norse word ‘herdvyck’ meaning ‘sheep pasture’. A breed society was established in 1916. Today, the breed is grown mainly in the English Lake District where it has become quite iconic and heavily marketed, though it is also grown in a few other parts of the UK. The lamb has EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. The Herdwick has a distinct appearance with a white face and legs, and a grey body. Being quite a wild breed it has two

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coats in the form of a woolly waistcoat with a hairy outer coat. The lambs are born with black fleece which lightens as they grow. They are strong animals with a sturdy frame. Rams are horned but ewes are not. This sheep grows best on the hills where it is a hardy breed. Although slow to mature, it can thrive with little supplementary feeding. Hill Radnor This breed was first documented in 1911 when it was native to the hills around Radnor, Hereford, Monmouthshire and Brecon in mid-Wales. It is thought to have originated from the tan-faced sheep of this region. Later in 1949 the Hill Radnor Flock Book Society was established. Today, it is still confined to the same part of Wales and is considered a rare breed. It is a strong sheep with a solid frame, white fleece, tan face and grey nose. Ewes are hornless but rams have curved horns that spiral outwards. As a hardy hill sheep, this breed thrives in harsh environments. Ewes are said to have superb mothering ability but lambs are slow to mature. They can nevertheless produce 3 lambs every couple of years under favourable conditions. These sheep are grown mostly for mutton. Icelandic Sheep This breed was developed from north European short-tailed sheep and brought to Iceland by the Vikings. The breed is closely related to FInnsheep, Shetland and Romanov breeds. They page 55

are medium sized, and both polled and horned sheep exist. They are docile sheep and less social which makes them better where pasture is sparse. The wool colour can vary but white is common. They are raised mostly for meat in Iceland, but are also grown for wool. Île-de-France This breed was developed in France in the 1830s by crossing the Dishley Leicester and Rambouillet. Formerly known as the Dishley Merino, it was exported to the UK in the 1970’s as the Île-de-France, and a UK breed society was established in 1978. Although native to the Île-de-France region in the north of France, today the breed is found throughout Europe as well as South Africa, Australia, and the Americas. This breed is white all over with a dense white fleece, white head and legs. It also has quite thick lips and a stout nose. Rams and ewes are hornless. It is mainly grown as a terminal sire and for enhancing meat production when crossed with other breeds. The lambs grow quickly so it can be used in intensive farming systems. Jacob The Jacob sheep is a unique breed since the head contains four horns, two which grow vertically from the centre of the head, and two which grow down the side of the head. The fleece colour is a randomised pattern of brown, black, white or grey patches. The breed is quite small with short legs which are usually white in colour.

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It is best suited to growing on lowlands. Ewes are quite fertile and have good mothering ability. The main uses of this breed are wool, skin and meat, with meat production being the usual choice of farmers.

It is a sturdy sheep that can readily adapt to different lowland farming systems. Ewes are said to have good mothering qualities.

Katahdin

The Lincoln, or Lincoln Longwool as it is sometimes called, hails from England where it is the largest English sheep breed and it was purposefully created to produce a heavy and lustrous fleece. It has been crossed with native sheep in other countries to improve wool yields. In Australia, the Lincoln was crossed in the past with the Merino sheep to produce Corriedale and Plowarth breeds, and it is regarded as the most important sheep in terms of its contribution to the Australian sheep industry because crosses with the Merino were able to thrive in the hot interior of the country.

The Katahdin sheep breed comes from the United States where it originated during the late 20th century from crossing St. Croix sheep with many other breeds including Suffolk, Hampshire, West African haired sheep and Wiltshire Horn amongst others. They were the first American sheep breed to meet carcase quality standards. The Katahdin is not renowned for its appearance, which can be variable, but instead it is grown for its meat. They are a hardy breed which sheds its winter wool thereby doing away with the need for shearing. This, along with their toughness, has led to a resurgence in popularity. They are also known to be highly resistant to parasites and so require little parasite control. Kerry Hill This breed comes from Kerry in midWales near the English border as far back as 1809. It has continued to be grown in this region since those times but is also found in other parts of the UK as well as Ireland and the Netherlands. It has become quite popular with hobby farmers. This breed has a dense white fleece, white face with black markings near the nose and eyes, and upright ears. The Kerry Hill is a hornless breed. page 56

Lincoln

The Lincoln is a medium sized animal with black feet. Both rams and ewes are hornless. It is heavily covered with thick wool with a large fringe hanging over the face and nostrils, which creates a rough appearance. The wool is very weighty, strong and wavy, and despite being quite coarse it is also lustrous. Its strength added to its reputation for making wigs for the legal fraternity. This breed is crossbred with short wool rams for fat lamb production. It prefers fertile high rainfall areas. The fleece is used by spinners, weavers and other craftspeople. Llanwenog The Llanwenog, pronounced thlanwen-og, comes from western Wales in the Teifi Valley. It originated through

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crossing several different breeds including Clun Forest, Shropshire, Welsh Mountain and Llanllwni which is now extinct. The Llanwenog Sheep Society was established in 1957.

This is a medium-sized sheep with white legs, black nostrils and black spots inside the ears. There is no wool on the face, or body. The rams and ewes are hornless.

Today the breed is still found in the same region with some smaller flocks scattered about the UK.

The Lleyn Sheep is considered to be relatively low maintenance and thrives on both hills and lowlands. Ewes can rear two lambs at once. It is fairly disease-resistant and bears fine wool which can be used for clothing and knitting. The meat is said to be a good quality. As a maternal breed, it is a popular cross with terminal sire breeds to produce prime lambs for the meat industry, and the meat has been exported.

It is a mid-sized sheep with a white fleece, black feet and legs, a black head with short black ears, with a notable tuft of white wool on the forehead. Both rams and ewes are hornless. Although this sheep thrives in the harsher environment of the Welsh hills it is also adaptable to lowland paddocks. Since it is able to produce more lambs than many hill breeds, often producing twins, it is used to improve local hill breeds. These sheep are also long-lived and don’t wander as much as others. They produce a high quality and good flavoured meat. The fleece is very soft and produces good quality wool for tweeds, hosiery and knitting. Lleyn The Lleyn, pronounced kleen, comes from the Lleyn peninsula of North Wales. In the early 19th century the Roscommon sheep was brought over from Ireland and used to improve local Welsh sheep, and this resulted in the Lleyn. The Lleyn breed society was formed in 1971. Today, it is widespread in the UK and is one of the fastest-growing breeds with regards to popularity.

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Lonk This breed dates back to at least 1740 but is probably older. It comes from the Pennines particularly around East Lancashire, West Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, but is now established in other parts of the UK. The Lonk Sheep Breeders Association began its flock breed book in 1905. The Lonk is one of the largest Bristish native hill breeds and is strong and powerful. It has a white fleece with mottled black and white legs and face. Rams and ewes are horned, and the horns are long and curly. It is a hardy hill breed with pronounced maternal instincts, and its strong body means it can thrive in a range of climates and under harsh grazing conditions. It also bears plenty of wool which is coarse and mainly used in making rugs and carpets. The meat is also very good quality with a good ratio of fat to lean meat.

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Manx Loaghtan This is an extremely old breed which has been living in the British Isle of Man for over 1,000 years but may go back as far as the Iron Age. It is recognised as the Isle of Man’s sheep, and is related to the Soay and Hebridean breeds. Its

lamb also has EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Today, it still exists in the Isle of Man and there are a few other specialist flocks in other areas of the UK, however it is considered rare.

Manx Loaghtan

This breed is notable for having as many as six horns and these can grow rather long. When in combat, the rams can be quite aggressive using their horns against one another. It has a dark brown fleece, brown face and legs. The name ‘loaghtan’ comes from ‘lugh dhoan’ which is Manx for mouse brown or moorit. Lambs are black but gradually become lighter as they age. It is quite a small breed which can thrive on poor page 58

land with little grazing material. Ewes have strong mothering skills. Its hardy nature means it can survive without supplementary feeding. It is also said to be quite parasite and disease-resistant. The Manx Loaghtan may shed its winter wool during the warmer months meaning it doesn’t need shearing. It can be used for grazing on conservation land.

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Masham This breed was developed in the 20th century in northern England by crossing a Dalesbred ewe with a Teeswater ram. The Masham Sheep Breeders Association was established in 1986. It is still grown in northern England, but not further afield. It is a mid-sized sheep with a long white fleece and black and white face and legs. The Masham is a maternal breed, with good milking that breeds easily and births twin lambs each year. Being a hardy sheep, it can be grown on marginal land and is adaptable to different farming systems.

being exported in the 18th century, leading to the development of a number of variations on the original merino breed. In 1765, the King of Spain sent Merinos to his cousin, the King of Saxony, from which a Saxon Merino was developed. It was characterised by dense, fine wool. This Saxon Merino was later exported to Australia and other countries. Merinos were sent from Spain to South Africa in 1790 and from Spain to America in 1802. There were attempts to establish merinos in the UK, but they were never as successful as established British breeds. Today, there are many different Merino breeds being farmed across the world, each a little different and usually named according to where they were developed. Commonly, they all have a quality fleece but there are variations between breeds. For instance, the Saxon Merino has a superfine fleece, the Peppin Merino has medium to strong wool, and the South Australian Merino has a strong to extra strong fibre. Breeds of merino include: ●● American Vermont Merino ●● Argentine Merino ●● Arkhar-Merino

Marino

Merino Merino sheep developed from animals that originally came from Italy but it was in Spain that they were developed into a breed that had particularly fine wool. Spain had developed a reputation for fine wool Merinos as early as the 12th century. These Spanish Merinos started page 59

●● Arles Merino ●● Booroola Merino ●● Delaine Merino ●● Dohne Merino ●● East Merino sheep ●● Karacabey Merino

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●● Kashmir Merino

●● Peppin Merino

sheep produce meat and carpet wool. They are white all over, sometimes with pale markings on the head and feet. Both rams and ewes are polled, though the rams are occasionally horned.

●● Poll Merino

Montadale

●● Saxon Merino

Bred in the 1930s in the United States from Columbia and Cheviot breeds, the Montadale is a medium size sheep. It is very productive with a high yield carcase.

●● Medium-wool Merino

●● South African Merino ●● South African Meat Merino ●● South Australian Merino ●● Spanish Merino ●● Strong Wool Merino ●● Transylvanian Merino

Rambouillet Merino The Rambouillet Merino, or simply Rambouillet, is extremely popular in the United States where it is grown in the western states. It was originally created from Merino breeds in Spain that were later sent to France in 1786. Due to its popularity, the Rambouillet’s gene may be found in many breeds. It is a large, tall longwool breed. It is less prone to external parasites due to a reduced number of skin folds. These sheep are considered to be agile and have a good flocking tendency so they tend to be less prone to predation and are easier to manage on hilly farms. It produces superb wool which is this breed’s main production use. Moghani From northern Iran, these fat-tailed page 60

Morada Nova This is a Brazillian breed which is adaptable to varied climates and kept mainly for meat. They are typically grown for about 18 to 24 months before slaughter. The hides are also used. They are a smaller sized sheep and have a reddish-white coat. Both rams and ewes are polled. Najdi The Najdi is a tall, highly valued breed from the Arabian Peninsula. It has adapted to desert conditions, but not is as hardy as some breeds in drought conditions. It is kept for meat, wool and dairy. Nali From semi-arid and arid parts of northern India, the Nali is a medium size sheep with a light brown face and pink skin. It grazes mostly off fodder trees. Navajo-Churro The Navajo-Churro is an American breed, and the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association consider them to be America’s first sheep. History has it that this sheep evolved from Churra sheep.

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The Churra sheep were taken to the United States in the 16th century to clothe and feed Spanish conquistadors. Whilst many of the original Churra sheep were interbred with Merinos and other Longwool sheep, some of those under the control of the Navajo Indians were not. These landrace sheep were eventually given the name NavajoChurro. These original sheep came close to extinction but have since been revived by enthusiasts. The NavajoChurro Sheep Association was formed in 1986 and they produced the breed standards. Today, this sheep remains relatively rare. These sheep are quite variable and come in a variety of colours from black through to white. They can also have various face markings including brown and black speckles and these different face markings are particularly common on the white fleeced sheep. They are long-legged with lean, narrow bodies. They may be horned or polled and have no wool on the head. They also lack wool on the legs and belly. This breed is multipurpose, being grown for wool, meat and dairy. Their dense topcoat and fine undercoat has enabled them to adapt to extremes of climate. They have good disease-resistance and are low maintenance. The wool is coarse and high yielding. The meat is superior quality with low fat content. Newfoundland The Newfoundland breed is native to the Newfoundland Island. They are medium in size and may be found in a variety of colours. The page 61

breed is thought to have been around for centuries and is a hardy breed. Bloodlines are thought to originate from the Cheviots, Scottish Blackface, Dorset and Border Leicester. Norfolk Horn The Norfolk Horn is a very old British breed thought to have originated from the ancient Saxon black-faced sheep which were once found right across northern Europe and which were introduced into Britain as far back as the 13th century. Unlike other black-faced British breeds, the Norfolk Horn does not prefer hilly, high rainfall areas but has adapted to cool and dry locations. This breed was popular in Norfolk and the broader region of East Anglia in the 19th century but became displaced by newer improved breeds like the Leicester and Southdown. In fact, Southdowns were mated with the Norfolk Horn to produce the Suffolk. Today, It is recognised as a rare breed. This sheep is mid-sized breed which is renowned for its sturdy build and hardiness. The Norfolk Horn has a white fleece, black face and long black legs. Lamb wool is darker but becomes white as they age. Both rams and ewes have spiral horns, though these are larger on the rams. They are agile sheep, capable of jumping fences and are considered to have quite a flighty temperament It is grown as a lowland breed which can thrive under harsh conditions. Being a good forager, it can be used for conservation grazing. Ewes are reported to have good mothering ability and lambs are fast-growing so it can be used as a terminal sire.

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North Ronaldsay This breed evolved on North Ronaldsay which is one of the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. Being so remote, it has not been involved in much crossbreeding. The breed is thought to have been in existence on the island since the Iron Age and they have some similarities to Scandinavian sheep brought over by the Norse from the 9th century onwards. A dry stone dyke was built to encircle the island in the 1800’s. Its purpose was to restrict these sheep to the shoreline where they were forced to eat seaweed, to protect the land on the island. Since those times the sheep have adapted to eating seaweed. Consequently their digestive systems have become more efficient at extracting copper from seaweed (which has low copper content) and if they are allowed to forage on grass they can suffer from copper toxicity.

Today, the North Ronaldsay Sheep Fellowship looks after this breed, though it is listed as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). Rounding up is known as ‘punding’ and takes place twice a year. The whole island population gets involved and the sheep are herded into dry stone wall punds (pounds) for shearing, counting, lambing or slaughtering. This is a short-tailed sheep breed. They are small sheep and quite slow-growing. Rams are horned and ewes are mostly hornless. They have a adapted to the cold and harsh island environment. Given its unusual diet it has also a different physiology to other sheep and is very salt-tolerant. They are grown for wool or meat. The meat is said to have a strong gamey taste and is darker than other lamb meat. The wool comprises a soft undercoat suitable for clothing and a coarser overcoat suitable for coats, carpets and more durable products. Northern European Short-tailed Sheep These are a group of small but hardy breeds derived from ancient sheep. They are found in Britain, Greenland and Scandinavia. Norwegian Fur These sheep are grey or white and both rams and ewes are polled. They are kept for meat, lambskins and yarn. Ossimi

North Ronaldsay Sheep

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This mid-sized, long-legged and popular

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breed comes from southern Egypt. It is a fat-tailed sheep and multicoloured. Rams are horned, but ewes are polled. It is raised for meat and coarse carpet wool. Ouessant This is a relatively rare breed from the island of Ouessant off the coast of Brittany in France. They are small animals, with ewes often just 70 cm tall or less at the shoulder). However, they are relatively hardy and strong. Rams are horned and ewes generally polled. This breed is commonly black or brown, and is raised mostly for wool. Ewes rarely produce more than one lamb. Oula This is a hardy Chinese breed that is well-suited to harsh climates, and is kept for meat. The wool is not good quality and they don’t carry much of it. Oxford Down The Oxford Down breed was developed in Oxfordshire, southern England in the 1830’s by crossing Cotswold males with Hampshire and Southdown females. The resultant offspring were then interbred to produce what is now known as the Oxford Down. The Oxford Down Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1889. Today, Oxford Down flocks are found mostly in the British Midlands but also other parts of the UK. The Oxford Down is a large sheep with a white fleece and brown or black face and legs. The fleece is very dense and heavy. The sheep has a stocky conformation which gives rise to a meaty carcase. page 63

This breed produces more wool than other terminal sire breeds and the wool goes right up onto the head and down to the tops of the legs. The fleece is fine quality with a close texture. Oxford Down sheep grow quickly and are fast to mature. The lamb meat is of excellent quality with good flavour, appearance and tenderness. The ewes are said to be early breeders and good for lambing with strong mothering instincts. Panama The Panama breed was developed in the early 20th century in Idaho, United States, by crossing Lincoln sheep with the Rambouillet. It is a hardy breed that adapts to varied conditions. It is a medium sized, dual-purpose breed, which produces medium grade wool. Pedi The Pedi is a breed of sheep which originates from South Africa. They can be traced back as far as 200 to 400 AD. They are known as Nguni type sheep and are one of three breeds of this type, the other two being Zulu and Swazi. This breed is a small, fat-tailed sheep kept primarily for meat. The colour of these animals is variable but mainly whites, reds and browns. Rams and ewes are polled. Pelibüey This is a hair breed which is kept for meat and is most common in Cuba but also found in Mexico, South America and other parts of the Caribbean. It is thought to have originated from Africa.

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It is a hair sheep that lacks wool so has adapted well to tropical conditions. Perendale The Perendale sheep breed comes from New Zealand where it was developed in the mid 20th century at Massey University and is named after Sir Geoffrey Peren. It is a cross between Romney ewes and Cheviot rams. It is still one of the more popular sheep in New Zealand although demand for it has lessened and it is slowly being replaced in some areas by Romney sheep. However, the Perendale Sheep Society of New Zealand reports that it is now replacing some traditional breeds in the high country. This sheep is a dual-purpose, meat and wool breed. It is has long wool which produces lightweight and elastic yet bulky, non-lustrous yarn. It is mid-sized with a white fleece, legs and head. The Perendale is considered to be an easy-care breed which was intended to be highly productive with little input. It is a hardy breed suitable for cold, high rainfall areas. It is highly fertile, often giving birth to twins, and lambs have a high survival rate and grow fast. It is also quite resistant to many diseases including footrots. The meat is high quality with little fat and when crossed with the Merino it can produce prime ewe lambs. The Perendale has also become an established breed in Australia since 1975 where it is a great multipurpose sheep that can withstand extremes of climate. Persian Persian sheep are an ancient breed of fat-tailed sheep from South Africa. They page 64

are believed to have been taken people from the Middle East to Saudi Arabia and then down through Africa hundreds of years ago. During the 20th century South African farmers began breed sheep in their flocks more selectively resulting in a more uniform, attractive and robust sheep. This is now what constitutes the modern Persian. There are two types of Persian sheep, namely the Harlequin or Speckled (Skilder sheep in Afrikaans) and the Coloured Head (Kleur Kop in Afrikaans). They are both beautiful-looking sheep. The Harlequin variety, or Skilder sheep which means “painted sheep”, has a white body that is covered with spots and patches of black, red, brown or all three, and sometimes blue, whilst its legs, head and tail are solidly coloured. The Coloured Head variety has a white body but its head is coloured black, red, brown or all three, and sometimes blue. The Coloured Head variety was first imported into Australia in 1999 by Genelink in South Australia. Harlequins arrived later in 2006, once again as embryos. The Black Headed Persian was one of the breeds used to develop the Dorper sheep breed. Persian sheep are hair sheep, rather than wool sheep, with a short coat. They are self-shedding so don’t need shearing. Rams and ewes are polled. They are said to be a healthy breed which are resistant to flystrike and don’t need crutching. They can store fat in their tails and dewlaps so they can still

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fatten up even in harsh conditions. They have high fertility and ewes can bear three lambs every couple of years, and sometimes give birth to twins. Known for their friendly and placid temperament these sheep have also become popular as pets and amongst hobby farmers. They are also used for crossbreeding. Pitt Island This is a hardy breed that has evolved naturally from wild Saxony Merino sheep introduced to the Chatham Islands in the Pacific off the east coast of New Zealand. Most now are coloured, often dark brown or black, and they are said to be parasite-resistant. They are sturdy animals which like other feral breeds naturally shed their fleece. Rams have huge curled horns.

The Polypay was the result of crossing four breeds i.e. Rambouillet, Targhee, Finnsheep, and Dorset. It is a medium sized sheep with white legs, head and fleece. Besides the desirable maternal characteristics, this sheep produces good wool, and plenty of it, and a quality carcase. It can be grown in different farm systems and is adaptable to different climates. Portland This is a breed from the UK where it originates on a small, barren island off the Dorset coast. As such, the relative seclusion has helped to preserve the characteristics of this small and hardy, primitive lowland sheep breed.

Some have now been taken to New Zealand where they are kept as a rare breed. Polwarth Similar to Merinos but without neck folds and less wool on their points, these animals are grown mainly for wool but can also be used for prime lamb production. They are often farmed in cold, damp places. Polypay This breed was developed in the United States by the USDA to satisfy the requirements of sheep producers. It has desirable maternal characteristics such as early fertility, prolificacy, breeding out of season, and good milk production.

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Portland Sheep

There were some 4,000 sheep on the Isle of Portland in 1840, but improved connections with the mainland resulted in the breed being overridden by competition. Its rescue from near extinction was secured by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) which tracked down bloodlines and rebuilt the flock in 1974. There are now a healthy 250 registered breeders.

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It has a light brown face and legs, and a cream coloured fleece. Ewes usually have a black nose. Rams and ewes are both horned, with the rams having much larger spiral horns. These sheep are grown mostly for meat production. The meat is said to have a more complex flavour than many other breeds. It can also be grown for wool, with its wool suitable for knitting. These animals are also quite easy to manage making them suitable for smallholdings and hobby farms. Pramenka This is a small breed which originates from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is mostly used for dairy. These sheep only have a short life expectancy of about 9 years. It has a white fleece and black legs which are sometimes speckled with white markings. Priangan This is a thin-tailed Javanese breed which is commonly black or pied, and less often grey or brown. Rams are horned, and ewes are polled. Ears are often lacking. From Indonesia, these sheep were used for meat, and also for ram fighting. Pomeranian Coarse Wool This is a landrace breed kept in Pomerania (on the Black Sea) and Mecklenberg in Germany. It is farmed for meat, wool and dairy. These sheep are hardy and are not fussy eaters so can survive in harsh environments. They are very parasite-resistant, and adapt well to being kept alone or in small herds. They have a dual coat where the page 66

outer coat is long wool and the inner is a fine down under coat. Qinghai These are widely kept breeds from Tibet and China, but they are thought to possibly be carriers of the plague bacteria. Its wool is mostly used in carpet-making. The Qinghai Black Tibetan sheep is one such breed which is a black sheep that is polled. Quadrella This is a white, medium to small breed from Southern Italy. It is dual-purpose, being grown for meat and dairy, and is well adapted to marginal conditions in its native land. Rahmany This is an old heritage, fat-tailed breed from Syria, Turkey and Egypt. In fact, it is the largest sheep in Egypt. It produces coarse carpet wool. Rhoen Also known as Rhoenschaf, the Rhoen breed comes from Germany and is one of the oldest landrace varieties with records dating back to 1844. It is a very hardy and frugal sheep that is well suited to wet climates. This breed is medium sized and hornless with hard hoofs. It has an excellent meat taste. Romney The Romney sheep is also known as Romney Marsh since it originated from the Romney Marshes of Kent and Sussex in South East England. Despite being traced back to the 13th century an

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official breed society was not created until 1895. Whilst the original breed is still grown in the same region, the Romney has been one of the most successful sheep breeds used around the world. Many of the breeds in New Zealand as well as other countries have been bred from Romneys. The Romney is a hornless sheep with a heavy white fleece, black nose and feet, and thick head of wool. It is a large, solid animal with a broad head. Known to be a hardy sheep for wetter climates, these sheep are also excellent foragers. They are a low maintenance breed requiring little management and suitable for high stocking densities. It may be crossbred with short wool rams for lamb production. The meat is prime lamb. The wool is often coarse with a hard texture and can be quite variable. It lends itself well to carpet-making. Rouge de l’Ouest Rouge de l’Ouest is French for ‘red of the west’. This breed is named after the reddish skin seen on the head, legs and belly of this breed. It was developed in the Loire Valley in the west of France by crossing English Wensleydale sheep with local landrace sheep in the 19th century. Since the 1980’s it has also been grown in the UK, where it is known as the British Rouge. These sheep are large sized, with muscular bodies. Rams and ewes are polled with reddish-pink heads free of wool. The legs are slim and lightly hairy. The fleece is fine, fairly short and tight.

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The French Rouge de l’Ouest is a dairy sheep used in the production of Camembert cheese. The ewes of these animals are prolific and milky. The British Rouge on the other hand is grown mainly as a terminal sire breed which rear prime lambs with a good meat yield that mature quickly. They can be bred out of season and ewe lambs can be bred form in their first year. Rouge du Roussillon This is a rare breed from Southern France that is descended from Algerian sheep brought to France in the 18th century. It is kept primarily for meat but also dairy and wool at times. Its wool is medium-fine. Rough Fell This breed comes from northern England, especially in the Pennines around Cumbria and northwest Yorkshire. It evolved from black-faced sheep found in the region during the Middle Ages which interbred with other local breeds. It is still mostly grown in the same region. It is a large sheep with a strong body. It has a white fleece and black head with a white patch on its nose. Rams have large horns. Being a large hill breed, Rough Fell females make hardy sheep. According to the Rough Fell Sheep Association, which was founded in 1936, these sheep are long-lived and ideal for crossing. They make excellent breeders of prime lambs and mule lambs. Ewes are also superb milkers and often give birth to twins which can be sold at 16 weeks. They also produce a heavy

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medium grade fleece of fine quality which is used in carpet-making. Rough Fell Mules, which are Rough Fell females crossed with the Bluefaced Leicester ram are quite popular. Roussin The Roussin, or British Roussin, was developed in France by crossing two local French breeds with three British breeds, namely the Dishley Leicester, Suffolk and Southdown. This breed remains popular in France, and it was exported to the UK in 1989 where a small population of the ‘British Roussin’ exists. The British breed is compact and hardy. It is a mid-sized sheep with white wool and a brown face and legs. The Roussin is ideal for crossbreeding, producing high grade lamb. Females can be kept as flock replacements and are easy lambing. They can also breed early in the year to produce a finerboned crossbred ewe to compete with traditional Suffolk sheep that produce early season lambs which grow quickly. Ewes have strong maternal characteristics, good growth and muscular frame. Male offspring will grass finish within the same season. The easy-lambing capabilities make it a first choice ram for use with commercial ewe lambs for breeding out of season.

between St. Croix, Dorper, and White Dorper breeds. It was developed as a meat sheep with less wool, less fat and more tender meat. The Royal White is very efficient and disease-resistant with low maintenance requirements for production. The sheep is white all over and is naturally polled. Lambs are thrifty and fast-growing with great survival rates compared to other breeds. These sheep are self-shedding losing their winter coat in spring, so don’t need to be sheared. The meat is tender with a mild flavour. Ryeland Ryeland sheep were developed by monks in Leominster, Herefordshire in southern England during the 12th century. It was thought to be a cross between the Spanish Merino and local landrace sheep. The monks bred the sheep and grazed them on pastures of rye, hence the name. Today, it is now grown in various lowland areas of the UK and is popular with smallholders.

Royal White

Ryeland sheep were exported to New Zealand in 1901 and later to Australia in 1919. They thrived in these countries due to being able to thrive on poor pastures and harsh environments. By the 1930’s there were 77 registered flocks in Australia, and by the 1960’s over 200 flocks. They are now considered one of nine heritage breeds that the Australian sheep and wool industry was built on. It was also one of the breeds used to introduce the poll gene to the Dorset to create the Poll Dorset.

The Royal White was developed in Texas, United States. It is a cross

These sheep have white wool which grows up onto the head and face

It is a multifunctional breed which is adaptable to different farming systems including coastal areas and hilly terrain.

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and down onto the legs. Although normally white, there are also Coloured Ryelands. The breed is stocky and compact and relatively small. They are hornless with black feet and a white face and nostrils. The short wool is harsh and fuzzy. Although they are a hardy sheep type their popularity with commercial producers has decreased in recent years. It has been used to produce prime lamb. These sheep have quite a placid nature so are quite easy to manage and produce good quality lambs for the meat industry on a diet of grass without supplementary feeding, which makes them good for organic systems. However, they are adaptable to different farming systems. The Australian Ryelands are longer and leaner than their British counterparts. The meat is popular with rare breed butchers, chefs and restaurants. The short wool has a good texture and is popular with hand spinners and weavers. Lemster Ryeland sheep were said to the finest wool of all British breeds, and legend has it that Elizabeth I would only wear Lemster Ryeland wool stockings. Scottish Blackface The Scottish Blackface is a very common breed today throughout the United Kingdom. There are variants of this breed depending on their location. The breed is hardy and very adaptable which is why they are farmed across the country. Both sexes are horned in this breed. Most individuals have black faces, some with white markings. The main breeding purpose of this breed is for meat.

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Scottish Dunface The Scottish Dunface originated from Scotland and is now extinct. The breed died out due to the popularity of the Scottish Blackface. Like the Scottish Blackface, there were variants of this breed depending on their location. Prior to extinction, there were a few populations surviving on some of the Scottish islands. These individuals were used in breeding to create some of the existing breeds today such as the Hebridean, Shetland and the Boreray. In most variants the rams were horned and the ewes were polled, however in Hebridean groups both sexes were horned. The wool was fine and the breed was used for both meat and for their wool. Serrai The Serrai breed comes from Greece. It is medium to large sized with a white fleece, black face, black legs or speckled black legs, a thin tail, and a Roman nose. Some animals have a brown fleece. Both the rams and ewes are usually horned, but some ewes are polled. It is grown as a dual-purpose dairy and meat sheep. Shetland The Shetland sheep unsurprisingly hails from the Shetland Islands off the northeast coast of Scotland. Here they have lived for thousands of years and become used to the harsh local conditions. It is descended from the Scottish Dunface which is now extinct but has been recognised as a distinct breed since the 19th century. The Shetland Flock Book Society was created in 1927 to protect this breed from becoming extinct and also from crossbreeding. It is still responsible for

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looking after the Shetland’s interests. During the 1970’s the breed was listed as ‘endangered’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) but since then the population has increased. Shetland sheep continue to be grown on the Shetland Islands but they are also now found in other parts of the UK

white-faced breeds including the Leicester, Cotswold and Southdown.

The Shetland is a small landrace sheep i.e. it is unimproved. It belongs to the Northern European Short-tailed group. Their fleece can be a range of colours but is usually white, moorit (red-brown) or black. The breed association recognises eleven distinct colours and some thirty different coat patterns and markings. These are named using the Shetland dialect e.g. ‘katmoget’ refers to a badgerface pattern and ‘musket’ refers to a pale grey-brown coloured coat. Both rams and ewes are horned, though sometimes ewes are polled.

The breed Shropshires were exported to North America in the 1800’s as well as Australia and other colonies. It quickly became a favourite sheep in America but by the 1940’s it had been grown to increase wool and reduce its size. This meat the wool had to be trimmed around the eyes and this newer version saw popularity with farmers wane. As such, some English rams were imported to try and restore the earlier characteristics which had made the breed so popular. Despite these efforts it is now quite a rare breed worldwide.

The Shetland is grown for its fine wool and its meat. They are quite slow-growing but long-lived sheep and hardy sheep able to survive on sparsely vegetated land. They are also attractive sheep that are easy to handle, ewes are good for lambing and milking. The meat is described as high quality and lean with a fine texture and full flavour. They can be crossed with terminal sires to produce lambs that mature quickly. Since they are good browsing sheep they can be used in conservation grazing too. Shropshire The Shropshire breed comes from the hills of Staffordshire and Shropshire in England near the Welsh border. It was developed in the 1840’s by crossing the local black-faced sheep with several page 70

It became a recognised breed in 1859 and soon became popular, and the Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association and Flock Book Society established in 1882 was the first such sheep society in the world.

Nevertheless, in recent years the breed has become popular with enthusiasts in the UK and has been grown in a number of European countries. In the United States it is gaining popularity as a show breed. The original Shropshire is a medium sized animal. It is hornless with a dense white fleece of medium coarseness and good length. The body is long and well-proportioned with a dark brown face and ears. The legs are dark brown, short and strong. The dark ears are set at right angles to the head. This breed was bred primarily for meat. It produces prime lambs when bred with first cross ewes. Although it is primarily a lowland breed it can thrive on in high rainfall areas and harsh terrain. Ewes are said to have good mothering ability and may bear lambs early. They are

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fairly placid, easy to care for and longlived. They are also known to not gnaw at the bark on trees so can be included in orchards and other set-ups. Soay Soay sheep come from the island of Soay which is part of the St Kilda archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. It is thought to have become established during the first century AD. It originates from shorttailed sheep from Northern Europe though it is not known how it was first introduced to the island of Soay. The name Soay is derived from the Norse for ‘sheep island’. The Soay is an ancient breed and remains very similar to the wild ancestors of modern domestic sheep. However, it is very hardy compared to modern sheep and is very agile and capable of climbing cliffs when scared. Today, the Soay is still found on the island of Soay where it is largely feral and allowed to graze where other animals can’t. It is also kept in small numbers by breed enthusiasts around

Soay

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the UK but recognised as a rare breed. It is distinct from the Boreray sheep and Hebridean sheep which are both associated with the St Kilda area. The Soay & Boreray Sheep Society was established in 2000. This breed is small and is often light brown or dark brown with a cream belly and rump. They can also be sold brown or black. Rams and ewes may be horned or hornless. They naturally shed their wool after winter. Ewes are said to have excellent mothering ability and good resistance to health problems. However, they don’t flock even when goaded by sheepdogs. Although they are grown for meat, they carry less meat on the carcase than domestic breeds and lambs are late to mature. The fleece is variable and whilst it is typically very fine it can sometimes contain quite coarse and hairy fibres. Its ability to survive in harsh grazing conditions means it is also used for conservation grazing.

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Southdown The Southdown breed was originally developed by John Ellman of Glynde in the southern county of East Sussex in England. This was during the late 1700’s, but the breed known today was further developed by Jonas Webb of Babraham, Cambridgeshire in the 1800’s. The Southdown has been used to develop other breeds such as the Oxford Down, Suffolk and Hampshire through crossbreeding and it is considered to be possibly the oldest terminal sire breed in the UK. The Southdown Sheep Society was formed in 1893 and today this sheep is mainly grown by smallholders and small scale breeders but it is also grown in the United States, France, Australia and New Zealand. The Southdown can be split into two sub-breeds. The Olde English ‘Babydoll’ Southdown is smaller and said to be closer to the original bloodline. This sheep is grown mostly be hobby farmers and can be used to graze vineyards where it won’t reach the grapes. The other ‘Traditional’ Southdown is grown mainly by commercial growers and is a larger sheep. Southdown sheep are smallish to medium animals depending on the bloodline. They are quite stocky with a thick neck and a short white fleece with harsh textured wool. They have a brown face and nostrils, brown legs and dark feet. Rams and ewes are hornless. Grown primarily for meat, these sheep are excellent for prime lamb production page 72

producing a carcase that is commonly 13 to 15 kg. They can be farmed in high rainfall and irrigation areas. Ewes are said to be easy lambing, with a placid temperament making them adaptable to different farming systems. South Wales Mountain This breed is one of the largest Welsh varieties originating from the mountains of Wales in the United Kingdom. They are built with strong, broad heads and bodies. The fleece is dense and contains a mixture of colours from white to brown or grey. Thriving in the Welsh mountain ranges, this is most certainly a hardy breed. It is used for mainly crossbreeding. St. Croix The St. Croix breed comes from the Virgin Islands of the United States where it is named after the island of Saint Croix. The version of this breed which is found on the US mainland is predominantly white and was selected for being white. It is named Virgin Island White. However, on the Virgin Islands this breed can also be brown or black, or have patches of colour. These sheep are hair sheep which don’t have wool but they can develop a winter coat in cold climates. Both rams and ewes are polled. They are highly adaptable sheep suitable for different farming systems and make excellent foragers. These sheep are grown for meat and are highly fertile. They are also sometimes grown for milk. They are considered to be resistant to parasite infestation and flystrike.

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Suffolk

promote this breed and safeguard its purity in Australia.

The Suffolk breed originates from Suffolk in eastern England. It was the result of crossing Southdown rams and Norfolk Horn ewes. Although it became recognised as a distinct breed in 1810, it wasn’t actually given its current name until later in 1859. The Suffolk Sheep Society established in 1886 and a flock book followed soon after.

The Suffolk sheep are notable for their open black faces with large black ears which hang slightly downwards for the head. They have a white fleece and black legs. These sheep are also quite large and muscular making them ideal for meat production.

Today, the Suffolk is one of the most widely grown sheep breeds in the world and it is found throughout Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Suffolk Association was formed in 1990 to

Suffolk

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The Suffolk is also used as a terminal sire crossbred with ewes to produce fastgrowing lambs for meat production. The fleece produces medium quality wool which can be used for spinning and knitting, and they do have excellent quality sheepskins suitable for hats, pelts and shoes.

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Swaledale The Swaledale comes from Swaledale in Yorkshire, northern England and is found throughout hilly parts of the UK. It originates from black-faced sheep and is closely related to the Scottish Blackface and Rough Fell breeds though its exact ancestors are unknown. The Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1919. The Swaledale has a recognisable black face with white around the eyes and nose. Rams and ewes have curly horns. The fleece is coarse and is usually an off-white colour but may be whiter. Being from mountainous and hillside regions, the Swaledale is a hardy sheep. Ewes make excellent mothers with good lambing even in harsh conditions. They are also good foragers which can take advantage of poor grazing environments. The coarse wool is not great quality and often contains grey fibres, so they are grown mainly for their mutton and lamb meat. The lamb is tender with a good flavour. Swifter Developed in Holland in the 1970’s for increased productivity, the Swifter sheep is a cross between Texel and Flemish sheep. This breed produces fast-growing lambs for the meat trade when tupped by a suitable ram. It has medium coarse wool. Schweizer Alpenschaf Also known as Swiss White Alpine sheep, this is a shortwool breed mostly farmed for its meat. It is a cross between page 74

the Swiss White Mountain sheep and the Ile de France. Taleshi From Iran, the Taleshi is a small sized animal which has adapted to living in mountainous terrain. It is used primarily for meat. Targhee The Targhee was developed by the USDA and named after the Targhee Forest which surrounds the United States Sheep Experiment Station in Idaho, United States. It was created to diversify the genetic base of the United States sheep population to enhance production. Its ancestors are the Rambouillet, Corriedale and Lincoln breeds. These are a mid-sized sheep with white fleece, face and legs. They are grown as a dual-purpose breed for meat and wool, though the latter is more popular for production purposes. The wool is quite dense and medium coarseness. It contains mainly fine wool fibres with a lesser proportion of longwool fibres. Ewes can raise twins under harsh conditions and breed out of season. This breed does best on ranges similar to those in the western United States but may also adapt to hilly environments and cooler climates. Tautersheep From Tautra Island off Norway, the exact origins of this sheep are unknown. It is thought that perhaps it originated from Spanish Merino brought to this area many years ago which bred with Norse

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sheep. This sheep produced fine wool which was comparable to Merino but sadly it is now extinct. Teeswater The Teeswater comes from Teesdale in the northeast of England. It is quite an old breed considered to have been in production since the early 19th century. Despite being well-established it did become rare in the 1920’s and the Teeswater Sheep Breeders Association was established in 1949 to promote the breed and improve its breeding. Although interest ion the breed has increased it is categorised as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). The Teeswater is a large, longwool breed which produces a kemp-free fleece. It has dark ears and a dark nose, and the wool grows up onto the head and fringes the face. Despite being a wool sheep it is usually grown for meat. This breed is prolific and hardy. It can produce medium-sized lambs in different farming systems and conditions. It can be used as a crossing sire to produce Masham sheep which have the best characteristics of the Teeswater. Texel The Texel comes from the island of Texel which is one of the West Frisian Islands off the northern Netherlands coast. The Texel is thought to have originated form interbreeding of several English breeds but its exact ancestry is unknown. In recent years it has developed a reputation as being a prime meat breed and has become popular page 75

in the United States, UK, Australia and New Zealand. In the UK it was bred from French Texels imported and the 1970’s and then later from Dutch Texels. It is known as the British Texel and is very popualr. The Texel Breed Society formed in 1974. A world-record price was obtained for a Texel tup lamb called Deveronvale Perfection in 2009 with a view to breeding. The Texel has a white fleece and is hornless with a broad white face, black nose and black feet. It is a medium size animal with a long stocky body and is muscular. The white wool is medium grade. It has been used for knitting wool and hosiery yarn. Primarily a meat sheep it can be grown as a terminal sire to produce quickgrowing lambs for the meat industry. The meat is described as lean. Blue Texel The Blue Texel came about in the 1970’s in the Netherlands when a blue lamb was born to two white Texel parents. After this happened some Texels where purposefully bred to have blue lambs. The blue colour occurs due to the presence of a recessive gene in the Texel breed. It affects both the skin and fleece. These sheep have a dark head, shoulder and rear, and the back is light blue. The patterning means that the fleece and body parts are a mix black and white markings, and they have a white ‘halter mark’ on the head. Blue Texels are found in the Netherlands, the rest of Europe and the UK.

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Like other Texels, the Blue Texel is hornless. It is grown mainly as a terminal sire to produce meaty lambs. Lambs are fast-growing. The Blue Texel is becoming quite popular as a wool sheep on account of its unusual fleece. It is also gaining popularity as a show sheep. Tukidale The Tukidale sheep emerged in New Zealand in 1966 on a property called ‘Tuki Tuki’. It is not a separate breed but is a Romney sheep that carries a dominant hair gene known as a T gene, which also produces horns. It was a breeder named Malcolm Coop who developed this sheep by breeding a ram with the dominant T gene. The ram was then used to pass on the hair gene. It was introduced into New South Wales, Australia in 1975 and was later grown in other states.

is suitable mainly for carpet-making, but also upholstery and insulation. Described as an easy-care breed with high fertility, Tukidales are an easy sheep to manage. They can be kept as a dual-purpose sheep grown for wool and meat. The meat, although not outstanding is acceptable. The Tukidale Breed Society was formed in Australia in 1978. This breed is classified as ‘critical’ by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. It is thought that as of 2018 there are no longer an Tukidale sheep left in its native New Zealand. Tunis The Tunis is one of the oldest American breeds. It is a fat-tailed, medium size sheep kept for meat. It is a medium sized sheep with red-brown face and legs. It is said to resemble a smaller version of the Suffolk. It has a strong mothering instinct and is milky. This breed was introduced to the United States in 1799 and was for some time one of the most widely grown sheep. It is now known as the American Tunis but numbers have been in decline since the American Civil War and it is now endangered. The American Tunis Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1896.

Turkidale Sheep

These sheep are described as having high fertility and good conformation. The wool grows extremely fast so the sheep need two shearings a year. The white fleece is long and thick. The wool from this sheep produces a coarse fibre that page 76

Tuj From Turkey, the Tuj is a multipurpose sheep kept for meat, wool and dairy. It is typically white all over, occasionally with light face and leg markings. Rams are horned and ewes are usually polled.

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Uda From central Africa, the Uda is a small to medium size sheep that is very strong and hardy. Usually, the front half is black or brown and the rear white. It is mostly kept for meat. Valachian Sheep This is a rare heritage landrace breed from central Europe. It has characteristic large corkscrew horns. This breed is very hardy to cold climates, heavy rainfall and other harsh conditions. It has value for low input farming for wool, meat and dairy. A ‘Valachian Improved Sheep’ breed is of interest to breeders in parts of Europe. Van Rooy The Van Rooy sheep breed was developed J.C. Van Rooy in South Africa in 1906. It was brought about through crossing Rambouillet, Blackhead Persian and native Ronderib Afrikaner sheep. The idea was to produce hardy, muscular sheep with little fat that didn’t require shearing or crutching These sheep are medium to large sized. They have a hair sheep with a white coat, head, ears and legs. The ears tend to droop downwards. Rams and ewes are polled. They are said to be quite docile with a good nature making them easy to handle and care for. They can survive in tough and dry conditions with low quality feed and ewes store plenty of fat to get through lean times. Their ability to withstand drought conditions has made them popular on farms in harsher page 77

places. They don’t have wool but have enough hair to do well in cooler climates and their thick skin makes them reasonably resistant to parasites. The Van Rooy can also be bred at any time of year and ewes may give birth to as many as three lambs each year, although lambs are fairly slow to mature. They are good milkers with sound maternal instincts. These animals are sometimes used for crossing to reduce wool other breeds. They are also one of the breeds used to produce the Australian White. The meat is described as very tender and full flavoured. Despite being such a hardy sheep this breed is currently considered to be very rare, even in South Africa. It is grown in some neighbouring African countries though. Vendéen This breed comes from the Vendée region of Western France where it was developed in the 19th century. However, it is thought to date back to the times of the Spanish Armada when sheep were salvaged from shipwrecks in this area. It was later bred with the Southdown from England to become what it is today. The Vendéen sheep is long-bodied and broad. It has a pale white fleece with wool on its head and face. The face is brown with a long nose. The fleece is said to be excellent quality and downy. This breed is typically grown for meat which is said to have excellent flavour. It may be grown as a terminal sire bred to produce ewes that are prolific and easy

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lambing. It is easy to manage in different farming systems whether hillside or lowland, and can be grown indoors. Both rams and ewes are quite docile. Waldschaf Originally a forest sheep from central Europe, this is a mid-size breed that is mainly white but can be coloured. Waziri From Pakistan, this is a small sized breed with a black head. It has a white muscular body and fat tail. These sheep are dual-purpose, grown for mutton and wool. Weißes Bergschaf This is a German mountain sheep breed, also known as Deutsches Bergschaf or White Mountain. It is a hornless dual-purpose meat and wool breed. Welsh Hill Speckled Face This breed comes from mid Wales where it is thought to have originated from crossing the Kerry Hill and Welsh Mountain sheep in the 20th century. It is still grown in the same region as well as further afield. The Welsh Hill Speckled Face Sheep Society was formed in 1969. This sheep is larger than the Welsh Mountain sheep. It has a thick and muscular body with a white face with some black markings around the eyes, nose and ears. The legs are white with black markings on the knees and feet page 78

and the rear of the hind legs. Rams have horns but ewes do not. The fleece is fine and of uniform length throughout. These sheep are said to have a mild temperament and ewes have good maternal instincts. They are easy lambing and milky, and lambs grow quickly providing a quality carcase for the meat industry. They are adapted to harsher climates and tough environments but will grow well in lowland farms. The fleece has been used in carpet-making and for tweeds. Welsh Mountain Sheep The Welsh Mountain Sheep is found throughout Wales especially in mountainous regions. It can be traced back as far as the 13th century however it’s only the last 150 years that it has been bred ot improve its natural characteristics. There are a number of breeds of Welsh Mountain Sheep. These include the Black Welsh Mountain Sheep discussed in more detail below. There is also the South Wales Mountain Sheep which is larger than other breeds of Welsh Mountain Sheep and is white with a brown collar and tan markings on the legs and face. Badger Face Welsh Mountain and Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep are another two similar breeds, each with variations in appearance and the parts of Wales they originated in. The standard Welsh Mountain Sheep is a small sheep which is white all over. There is no wool on the head or face, and no wool below the knees. Rams are usually horned and ewes are polled. They have a thick fleece.

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This ewes of this breed have good mothering ability, are milky and hardy. Ewes can survive in extreme environments where they graze and care for their lambs ensuring high survival rates. They can be left on mountains and rounded up a few times a year. The Welsh Mountain Sheep is a dualpurpose meat and wool sheep. Wool is variable according to the variety of Welsh Mountain Sheep with some wool being finer than others. The meat is very tasty and was once favoured by Queen Victoria. Black Welsh Mountain Sheep The Black Welsh Mountain Sheep comes from the Welsh hills but is grown further afield too. There are written references to a black-fleeced mountain sheep in Welsh writing dating back to the Middle Ages. More recently, the Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1920.

Wensleydale The Wensleydale breed comes from the Wensleydale area of north Yorkshire in England. It was developed by crossing a Dishley Leicester ram a now extinct local longwool breed. This mating produced a ram called ‘bluecap’ which was the first sire of this breed. The Wensleydale was also used to develop the Blue-faced Leicester breed. The Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1890. Despite being established in other parts of the UK and now being grown in the United States, it is categorised as rare and ‘at risk’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).

Although it is grown primarily in mountainous regions of Wales, it has also been grown in the United States since it was first exported in 1973. These are small sheep that are entirely black all over. Like other Welsh Mountain Sheep they have no wool on their head, face or legs. Ewes are usually polled whereas rams are horned. Black Welsh Mountain ewes are easy lambing and good milkers with strong maternal instincts. Being hardy, they can be grown in harsh environments and the sheep is suitable for smallholders and commercial producers. The black fleece is popular with spinners and weavers. page 79

Wensleydale Sheep Breed

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It is the largest UK longwool breed. The Wensleydale is tall with a blue-grey face, ears and legs. It has a wool cap on its head and both rams and ewes are naturally polled. It has a very fine fleece regarded to have the highest lustre of any wool worldwide. There are also black Wensleydale sheep which are registered separately. These sheep can have a black fleece through to shades of grey. The Wensleydale is quite hardy with average prolificacy. Ewes are milky and are adaptable, rearing lambs in different farming systems. This breed may be crossed to produce high quality wool. White Suffolk Developed in Australia for Australian conditions, the White Suffolk is suited to various environments and finishing situations. It is a long-lived breed with a good temperament, and is highly fertile. It produces superior meat, and high quality down-type wool. Whiteface Dartmoor The Whiteface Dartmoor is one of the UK’s oldest breeds. It is found mainly in Dartmoor but used to be more widespread in the southwest of England.

pronounced curl. Rams are horned and ewes are polled. The Whiteface Dartmoor is a hardy sheep that can thrive in both wet and cold conditions and has adapted to moorland grazing. Ewes make excellent mothers and are milky. They are also long-lived. This breed has been crossed with Suffolk to produce excellent lambs for the meat industry. It can also be crossed with the Teeswater or Bluefaced Leicester to produce a hardy mule with good mothering instincts to raise multiple lambs. Whitefaced Woodland This breed originates from the Pennines in England between Derbyshire and Yorkshire. It originated from the blackfaced Linton sheep of northern England and is considered to be closely related to the Swaledale and Lonk breeds. The Cheviot and the Merino breeds were also used in its development. The Whitefaced Woodland Sheep Society was formed in 1986. However, it is classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and is still mainly found close to where it came from.

The Whiteface Dartmoor Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1950 to help promote the breed and preserve its credentials.

This sheep is one of the largest hill breeds. It has a narrow white face, white head and legs. Rams and ewes both have spiral horns. The fleece is quite good quality and white.

These sheep are medium sized with strong shoulders and a wide tail. They have a white fleece, white face, white legs, black feet, black nose and short ears which are occasionally speckled with black. The white fleece has a

It is an adaptable sheep suited to different environmwents and farming systems. It can be crossed with a terminal sire to produce good quality lamb meat, especially when ewes are crossed with Texel rams.

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Whilst it is chiefly grown for meat, its wool can be used in carpet-making. It can also be used for conservation grazing since it will feed on a variety of vegetation. Wiltipoll This breed was developed in Australia by breeding Wiltshire Horn with various other breeds. It is favoured for being an easy-care breed. Theses animals resist flystrike, shed fleece naturally, mulesing is not necessary, less chemicals are needed, they make excellent mothers which often produce twins or triplets, and they have a high lambing percentage at weaning. Wiltshire Horn The Wiltshire Horn was one of the most successful sheep breeds in the south of England up until the 18th century. It is thought to be a descendent of sheep taken to the UK during the Roman occupation. Grown mainly as a meat breed, it fell out of favour during the 1800’s and 1900’s when the price of wool soared and supported the British economy.

Wiltshire Horn

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Wiltshire Horns are an easy-care breed. They shed wool so don’t require shearing, and this trait has seen them exported to countries with hotter climates like Australia and the Caribbean. It is one of the breeds used to develop Wiltipoll, Katahdin and Easycare breeds. In recent years the Wiltshire Horn has become popular outside of its native range of Wiltshire in southwest England and it is no longer considered a rare breed. It is a large sheep with long legs, a white body occasionally with black spots underneath, and a white face and legs. It is a hair sheep and sheds the small amount of wool it has following winter. Both rams and ewes are horned. It is a relatively hardy lowland breed which is said to have high fertility and good mothering traits. They don’t need crutching and don’t suffer flystrike easily. Pure bred lambs are fast to mature with a good carcase making them desirable by the meat industry. Ease of handling and low input costs has made them quite popular with smallholders and hobby farmers.

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Xalda From Spain, the Xalda is thought to be related to Celtic sheep including the

Quessant

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Black Welsh and Quessant breeds. These are small animals, and may be white, black or grey in colour.

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Xaxi Ardia This breed comes from Basque country in Spain. It is used to graze poor vegetation in mountainous country. Xinjiang Fine Wool This breed was developed in China in 1935. It is a dual-purpose sheep with Merino bloodlines. Yankasa The Yankasa is a meat breed from northern Nigeria. It has a black nose, and rams normally have a mane. Yemeni These are a fat-tailed breed from Yemen. The animals are polled and often lack ears. They are kept for meat. Yiecheng These are semi fat-tailed and typically kept as a carpet wool breed in their native southern China. Yunnan Semi-Fine Wool This breed was developed in 1970 by crossing Romney sheep with local sheep in China. It is farmed mostly for meat and found across China. It has a medium to fine wool. Zackel This is an ancient breed which comes from several areas of southeast Europe including Serbia, Hungary and Romania. It is small but very hardy. The Hungarian Zackel is a lowland sheep which is fertile and adaptable, used mainly in page 83

conservation grazing. There are two subtypes, black and white, which are bred separately. These sheep have screw-shaped horns. The Transylvanian Zackel from Romania is found in large numbers. It has spiral horns. Zakynthos This breed is used for both milk and meat. It comes from Greece. These animals are typically white but sometimes have back markings on the head. Rams are often horned but ewes are polled. Zeeland The Zeeland is a prolific, marsh-type breed from Netherlands used mainly for dairy. Known as Dutch milk sheep, the Zeeland is one of two separate breeds with the other being the Friesian. Together, they are registered as Zeeland-Friesian. Whilst they may be genetically different they look the same to the naked eye. Dutch milk sheep have a white fleece, long neck, flattened nose and a very long hairless tail. They are highly fertile and have the highest milk production of all sheep worldwide. It is used to cold, wet conditions but is not very adaptable to poor grazing or hilly terrain so has rarely succeeded outside of the Netherlands. Zel This is an ancient, short-tailed carpet wool breed from northern Iran. The Zel is also kept for meat and dairy. Although it is often a white sheep it sometimes has other markings on the head and legs, and different colours such as black, grey, brown or reddish or not uncommon. Rams are horned but ewes usually are not.

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Zelazna This breed was developed in Poland at Warsaw Agricultural University from Polish Merino, Leicester Longwool and Lowicz breeds. It is a longwool sheep which produces high quality wool which is light and warm, said to be suitable for jumpers and outer garments. Zemmour This is a carpet wool breed from Morocco, which is also kept for meat production. Appearance-wise it is mostly white with a pale brown face. Rams are horned, and Ewes are polled. Zenith Developed in western Victoria (Australia), this is a dual-purpose breed grown for both wool and fat lamb meat when bred with shortwool British rams. It produces wool similar to Merino but creamy coloured which grows about 10 cm per year. It is similar in appearance to the Merino but has no neck folds. Rams and ewes are polled. Zeta Yellow This breed is farmed in Montenegro and raised for carpet wool, but also dairy and meat. It has a yellowish head and legs. Zlatusha This is a Bulgarian breed developed in the 1960’s from a German Mutton Merino. It has medium wool quality. Zoulay From Morocco, the Zoulay breed originated from crosses between Berber page 84

and Tounsint breeds. It is a small sheep with coarse hair. Ewes are polled and rams are usually horned. Zwartbles This breed comes from the Friesland region of northern Netherlands. It is a dual-purpose breed grown for milk and meat. Its name is derived from its black to brown fleece and ‘white blaze’ down the centre of its face. These are large sheep with tall and long bodies. The head is upright and ears are at right angles to it. They have a dense fleece which is commonly black or brown. They have two white socks on the hind legs and a white tipped tail. Occasionally they may also have white socks on the front legs. The wool is fine to medium. Rams and ewes are both naturally polled. These animals are said to be quite placid and easy to care for. They are also good for lambing and ewes being milky with good mothering instincts. Today, this breed has recovered from being rare in the 1970’s. It is used mainly for breeding as well as meat and wool and has become quite well established in the UK by enthusiasts. Zulu This is a South African breed. It is a smaller size and commonly multicoloured with white, black and brown wool and hair. They are mostly kept for meat. These animals may or may not be fan-tailed. They are resistant to parasites. Zulu are a threatened breed due to ill-informed crossbreeding.

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