A FEW SELECTED BREEDS OF SHEEP Stephen R Schafer, EdD …… 2008 …… University of Nevada-Reno

Partially Funded By Ag Council of Nevada 4 Hall Lane Yerington, NV This presentation was developed for use as an educational resource and is provided as an educational service. User/purchase fees are not associated with this presentation.

Information Development Much effort and time was devoted to: developing accurate/current information incorporating appropriate pictures/graphics providing proper credit of pictures/graphics obtaining copyright/educational permission Any and/or all errors, omissions, etc. are purely unintentional/accidental.

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

TYPICAL OR COMMON BREEDS OF SHEEP Author Dr. Steve Schafer, University of Nevada-Reno Reviewers Mr. Ron Cunningham, University of Wyoming Dr. Terry Dumas, Louisiana State University Dr. Susan Kerr, Washington State University

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

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

Cheviot Originated in the hills of England & Scotland Wool-free face & legs White face & legs Black nose/muzzle & feet, dark eyes, & erect ears; give it a distinct, perky, & stylish appearance Hardy, easy lambing, good mothers, & fast maturity A smaller breed of sheep Photo: Unknown Source

Columbia Originated in US, by US Dept of Agriculture (Wyoming & Idaho) It is all white; with light pigmentation of nose, muzzle, mouth, & ears Has wool on legs & poll Developed for range, but have proven adaptable to pastures & grasses A large breed of sheep Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

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

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

Dorper Originated in South Africa Has white body & usually a black head/neck (85% of Dorper Sheep Breeder’s of South Africa) Skin is lightly covered with mixture of hair & wool Dorper skin is thick, which is why it is most sought sheepskin in the world It is a meat breed of sheep Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Dorset Originated in Wales They are all white Can be polled or horned Have wool on legs & head, except for face Light pigmentation of nose, hooves, mouth, ears, etc A thicker breed, with good muscle conformation; so has a desirable carcass It is a medium sized breed Photo: Unknown Source

Hampshire Originated in England It has black hair on its legs & head, it has also black pigmentation of nose, mouth, & hooves The legs are free of wool below the knee/hock The face is free of wool, but wool is present on the forehead/poll A medium to large breed Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Lincoln Originated in England It is all white; with dark pigmentation of the nose, mouth, & inside the ears The fleece is carried in very heavy locks & it is well wooled to knees/hocks It has a well pronounced foretop/poll of long wool It is often or commonly referred to as the world’s largest breed of sheep Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

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

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

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

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

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

Suffolk As the name could infer, it developed in England Legs & head are free of wool; & possess black hair Are long legged & muscular Has very regal appearance It is a large to very large breed of sheep Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley University of Nevada-Reno

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

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

Identify… Barbado Photo: Lynn Magedson

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

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

Identify… Columbia Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Suffolk

Identify… Romanov

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

Identify…Cotswold Originated in England Has white face & legs Dark pigmentation of the nose, mouth, inside the ears, & on the hooves Fleece is carried in locks and is quite abundant from the foretop/poll A medium to large breed

Identify… Tunis Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Shropshire

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

Identify… Suffolk

Identify… California Red Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Identify… Cheviot Photo: Unknown Source

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

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

Identify… Dorset Originated in Wales They are all white Can be polled or horned Have wool on legs & head Light pigmentation of nose, hooves, mouth, ears, etc Has a desirable carcass It is a medium sized breed

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

Identify… Corriedale Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Cotswold

Identify… Lincoln Photo: Sally Anne Thompson

Identify… Columbia Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Montadale Originated in the US All white; with dark pigment of nose, mouth, & hooves Face & legs are free of wool Were developed as a dual purpose breed (meat/wool) They are very adaptable They are medium size breed

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

Identify… Southdown Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Dorset

Identify… Tunis

Identify… Montadale

Identify… Rambouillet

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

Identify… Barbado Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Corriedale

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

Identify… Cotswold

Identify… California Red Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Suffolk As the name could infer, it developed in England Legs & head are free of wool; and possess black hair Are long legged & muscular Has very regal appearance It is a large to very large breed of sheep

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

Identify… Southdown Photo: Stephanie Burrows/Oklahoma State University

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

Identify… Cheviot

Identify… Cotswold Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Dorper

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

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

Identify… Shropshire Photo: Unknown Source

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

Identify… Rambouillet Photo: Terry & Viki Clark, Oklahoma State University

Identify… Tunis Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… California Red Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Romanov

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

Identify… Southdown Originated in England All white; grayish pigment of mouth, nose, & ears Is completely wool covered, from its nose to its hooves It is a polled breed of sheep Adaptable & early maturing Small to medium size breed

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

Identify… Dorset Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… California Red Photo: Myrna Fisher/Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-Reno

Identify… Romanov Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Lincoln Photo: Oklahoma State University

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

Identify… Rambouillet Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Suffolk

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

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

Identify… Cheviot Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Southdown Photo: Sally Anne Thompson

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

Identify… California Red Photo: Oklahoma State University

Identify… Barbado Photo: Unknown Source

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

Identify… Hampshire Photo: Unknown Source

Identify… Dorset

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

Other Breeds Given the thoughts stated in the previous slide, the following breeds are listed as breeds for additional review and study. KatahdinDala Drysdale Coopworth KatahdinDala Drysdale Coopworth Polwarth Bond Galway Targhee Polwarth Bond Galway Targhee Romney Lonk Polypay Merino Romney Lonk Polypay Merino Oxford Texel Devon Cormo Oxford Texel Devon Cormo Conducting an internet search for sheep breeds is an excellent starting point.