1. Sheep Breeds
Animal Science

2. Sheep and Goat Terms Sheep Goats Intact Male- Ram
Castrated Male- Wether
Adult Female- Ewe
Young- Lamb
Goats
Intact Male- Buck (Billy)
Castrated Male- Wether
Adult Female- Doe (Nanny)
Young- Kid
Nanny and Billy are not accepted “technical” terminology, but are still heard in the small ruminant industries.

3. Sheep Breeds Four major uses of sheep: Two major types of sheep breeds
Meat
Wool
Milk
Multipurpose
Two major types of sheep breeds
Wool sheep
Hair sheep (meat)

4. Wool Types
Classified into:
Fine
Medium
Long or Coarse

5. Lincoln Originated in England The largest breed of sheep
Long-wooled breed
White faces
Pronounced forelock between the ears

6. Cheviot Medium wool type One of the smaller breeds
Originated in Scotland
Good mothers
5-8 lb fleece
Resistant to cold and wind and usually worms/ footrot

7. Merino Originated in Australia Primarily a wool breed White-faced
Most popular breed in Australia
High quality wool used in the textile industry

8. Jacob Originated in England Two, four, or six horns
Black and white fleece
Fleece is highly sought after
Unimproved breed

9. Polled Dorset Dual purpose breed Developed at NCSU Medium wool type
Known for ability to breed out of season
Very prolific (150% lamb crop)
4-10 lb fleece

10. Hampshire Dual purpose breed Originated in Hampshire County, England
Black face/legs
Medium wool type
Popular in the US
8 lb fleece

11. Rambouillet Developed in France Largest fine wool breed
Prolific and good mothers
Best breed for ability to forage
7-14 lb fleece
Very popular in western USA
All White

12. Suffolk Multipurpose breed Low quality wool
Known for meat quality and growth
Most popular in US
5-8 lb fleece
White with black face/legs

13. NOTE: Other breeds in each species exist – these are the 8 most common for each species