U.S. Sheep and Goat Breeds
Jan 15, 2016
U.S. Sheep and Goat Breeds
World Sheep Breeds• Breeds of Sheep
– 235 breeds world wide
US Sheep Breeds
• Meat Breeds• Ewe Breeds• Dual Purpose Breeds• Wool Breeds• Hair Breeds
Five Classifications
- 26 – 30 Breeds in US- Only 8- 10 Industry Impact
Meat Breeds
• Developed:– Suffolk county England
• Characteristics:– Black head and legs (Free of any wool)– Largest breed of sheep
• Rams up to 350 lbs• Ewe up to 250 lbs
• Noted For:– Rapid growth rates, and carcass traits
Suffolk
Origin: England
Black face
Meat type
Large frame/growth
# 1 ram breed
Suffolk
Meat Breeds
• Developed:– Hampshire county England
• Characteristics:– Black head and legs with wool on them– Rams can weigh up to 325– Ewes can weigh up to 225 lbs
• Noted For:• Fast rates of growth and excellent muscling
Hampshire
Origin: England
Black face
Meat type
Excellent carcass
Medium wool
# 2 Ram breed
Hampshire
Meat Breeds
• Developed:– Hampshire county England
• Characteristics:– Mouse colored muzzle and legs with wool on legs– Smaller sized– Rams can weigh up to 200– Ewes can weigh up to 150 lbs
• Noted For:• Calm docile sheep, gained popularity due to size for
young exhibitors
Southdowns
Origin: England
Base of all meat breeds
Medium wool
Early maturing
Muscular, light weight carcasses
Southdown
Ewe Breed / Wool Breed
• Developed:– Spain
• Characteristics:– White points, long fleece
– Rams 220 lbs, Ewes 150 lbs
• Noted For:– Highest Quality fleece , up to 14 lbs
– Finest Fleece
– Maternal Strengths
Merino
Origin: Spain
White face
Gregarious
Fine wool
Rams = horned
Ewes = polled
Wool on shanks
Wool blindness
Merino
Ewe Breed / Wool Breed
• Developed:– In France from Merino
• Characteristics:– White with long wool– Ram 300 lbs, ewe 250 lbs
• Noted For:• Excellent mothering• Hardiness – Western Breed• Quality wool, • Heavy fleece up to 18 lbs
Rambouillet
Origin: France
White face
Gregarious
Fine wool
Rams = horned
Ewes = polled
Predominant fine wool breed in U.S.
Rambouillet
Ewe Breeds
• Developed:– Finland
• Characteristics:– Fine boned– Small breed, Rams 175 lbs– slow growers– Light muscled
• Noted For:– Multiple Births– Used best in crossbreeding
Finnsheep
Origin: Finland
Small frame
Fine bone
Highly prolific
Hardy
Strong maternal instincts
Lean carcasses
Finnsheep
Dual Purpose Breeds
• Developed:– First breed developed in the US– Univ of Wyoming– Western Range– Rambioullet X Lincoln (meat)
• Characteristics:– Large Sheep Rams
• Rams 300 lbs• Ewes 225 lbs
• Noted For:– Mothering Characteristics– Good Carcasses
Columbia
Origin: U.S.
Cross of Lincoln & Rambouillet
Meat and wool type
Large frame/growth
Good mothers
Columbia
Dual Purpose Breeds
• Developed:– England
• Characteristics:– White face – horned and polled– Smaller meatier sheep
• Rams 250 lbs, Ewes 175 lbs
• Noted For:– Breeds out of season– Excellent mothering– Excellent carcass
– “True Dual Purpose Breed”
Dorset
Origin: England
Polled or horned
US type is polled
Breed out of season
Excellent conformation
Prolific
Heavy Milkers
Wool down legs
Dorset
Dual Purpose Breeds
• Developed:– 1960’s– Dubios, ID
• Characteristics:– White smaller ears open face– Rams 200 lbs– Ewes 150 lbs
• Noted For:– Prolificacy– Lamb more than once per year– Good growth and carcass
Polypay
Origin: U.S.
4 way crossDorset
Targhee
Rambouillet
Finnsheep
Very prolific
Extended breeding season
Variation
Polypay
Hair Breeds
• Developed:– South Africa– Meat breed that is heat tolerant
• Characteristics:– No wool or very little– Medium size
• Rams 200 lbs• Ewe 150 lbs
• Noted For:– Meat and reproductive traits– No shearing
Dorper
DevelopedBlack Headed PersianSouth African Breed
DorsetEnglish Breed
Wiltshire Horn
Katahdin
Dorper
Royal White/Hair Breed
– Weights:Rams 185-250+Ewes 145-185+
– Resulted from:• St. Croix and White Dorper cross
Origin: U.S.
Hair sheep
Adaptability & Hardiness
Easy lambers & maternal instincts
Extended breeding season
Outer coat –long hair
Inner coat – wool
Hand spinning, carpets
Navajo-Churro