A Cornucopia of Sheep Breeds: Which One Do I Pick?

by Susan Schoenian
Area Agent, Sheep and Goats
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
Maryland Cooperative Extension

 

Barbados Blackbelly	Shetland	Katahdin

While only a dozen or so breeds of sheep are commercially important, there are over 35 breeds of sheep in the United States. Each breed is valuable and adds to the genetic diversity of the sheep industry.

Before choosing a breed (or breeds) of sheep to raise, you must first ask yourself why you want to raise sheep. Your motivation for raising sheep will have a significant impact on the breed you choose. For example, the breed that you choose for your children's 4-H project may not be the same breed you'd choose if your motivation is primarily profit.

Some of the reasons people raise sheep include:

1. Profit
2. Favorable tax treatment
3. Hobby
4. Home consumption
5. 4-H or youth project
6. Grazing or vegetation control
7. Aesthetics

Oftentimes, it is more useful to look at "types" of sheep as opposed to individual sheep breeds. These types of sheep tend to share similar characteristics and can often be substituted for one another in a breeding program.

There are several different ways to categorize sheep breeds. These include:

1. Commercial use
2. Production purpose
3. Face color
4. Wool or coat type
5. Special traits.

When categorizing sheep according to their commercial use, there are four categories: meat, wool, dairy and multi-purpose. While most sheep breeds are dual-purpose (e.g. meat and wool) and some are triple-purpose (meat, wool and milk) many breeds excel in the production of one product.

A useful way to categorize sheep breeds is according to their use in production. For example: is the breed more suitable as a "ram" or "ewe" breed in your flock? Ram breeds tend to be those which excel in growth and carcass traits, whereas ewe breeds are strong in maternal characteristics such as fertility, prolificacy, milking ability and mothering ability. Some breeds are considered dual-purpose because they possess traits which make them equally suitable as either a ram or ewe breed.

Face color is often used to differentiate breeds, but the most common way to categorize sheep is according to the type of coat or fleece they have. All sheep have both hair and wool fibers in their fleeces. Hair sheep have a higher percentage of hair fibers, while wool sheep have a higher percentage of wooly fibers. Hair sheep do not need sheared; they shed their coats annually. Wool sheep need sheared a minimum of once per year.

Within the wool types of sheep, there is considerable difference in the type of fibers that the sheep grow. Fine wool sheep grow shorter-stapled fleeces in which the wool fiber has a very small diameter. Long or coarse wool sheep grow long-stapled fleeces in which the wool fiber has a very large diameter. Medium wool sheep grow wool that is intermediate in fiber diameter and length. The crossbred wool type sheep produce fibers that are intermediate between fine and medium wool; these breeds are primarily crosses between fine and long wool sheep.

Some breeds of sheep excel in more specific traits. Prolific breeds, for example, produce litters of lambs. These include Finn sheep, the Romanov, the Booroola Merino and the Barbados Blackbelly. The Finn and the Romanov are among the most prolific breeds of sheep in the world. The Booroola Merino is a specific strain of Merino in which prolificacy was found to be controlled by one gene -- the F (for fecundity) gene. Under good feeding conditions, the Barbados Blackbelly, a Caribbean hair sheep, is very prolific.

If you're looking to add muscling to your flock, there are several breeds to choose from. The Texel, a Dutch breed, excels in muscling, producing carcasses with a high lean to fat and meat to bone ratio. The Dorper, a new breed from South Africa, also produces very heavy muscled carcasses. Sheep carrying the "Callipyge" gene (a gene mutation) possess a high amount of muscling in the leg and loin regions.

Hair sheep are gaining in popularity due to their lack of shearing and ease of care. There are two types of hair sheep: unimproved or "pure" hair sheep, which include the Barbados Blackbelly, St. Croix (Virgin Island White) and Wiltshire Horn; and improved or "shedding" hair sheep, which include the Katahdin and Dorper. The unimproved hair breeds excel in reproductive and fitness traits, whereas the improved hair breeds are intermediate between hair and wool sheep in these traits, but faster growing and heavier muscled.

Ewe breed selection

When selecting a ewe breed or type, the following factors should be considered:

1. Adaptation to environment
2. Type of wool or coat
3. Desired level of reproductive
4. When and how often to lamb
5. Desired level of care

While you can raise any breed of sheep in any environment, some sheep breeds will tend do better in certain climates than others. For example, fine wool breeds, as well as the Navajo Churro are a better choice in hot and dry environments where feed may be scarce. Where it's hot and humid, the Gulf Coast (or Florida) Native or hair sheep are a good choice, because of their heat tolerance and parasite resistance. In cold, wet areas where feed is abundant, the long wool breeds, dairy sheep, meat sheep and improved hair sheep breeds are a good fit.

The type of wool or coat desired is an important consideration when forming a ewe flock. If you do not want to shear your sheep, hair sheep (or goats) are your only choice. For the commercial wool market (sales to wool pools and mills), the fleeces from fine and crossbred wool ewes will net more money. Due to the absence of dark fibers, the wool from white-faced wool is also usually worth more. If commercial pelts are a consideration, the pelts from white faced sheep and fine wool breeds are more desirable. If you're interested in producing wool for hand spinning, any breed of wool sheep can be raised, but the wool from the long wooled breeds and natural colored animals seems to be in the greatest demand. Natural colored pelts are also desirable.

Not every shepherd wants to deal with large litters of lambs. On the other hand, ewes that only produce one lamb will not be very profitable. Breed choice will have a large bearing on the reproductive rate of your flock. Prolific breed ewes will produce litters of lambs (3 or more). Ewes containing 50% or more of a prolific breed will produce lamb crops in excess of 200%. Under proper management and nutrition, most of the meat breeds are capable of producing a 200% lamb crop. The Polypay and Katahdin will generally produce two lambs, in addition to any ewe containing at least 25% of a prolific breed. Any breed of sheep can be selected to produce larger lamb crops.

Most sheep are seasonal breeders, breeding in the fall when day length is shorter and lambing in the late winter or spring. If you want to produce "out-of-season" lambs, you'll need to select an appropriate breed. The Dorset is known for its ability to lamb yearround, though there are genetic differences within the breed. Other breeds with extended breeding seasons include the Rambouillet, Finn, Merino, Polypay and Katahdin. The breeds which are most seasonal in their breeding habits include the long wool breeds and meat breeds of British origin. Any breed of sheep can be selected for the ability to lamb in the fall.

Raising sheep can be a labor intensive undertaking, but there are breeds of sheep which inherently require less care. Easy care sheep include hair sheep, Border and North County Cheviots, Coopworths and the fine wool breeds. Those which require a higher level of care (or labor) include the meat breeds, long wool breeds, prolific breeds and dairy sheep, though any flock of sheep can be selected and managed to minimize care (labor).

Top Ten Ewe Breeds

1. Rambouillet - The Rambouillet was developed in France and Germany and descends entirely from the Spanish Merino. It forms the foundation of most western range flocks. The Rambouillet is a fine wool producer, hardy and long-lived, possessing a strong flocking instinct and extended breeding season. They are large-framed and late maturing, with a medium to fast growth rate.
   
2. Barbados Blackbelly - The Barbados Blackbelly originated on the island of Barbados and is one of the most reproductively efficient sheep breeds in the world. They reach puberty at an early age, are prolific and have an extended breeding season. They do not require shearing and are more heat tolerant and parasite resistant than wool breeds. They produce lean carcasses with a mild flavored meat.
   
3. Polypay - The Polypay was developed in the U.S. in the 1970's. They are 1/4 Finn, 1/4 Dorset, 1/4 Rambouillet and 1/4 Targhee. They are medium sized and produce a high quality medium wool. Polypay ewes reach puberty early, are prolific and have an extended breeding season.
   
4. Dorset - The Horned Dorset originated in England, while the Polled Dorset is thought to have resulted from a genetic mutation in 1948. Dorsets are noted for their out-of-season breeding tendencies. They are good mothers and milkers, prolific and of medium size. They are a dual purpose breed producing well muscled carcasses.
   
5. Katahdin - The Katahdin is the first hair sheep breed to meet North American standards for carcass quality. They were developed in the 1950's in Maine from crosses of the Suffolk, St. Croix and Wiltshire Horn. Katahdins do not require shearing and are a prolific, easy care sheep with resistance to parasites.
   
6. Delaine Merino - The Merino produces the finest quality wool in the world. They are hardy and long lived and possess a strong flocking instinct and extended breeding season.
   
7. Targhee - The Targhee originated in the U.S. in 1926 from crosses between the Rambouillet, Columbia and Corriedale. They are hardy and long-lived, have a strong flocking instinct and produce 3/4 fine wool fleeces.
   
8. East Freisian - The East Freisian is the only dairy breed of sheep in the U.S. Of German origin, they have exceptionally high milk production and long lactations.
   
9. North Country Cheviot - The North Country Cheviot is a medium to large sized sheep that originated in Scotland. They are noted for the hardiness, adaptability and easy lambing.
   
10. Long wool breeds (Romney, Border Leicester, Coopworth) - Long wool breeds are medium sized with average to good prolificacy. Their long, lustrous wool is favored by hand spinners.

• Finn Sheep - The Finn Sheep is one of the most prolific sheep breeds in the world. Imported from Finland in 1968, Finn sheep are used primarily for the production of crossbred ewes. Finn ewes reach puberty early, are prolific and have an extended breeding season. Finn lambs are vigorous at birth.

Ram breed selection

1. Market suitability
2. Adaptation to environment
3. Type of wool or coat
4. Feeding program

If you want to produce lambs for the mainstream, heavy lamb (95-125 lbs) markets, your choice of a ram breed would be very different from the ram breed you would choose to sire lambs for the hot house (35 to 50 lbs) or ethnic markets (80-100 lbs.). For example, lambs sired by large- framed breeds such as the Suffolk are not very desirable at light weights because they have inadequate muscling and fat. Conversely, lambs sired by small and medium sized breeds such as the Dorset and Southdown, will likely get too fat if they are fed to heavy weights, as these lambs are more ideally suited to the lighter weight lamb markets.

Top Ten Ram and Dual-Purpose Breeds

1. Suffolk - The Suffolk originated in England and is a cross between the Southdown and Norfolk Horn. They are noted for their large frame size and superior growth rate. They produce large carcasses with high lean to fat ratio.
2. Hampshire - The Hampshire originated in England and is a cross between the Southdown, Berkshire Knot and Cotswold. They are a large breed with outstanding growth characteristics. They produce well muscled carcasses with high cutability.
3. Texel - The Texel originated in Holland and was imported into the U.S. in 1990. They are noted for their extreme muscling in the leg and loin and their exceptional lean to fat and meat to bone ratios.
4. Dorper - The Dorper is a new breed from South Africa. They may have black heads or be all-white. They are of medium size and have excellent growth rates and carcass muscling. Dorpers do not require shearing.
5. Dorset - The Dorset is a medium sized, dual purpose sheep. They produce meaty carcasses at lighter weights than Suffolk or Hampshire sired lambs. The Dorset is known for year-round lambing. Rams are aggressive breeders.
6. Columbia - The Columbia originated in the U.S. from crosses between the Lincoln and Merino. They are a large-framed, late-maturing dual purpose sheep producing excellent lambs and wool.
7. Shropshire - The Shropshire is a good, middle-of-the-road sheep, medium to large size. They produce good quality carcasses.
8. Southdown - The Southdown is a medium to small sized, early maturing breed that produces meaty carcass at light weights. Southdown rams are ideal for siring hot house lambs.
9. Montadale - The Montadale is a medium sized dual-purpose breed that produces desirable carcasses.
10. Long Wool (Lincoln, Romney, Border Leicester) - Long wool breeds are medium to large size and dual purpose. They produce well-muscled carcasses and long lustrous wool.

Rare, heritage and unique breeds

• Karakul - The Karakul is one of the oldest breeds of sheep. They are a multi-colored, fat-tailed sheep that originated in Central Asia. In other parts of the world, Karakuls are raised primarily for the production of pelts from baby lambs which is known as Persian lamb skin. Karakul wool is the wool upon which the art of felting was developed.
• Jacob - The Jacob is the result of the earliest recorded selective breeding scheme. They are the spotted sheep mentioned in the Bible. Jacob sheep are white with black patches. They have four horns.
• Navajo Churro - The Navajo Churro is the oldest American breed, originating from sheep brought by Spanish settlers. The Churro is a double-coated breed raised by Native Americans to make the famous Navajo rugs.
• Scottish Blackface - The Scottish Blackface is one of the most numerous sheep in England. They are very distinctive looking, having curled horns and a roman nose. They produce a coarse, long wool fleece.
• Leicester Longwool - Leicester Longwool sheep are a rare and historical breed that was used to form new breeds, such as the Border Leicester. Leicester Longwools were raised by both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Presently, there is a flock at Colonial Williamsburg.
• Icelandic - The Icelandic is a double-coated, multi-colored breed known for its fleeces. They are prolific and have short tails which do not require docking. Recently, a major gene for prolificacy was discovered in the breed. The Icelandic is considered to be the oldest, unimproved breed of sheep.
• Olde English Babydoll Southdowns are a miniature or novelty breed of sheep.

KEY FINAL POINTS

1. There is as much difference within a breed as between breeds.
2. There is no "perfect" breed.
3. Crossbreeding is recommended for commercial lamb production.

© Copyright 2002. Maryland Small Ruminant Page.  
Presented at the 2002 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, West Friendship, Maryland.


Related Articles
Sheep and Goat Breeds
Sheep Breeds A-Z - Sheep101.info
Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Parade of Breeds
Evaluating Meat Goat Breeding Stock

Web Resources
Oklahoma State University Breeds of Livestock (sheep)
Sheep breed identification slides (Auburn University)
Breeds of Sheep - USDA ARS
Directory of Sheep Breeding Associations - Breeder'sWorld