Breeds of Sheep

This page might take a little time to load because of all the images, but we wanted you to be able to browse through all the different breeds because there are some pretty interesting ones out there!

Below you will find the many different breeds of sheep along with a little information about each breed. The breeds are catagorized alphabetically.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
Acipayam This breed originated from Assaf crossed with Awassi/Dagliç ewes. They are used for meat, milk and wool production and are found in the Ege region of Turkey.

Africana The Africana is found in Colombia and Venezuela. The breed is polled and the male is sometimes maned.

Apennine This breed was found in the 70's in central Italy. It is a medium wool breed kept primarily for meat production. It is polled and has semi-lopped ears. There are an estimated 250,000 heads, spread out over central and southern Italy.

Arabi Found in southwestern Iran, southern Iraq and northeastern Arabia, the Arabi is a meat breed of the Near Easter Fat-Tailed type. The wool is of carpet quality.

Awassi The Awassi evolved as a nomadic sheep breed through centuries of natural and selective breeding to become the highest milk producing breed in the Middle East. The breed is of the Near Eastern Fat-tailed type.

B
Baluchi The Baluchi originated in the area which is now southwest Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. The Baluchi sheep is a fat-tail breed.

Balwen Welsh Mountain From Whales, Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep is distinct in having the Head Socks and Tails factor. They are easy to manage having very few health problems associated with many of the larger breeds.

Barbado The Barbado breed originated in Texas. The breed originated from Barbados Blackbelly sheep which were crossed with Rambouillet and mouflon. One of the uses of the Barbado is as a trophy animal on game ranches due to its large curled horns.

Barbados Blackbelly Barbados Blackbelly sheep combine the rare attributes of adaption to widespread environments and high reproductive efficiency, which account for their average of two lambs per litter and an average lambing interval of eight to nine months.

Bergamasca The Bergamasca is found in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is the basic breed of the Lop-eared Alpine group and is polled. It is coarse wooled meat breed.

Beulah Speckled-Face Found mainly in Mid-Wales.

Blackhead Persian The Blackheaded Persian originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. It is one of the fat-rumped breeds and both sexes are polled.

Black Welsh Mountain Sources indicate a premium quality meat is obtained from the Black Welsh Mountain with close grain, light bone and a favorable meat to bone ratio. Flocks of the pure breed are now widely distributed throughout the United Kingdom, with flocks also in Ireland and the USA.

Bleu du Maine The Bleu du Maine originated in Western France in the region of Mayenne. The breed was developed from crossing of Leicester Longwool and Wensleydale.

Bluefaced Leicester The Bluefaced Leicester is of the English Longwool type and originated near Hexham in the county of Northumberland, England. They originated from Border Leicester individuals selected for the blue face (white hairs on black skin) and finer fleeces.

Bond A relatively new breed, Bonds evolved in Australia in 1909 as a dual-purpose breed, using Peppin Merinos and imported Lincoln rams. Bonds are renowned for long, lean, fast growing lambs. Their robust constitution means they are capable of coping with extreme climatic conditions.

Booroola Merino The Booroola Merino was originally developed on the Southern Tablelands of NSW, and is the subject of a continuing development program initiated by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO).

Border Leicester The Border Leicester breed was founded in 1767 by George & Matthew Culley of Fenton, Northumberland, England. Border Leicesters give rapidly growing, high-quality market lambs as well as a much sought after specialty wool crop.

Boreray The Boreray originated on the island of Boreray which is in the St. Kilda group. The Boreray is a small breed with no wool on face or lower legs. Both sexes are horned.

Bovska The Bovska sheep breed originated in the white sheep which were once distributed throughout the Alps. It is estimated that only 800 individuals of this breed still exist.

Brazilian Somali The Brazilian Somali is a hair breed which originated from the Blackhead Persian crossed with local sheep. Both sexes are polled and it is small framed. They are one of the fat tail breeds. The breed is reported to the lowest mortality rate from birth to weaning of the breeds in Brazil.

Brecknock Hill Cheviot Brecknock Hill Sheep originated in the Brecon Beacon Hills (Brecknock & Sennybridge Hills) in Wales. Purebred Brecknock Hill sheep come in all colors except spotted. They tend to be naturally small like their ancestors, the great majority of them 23" in height sheared.

Brillenschaf The Brillenschaf is a member of the alpine mountain sheep breeds. The hardy, frugal Brillenschaf can cope with high precipitation and is expert in climbing, therefore it is used for grazing high alpine areas which are inaccessible to cows.

Bündner Oberland The animals are by origin small, easily satisfied and robust, of white, brown or silver-gray color. At the present time there are over 250 ewes and approx. 50 rams, so that the breed again classifies as secure. The breeding groups are located predominantly in eastern Switzerland.

C
California Red In 1970 Dr. Glenn Spurlock of the University of California at Davis began crossing Tunis and Barbados sheep. The rams sometimes have manes and both sexes are polled. The breed is non-seasonal and can be bred for three lamb crops in two years. The wool is silky in texture and has found a specialty market with hand spinners and weavers.

California Variegated Mutant The C.V.M. face is generally free of wool and covered with soft hair, although sometimes wool is found on the forehead. C.V.M. color patterns vary widely, especially in the darkness of body wool. Unlike many sheep, the C.V.M. will not fade with age, but rather darkens from birth to their first year.

Campanian Barbary The Campanian Barbary is a fat-tailed breed found primarily in Campania in southern Italy. The breed is used primarily for milk and meat production. The wool quality varies from carpet to medium wool.

Castlemilk Moorit This is a rare breed. More than that, it is a critically rare breed. In 1985 there were 95 ewes and in 1989 about 120, numbers are believed to of increased slightly since then. The Castlemilk Moorit is a short-tailed primitive breed, created from the Soay, Manx, Shetland and probably wild Mouflon, and kept entirely for its ornamental appearance.

Charollais Charollais originated in the same region of France as the Charolais cattle. The breed is used primarily as a terminal sire to increase the muscling and growth rate of the lambs.

Cheviot The Cheviot originated in the Cheviot Hills, on the border of England and Scotland. The Cheviot is a long-wool type, hornless and of reasonable frame. Initially it developed some popularity in Australia as a sire of top quality prime lambs as well as for crossing with Merinos to produce prime lamb mothers.

Chios Like so many breeds the exact origin of the Chios is unknown. Quality within a fleece is generally consistent but there is considerable variability between individuals.

Cine Capari The Cine Capari is found in Aydin Province of Turkey. They are carpet wool type and are reported to be resistant to diseases.

Clun Forest The breed takes it's name from the ancient market town of Clun, situated in the beautiful Clun Valley in the southwest corner of Shropshire. The Clun fleece is a short, close-textured wool of consitently high quality, with a spinning count of 58 and a high degree of elasticity. It is largely used in hosiery and knitting yarns.

Coburger Fuchsschaf Their golden fleece (white with a red-brown or golden tint) contains more or less dark kempy hair, which impart an appealing color play in the yarn and finished product. Lambs and grown sheep are sold mostly through direct marketing for its delicious, tender, and low-fat, meat with a venison taste. This breed is on the endangered sheep list.

Columbia A Lincoln-Rambouillet cross, the Columbia sheep were developed by the United States Department of Agriculture as a true breeding type to replace cross breeding on the range. They are the largest white-faced sheep in the world. Chracteristics: Good Longevity, Heavy Wool Clip, Hardy, Fast-growing Lambs, Adapts to Various Ranges, Natural Herding Instinct, Easy Handling

Comisana The Comisana breed is found in southeastern Sicily. It is a diary breed with course to medium wool quality and a reddish-brown face. The breed has semi-lop ears and is polled.

Coopworth Coopworth sheep were imported to Australia in 1976, after being developed in New Zealand in the 1950s from a cross of Border Leicester and Romney. Coopworths have been selected on visual criteria, wool quality, frame and carcass attributes, and measured performance, including fertility and lamb survival, growth rate to weaning, growth rate to yearling stage, leanness, growth and fleece production of 30-35 micron wool.

Corriedale The Corriedale was developed in New Zealand and Australia during the late 1800s' from crossing Lincoln or Leicester rams with Merino females. Its popularity now suggests it is the second most significant breed in the world after Merinos. The Corriedale is a dual-purpose sheep. It is large-framed, polled with good carcass quality. The Corriedale produces bulky, high-yielding wool ranging from 31.5 to 24.5 micron fiber diameter.

Cotswold The Cotswold breed originated in the Cotswold Hills of Gloucester, a south midland county of England. It has been used for crossbreeding, as a means of increasing the size and feeding quality of lambs, and of getting increased staple length in ewe bands without losing fleece weight.

D
Dala Found in the region surrounding Voss and Hordaland in Norway, the Dala was developed between 1860 and 1920 from Cheviot, Leicester Longwool and Old Norwegian breeds. It is the most common breed in Norway. The breed is distributed throughout Norway and is kept primarily for meat production.

Dalesbred The Dalesbred is found in Upper Wharfdale and Central Pennines in England. Both sexes have a round, low set of horns. Dalesbred ewes are often crossed with Teeswater rams to produce the Masham which is one of the most famous of British cross-breeds.

Damara The breed originated from the Hamites of Eastern-Asia and Egypt and moved down to the present day Namibia and Angola. Damara sheep can survive in a harsh environment and under poor nutritional conditions. The breed is exceptionally vigorous and can produce and reproduce where water and grazing is fairly restricted. It has a fairly high resistance to most sheep diseases and also good tolerance against internal parasites.

Dartmoor The Dartmoor is classified as Lustre and Longwool sheep. The wool is used in the manufacture of blankets as well as tweeds, woolen cloth and carpets. Dartmoor ewes are very prolific, bringing about 70% of twins. Being heavy milkers, they are used for crossing with almost every known terminal sire for prime lambs.

Debouillet The Debouillet breed was developed in New Mexico in 1920 from Delaine-Merino and Rambouillet crosses. The breed is well adapted for the range conditions of the southwestern United States. It is hardy under arid conditions, gregarious, adaptable to unassisted pasture lambing and produced a high quality fine-wool fleece with a deep, close crimp.

Delaine Merino Over 95 percent of the Merinos are smooth or nearly smooth. The Delaine has a smooth body and is free of wrinkles. The productive life of the Merino is much greater than any other breed. Breeders have choice ewes 10 to 12 years of age that are maintaining their high productiveness. No other wool can compare with the wool of the Merino in its color, uniformity, strength, density, and fineness.

Devon Longwoolled The Devon Longwoolled is a mutton and long-wool producing breed found in northern Devon in England. The breed is similar to the South Devon but smaller. Both sexes are polled.

Dorper The Dorper is a South African mutton breed developed in the 1930's from the Dorset Horn and Blackheaded Persian. One of the most fertile of sheep breeds that is hornless with good body length and a short light covering of hair and wool. Furthermore the breed shows exceptional adaptability, hardiness, reproduction rates and growth as well as good mothering abilities.

Dorset The exact history of the Dorset sheep is unknown, however, Polled Dorsets originated at North Carolina State College, Raleigh, NC, and were apparently the result of a mutation which occurred in the purebred Horned Dorset flock at the college. Both horned and polled Dorsets are an all white sheep of medium size having good body length and muscle conformation to produce a desirable carcass.

E
Exmoor Horn Found in the Upland areas of West Somerset and North Devon and Southern Counties of England.

G
Galway The Galway breed was developed in the West of Ireland. The total United Kingdom population is now approximately 120 adult breeding ewes (Census in progress) in 16 flocks. The Galway is included on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's Priority list.

Graue Gehoernte Heidschnucke From Lueneburger Heide in Germany, they are very robust, but don’t thrive in extremely wet or cold areas.

Gulf Coast Native Found in Florida and Louisiana, Gulf Coast Natives have a small body size with a refined bone structure. They have also developed a degree of resistance to internal parasites.

Gute Gute sheep is the most primitive breed in the collection of breeds that make up the Swedish Landrace breed group.

H
Hampshire The Hampshire sheep acquired its name from the agriculture county of Hampshire in Southern England where they were developed. Hampshires are noted for their rapid growth and efficient feed conversion.

Han The Han, another type of Mongolian sheep, was developed in the semi-humid agricultural areas (Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces). There are 2 different breeds: Large-tail Han and Small-tail Han. The Large-tail Han are polled and are characterized by a long, broad, fat tail, with a thin twisted end turing upwards between two lobes, and broadest at the base.

I
Istrian Milk Istrian Milk originates in Istria and Karst, in addition they are found in the regions of Gorizia in Italy. Istrian Milk sheep produce milk with high fat and protein content.

J
Jacob The Jacob sheep is indeed a unique breed in America. Both males and females are horned, sporting two, four and occasionally six horns. The Jacob fleece, which is properly described as white with black spots, is prized by hand spinners and weavers.

K
Karakul The Karakul may be the oldest breed of domesticated sheep. The Karakul is native to Central Asia. They are resistant to internal parasites and foot rot. They are a source of milk, meat, tallow, and wool, a strong fiber that was felted into fabric or woven into carpeting.

Katahdin Katahdin sheep are a breed of hair sheep developed in the United States. Katahdin are hardy, adaptable, low maintenance sheep that produce superior lamb crops and lean, meaty carcasses. The breed is ideal for pasture lambing and grass/foragebased management systems.

Kerry Hill The Kerry Hill Breed is from Powys, on the English/Welsh borders. The Kerry Hill ewe excels herself in producing a large strong framed sheep that can be crossed with quality meat types, to produce the ideal type of carcass, that is sought after today.

M
Manx Loaghtan The Manx Loaghtan is found on the Isle of Man off the coast of Great Britain. Manx Loaghtan are horned with four horns being preferred. The wool is used for hosiery and knitwear.

Merino Merinos are primarily grown for wool production, although improved carcass quality gives this breed a dual purpose. Their wool is almost totally absorbed by the textile trade, in particular high quality apparel wool.

Montadale The history of the Montadale breed of sheep dates back to over half a century and is one of the most amazing success stories in modern sheep-breeding history. The Montadale breed is considered a dual purpose breed noted for producing both high-quality carcasses as well excellent wool.

Mouflon The mouflon (Ovis musimon) is thought to be one of the two ancestors for all modern sheep breeds. It is now rare but has been successfully introduced into central Europe, including Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republics, and Romania.

O
Oxford The Oxford, or Oxford Down, originated in Oxford County England. The Oxford breed originated as the result of crossing Cotswolds and Hampshires. The Oxford is one of the largest breeds of sheep and is only surpassed in body weight by the Lincoln. Oxford ewes are prolific, and lambing percentages of 150 percent are not uncommon.

P
Polypay Polypay sheep and their breeders continue to work hard to live up to their motto: "Tomorrow's Sheep Today". The Polypay was developed at the U.S. Sheep Experimentation Station in Dubois, Idaho. Polypay sheep have shown themselves to be adaptable to diverse operations from range flocks to farm flocks.

R
Racka The Racka is a unique breed with both ewes and rams possessing long spiral shaped horns. The breed is of the Zackel type and originated in Hungary. The breed is used for milk, wool and meat production. Mature males may have horns as long as two feet or more. The Racka has been described as a hardy animal and is often used in crossbreeding due to its ability to pass this survivability to its offspring. The breeds unique appearance and quiet disposition would make it a desirable animal for hobby situations.

Rambouillet The Rambouillet breed originated with Spain's famed Merino flocks, which were known from the earliest times as producers of the world's finest wool. The sheep were sent to the Rambouillet farm near Paris where, according to government records, they have been bred since 1801.

Romanov The Romanov sheep are from the Volga Valley, northwest of Moscow. Genetically unique to North American and British breeds of sheep, the Romanov (a "pure gene" - not a "cross" of anything) used on traditional ewes, will produce a "hybrid" - high performance ewe for the flock of the future and a top gaining market lamb.

Romney The Romney traces its beginning to the marshy area of Kent in England. Their traits include hooves that are resistant to foot rot and fleeces that remain healthy in harsh weather. The Romney, historically a dual purpose breed, remains so today, and is found in every type of farming environment.

Rough Fell Found on the Fells of Westmorland, Cumberland, Northumberland and the Yorkshire Dales.

Royal White Royal White sheep are a hair breed, privately funded and developed in the United States by William Hoag, Dorpcroix Sheep Farm in Hermleigh, Texas. The Royal White is pure white. Ewes and rams are polled or naturally hornless.

S
Shetland They belong to the Northern European short-tailed group which also contains the Finnsheep, Norwegian Spaelsau, Icelandics, Romanovs and others. The Shetland is the smallest of the British breeds and it retains many of the characteristics of wild sheep. Shetland comes in one of the widest ranges of colors of any breed. The wool color and high quality is commercially important to the wool industry of the islands.

Shropshire The Shropshire breed of sheep originated in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire in central western England. The Shropshire is one of the heaviest wool producers among the medium-wool breeds. Shropshires are gentle in disposition, making them perfect for the farm flock or as a club project for children.

Somali The Somali is a hair sheep which is reared primarily for meat production. Both sexes are polled and the breed belongs to the fat-rumped type.

South Suffolk The South Suffolk is a fixed cross between the Suffolk and the Southdown breeds. It was introduced into Australia in 1958. The breed's main role is for use as a sire over other straight and cross breeds, for the production of fast-growing prime lambs.

Southdown The Southdown were developed in Sussex, England. The Southdown is best suited for farm flock production. They excel in a cross breeding program in their ability to produce meaty lamb carcasses at light weights and hot-house lambs. The Soutdown is adaptable to varied and wet climates.

St. Croix The Virgin Island White breed is found in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. It is believed to have descend from the hair sheep of west Africa, but some feel it is a cross of the Wiltshire Horn and the native Criollo. They are climate adapted, fertile and excellent foragers. Exceptional parasite resistance compared to British sheep breeds has been documented in studies at several universities.

Suffolk The original Suffolks were the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes. Mature weights for Suffolk rams range from 250 to 350 pounds (113-159 kg), ewe weights vary from 180 to 250 pounds (81-113 kg). Fleece weights from mature ewe are between five and eight pounds (2.25-3.6 kg) with a yield of 50 to 62 percent. The fleeces are considered medium wool type with a fiber diameter of 25.5 to 33.0 microns and a spinning count of 48 to 58. The staple length of Suffolk fleece ranges from 2 to 3.5 inches (5-8.75 cm).

T
Targhee Targhee is one of America's youngest breeds having been developed this century. Mature body weight in the rams is 200-300 pounds (90-135 kg) with the ewes weighing slightly less at 125-200 pounds (56-90 kg). Each ewe will average a 10-14 pound (4.5-6.3 kg) fleece that has a micron measurement of 25-21 and a spinning count of 64-58. The staple length of the fleece will be 3-5" (7.5-11 cm) with a yield of 50 to 55 percent.

Texel The Texel originated on the Isle of Texel off the coast of The Netherlands early in the nineteenth century. The most outstanding feature of the Texel breed is its remarkable muscle development and leaness. The Texel has become the dominant terminal-sire breed in Europe.

Tsurcana The Tsurcana may have descended from the wild Ovis vignei arkar. Since prehistoric times it has been domesticated in the Carpathians Mountains where it was established as a breed. It is a dual-purpose breed raised for milk, meat and wool production.

Tunis The Tunis is one of the oldest breeds indigenous to the United States. It is a medium-sized meat-type sheep characterized by creamy wool, copper-red colored faces & legs, pendulous ears, and minor fat deposits over the dock area.

V
Valais Blacknose The Valais Blacknose is a coarsewooled (i.e. mattress, mixed or carpet) breed from Switzerland kept primarily for meat.

Van Rooy Originating in the Bethulie district of South Africa, the present day Van Rooy sheep is still run mostly in the arid areas where survival and reproduction on natural grazing are essential for the economic production of meat. The milking ability of the Van Rooy ewe coupled with her ability to utilise natural grazing in adverse conditions allow maximum production in the dryer areas.

W
Welsh Mountain Badger Face The Welsh Mountain Badger Face is a color variation of the Welsh Mountain. It is an ancient Welsh breed which was once common in the Welsh Mountains. It is used mainly for carpets in Britain.

Wensleydale This breed is found primarily on the Yorkshire Dales, North Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland and Scotland. Wensleydale are mostly kept for rams for crossing purposes.

White Suffolk The initial cross was between Suffolk and Polled Dorset and separately Suffolk crossed with Border Leicester. The F2 and subsequent generations were selected against black points and for increased gain. The White Suffolk has similar features to the Suffolk, however, instead of dark points the White Suffolk has a white face and legs.

Whitefaced Woodland The Whitefaced Woodland originated in the South Pennines of England. It is thought to be closely related to the Swaledale and the Lonk. One of the larger of the English hill breeds, the breed has no wool free, white, face and legs. Both sexes are horned and the horns in the males are heavily spiraled. The wool is used primarily for hand-knitting yarns and blankets.