Each breed represents a given genotype that is best in some situations and not in others. For example, if you want to produce only fine wool, Merino or Rambouillet might be the breed of choice. For medium wool and reasonable levels of lamb production, the Corriedale and Columbia breeds are possible choices. For rapid growth, the large blackface breeds such as Suffolk, Hampshire, Shropshire and Oxford are hard to beat. For fecundity or large litters, the Finnsheep excels.
Many production systems use combinations of breeds to meet specific goals.
Of course, your success will ultimately depend on good management, nutrition, technology, disease control and marketing. Lamb in April or May to maximize summer and fall pasture use and sell feeder or market lambs in the fall. Production costs may be lower, but lambs are sold on a lower market. Summer parasites and predators are also more of a problem. Lamb several times a year, with each ewe lambing three to five times in two to three years.