Mouflon - definition of mouflon by The Free Dictionary Mouflon - definition of mouflon by The Free Dictionary also mouf·flon (mo͞of′lŏn′) n. pl. mouflon or mou·flons also moufflon or mouf·flons A small wild sheep (Ovis orientalis syn. O. gmelini) native to southwestern Asia and islands of the Mediterranean, having a brown coat and, in the male, a white patch on the back and curved horns. [French, alteration of Italian dialectal muvrone, from Late Latin mufrō, mufrōn-.] mouflon (Animals) a wild short-fleeced mountain sheep, Ovis musimon, of Corsica and Sardinia [C18: via French from Corsican mufrone, from Late Latin mufrō] mouf•lon (ˈmuf lɒn) n. a wild sheep, Ovis musimon, inhabiting the mountainous regions of Sardinia and Corsica, the male of which has large curving horns. [1765–75; < French < Italian muflone, orig.

dial.; compare Corsican muffolo, Sardinian murone, Late Latin mufrō, s. mufrōn-] ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: mountain sheep - any wild sheep inhabiting mountainous regions Translations mouflon [ˈmuːflɒn] n (sheep) → muflone m Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: References in periodicals archive ? org> Painted Desert, Texas Dali, Black Hawaiian, Corsican, Desert Sand, New Mexico Dahl, Multi-horned Hair and Mouflon. Vacation fresh At Oster Malma Castle and Wildlife Park you can see not only moose but also red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, wild boar and mouflon.

Retour aujourd'hui en Tunisie As I sit here and compose this article I can look around my room and see aoudad, ibex, Merino, Corsican, Black Hawaiian, white Texas dall and mouflon sheep; sika deer plus chocolate, spotted and white fallow deer; black, brown and white Catalina goats; my favorite exotic--the black buck antelope originally from India, and many domestic favorites from Texas, namely whitetail deer. Breeds of Livestock - Mouflon Sheep — Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science Breeds of Livestock - Mouflon Sheep Breeds of Livestock - mouflon Sheep Mouflon Also Known By: muflone (Italian), Corsican mouflon, European mouflon, musimon, musmon, Sardinian mouflon The Mouflon (Ovis musimon) is thought to be one of the two ancestors for all modern sheep breeds. It is red-brown with a dark back-stripe, light colored saddle patch and underparts. The males are horned and the females are horned or polled.

It is now rare but has been successfully introduced into central Europe, including Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republics, and Romania. References: Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp. Photographs: Majestic Moulfons | Questions and Answers 1. Q - Where do European Mouflon Sheep originate from? A - European Mouflons come from the Island of Corsica and Sardinia. 2. Q - Are there any other kinds of Mouflon Sheep besides the European Mouflons? A - Yes! There are several kinds of sheep that are somewhat closely related to the European Mouflon. Urial Sheep of the Middle East are a type of Mouflon form. You also have the Cyprian Mouflon and the Armenian Mouflon that have supercervical horns. These types of horns sweep back often behind the neck. 3. Q - What is the basic color of European Mouflon Rams? A - In the winter rams will usually be a foxy red color with black markings on sides and neck ruff.

They will usually have a white saddle over their back. Their summer coat will usually be a lighter color of red and very little of a saddle if any. 4. Q - What is the normal horn configuration? A - Rams horns will grow up and out coming back down turning in toward the cheek. If you look from behind or the front of them they will have a kind of heart shape look to them. Sometimes with big rams the horn will grow toward the cheek and turn up and begin to curl out. This is all right as long as the tip of the horn doesnï¿½t go past the base of the main part of the horn. They cannot flare out like a Corsican or Barbado ram does. If they do, they are disqualified from being put in most record books. 5. Q - Is there any one physical characteristic that points toward the purity of European Mouflon Sheep? A - Yes! Many times they will have the right color and horn configuration, but the tail will be the tell tale sign if it is a Pure Mouflon. The tail of a Mouflon shouldnï¿½t be any longer than four inches. Most hybrids Mouflons will have a tail that is 6 to 8 inches long.

6. Q - Do European Mouflon Sheep do well in colder parts of the country? A - Yes! Mouflons do well in extremely cold and do very well in very hot climates. I personally have sold Mouflons that went to Wisconsin, Indiana, New York, New Jersey and other colder weather states. These Mouflons are thriving there. 7. Q - Do Mouflons have twins like domestic sheep? A -Normally Mouflons have one lamb, but as they get older they sometimes will begin to have twins. Normally twins are rare. 8. Q - How long does a ram take to become a trophy? A - Your average ram will take approximately 4 years to grow 25 inch horns. Good genetics make a lot of difference. We have two year old rams with 25 inch horns. Genetics and nutrition are very important factors to growing trophy size rams. 9. Q - Do rams get much larger than 25 inches in horn length? A - Yes! I recently saw a ram that was 3 ï¿½ years old and was already 33 inches. Anything over 30 inches is world class quality. 10.

Q - Is there a market for European Mouflon Sheep? A - Yes! Pure Mouflons are hard to find. This keeps the price up and steady. 11. Q - How do you market European Mouflon Sheep? A - There are several ways to sell your sheep. Some of these will bring you more profit than others. Exotic Auctions, Exotic Magazines, Hunting Outfitters and Selling to Breeders are your most common ways to market your European Mouflon Sheep. 12. Q - What kind of fencing do you need? A - Normally standard sheep and goat fencing is adequate. In some cases Mouflons will jump these, but usually these will do fine. 13. Q - Do they do well with other Exotics? A - You can keep them with anything except other type of sheep. They will cross with other type of sheep and these crosses are not near as valuable as Mouflons. 14. Q - What kind of grasses will Mouflon graze? A - They are not picky eaters, but they do prefer weeds to grass often. 15. Q - How much space do Mouflon require?

A - You can put about 10 Mouflons for what it would take for one cow. 16. Q - Comparing Mouflons with other Exotics how would you compare them in value. A - If European Mouflons are marketed right they will do as good as any hoof stock around. 17. Q - Do you have to trim their hoofs like you do goats? A - No! Very rarely will Mouflons have any hoof problems. The only occasion usually occurs with too much protein being fed in their feed. 18. Q - What are the basal measurements on a Mouflon horn? A - Usually Mouflons will range between 8 to 10 inches, but sometimes they will vary in circumference either smaller or larger. 19. Q - Do European Mouflon Ewes have horns? A - Sometimes, but this is not the norm. Occasional Mouflon Ewes will have horns. 20. Q - What is the gestation cycle of a European Mouflon Ewe? A - Gestation generally lasts five months (150 ï¿½ 180 days).

Call Rickey Hunt --- 903-684-3234 Mouflon Facts Mouflon Facts Mouflon Facts Mouflon is a type of wild sheep. There are 5 subspecies of moufon that can be found in Asia (Caucasus, Iraq and Iran) and Europe (mostly in Corsica, Sardinia and Cyprus). Mouflon inhabits partially open forested areas on the steep mountain sides. It can be also found on the mountain meadows. Major threat for the survival of mouflons is habitat loss as a result of increased agriculture. These animals are often targeted by recreational hunters because of their highly prized horns. Interbreeding with domestic sheep leads to creation of hybrids and decreases the number of genetically pure mouflons in the wild. Because of these factors, certain populations of mouflons are listed as vulnerable. Interesting Mouflon Facts: Mouflons can reach 4 to 5 feet in length and 55 to 220 pounds of weight. Males are much larger than females. Mouflons are covered with wooly coat that is reddish to brownish on the back side of the body and whitish on the belly and lower parts of legs.

Coat becomes thicker during the winter. Mouflons have stocky body and muscular legs which facilitate movement along the steep terrains. Mouflons have large, spiral horns that can reach 25 inches in length. Females of certain subspecies also have horns, but they are much smaller compared to the size of horns in males. Horns of mouflon grow throughout its entire life. Size of horns determines status in the group: larger horns ensure higher position and greater dominance. Mouflons are herbivores (plant-eaters). Their diet consists of different types of grass, shrubs and tree bark. Mouflons regurgitate food and chew it several times before it becomes ready for intestinal digestion. Mouflons are nomadic animals. They often move to find new areas that provide enough food. During the winter period, mouflons migrate toward the lower altitudes to escape from the extremely low temperatures and lack of food. Mouflons are nocturnal animals (active during the night). They spend majority of day time hidden in dense vegetation. Main predators of mouflons are wolves, bears and jackals. Eagles often attack young mouflons. Males and females live in separate groups.

They mix only during the mating season. Mating season of mouflons takes place from late autumn to early winter. Males fight with one another to prove their dominance and get opportunity to mate. Pregnancy in females lasts 5 months and ends with one or rarely two babies. Female moves away from the herd to give birth in well hidden place. Baby is able to stand on its feet and walk few minutes after birth. Mouflons reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 to 4 years. Young males need to prove their strength and dominance before they get chance to mate. They usually mate for the first time when they reach the age of 7 years. Mouflon can survive from 10 to 12 years in the wild. Related Links: Mouflon | All About Exotics All About Exotics Originated from Corsica, Sardinia and Cyprus in Europe. Diet $2,000-$3,000 Intro to the Mouflan Mouflon have a red-brown short-haired coat with a dark back-stripe, white to light colored saddle patch, 'socks' and underparts. Mature males turn black on lower neck. White circles around eyes and muzzle.

The males have thick, ridged horns; some females are horned while others lack horns. The horns of males are curved in almost one full revolution. Horns of crossbreeds often complete one full curl and arch outward. Compared to other common exotic rams, mouflon have a more "open curl" at full maturity. Male horns typically measure 20 to 29 inches, with up to 37 inches being exceptional. Mouflon sheep have a shoulder height of about 34 inches and a body weight of 90 to 120 lbs (males) and 80 lbs (females) Mouflan behavior Hide in thick brush when disturbed. Usually graze in the open, lie on slopes to sun themselves, and seek shade when temperatures rise. Aggressive among one another. Males and females live in separate groups and only come together during mating season. Mouflon mate, or go through a rut, in late autumn to early winter. The rams' dominance is determined by his age and the size of his horns. They will crash their horns together to re-enforce dominance.

Mouflan food and eating habits Grazers, but will consume large amounts of browse when within reach and if grass becomes scarce. Will eat fallen leaves. Utilize forbs readily. It has a multi-chambered stomach with special microbes that break down the cellulose of the plant cell walls. After it has eaten its fill, the mouflon will lie down and regurgitate its food, chewing it a second time to soften it some more. It then swallows it again for the last time. The ewes will usually have the better foraging grounds because their health is more important for reproduction. The high browse line left by taller animals can sometimes limit the availability of forage in Texas. Mouflan breeding Have a rut that generally lasts 6 to 10 weeks, beginning in October or November. Births take place in the Spring (March to April). Females have a 5 month gestation period that results in a single birth except in hybrids, which commonly give births to twins. Both males and females reach sexual maturity at 6 to 18 months. Mouflan average life span The average life expectancy in the wild is 13 years, but up to 20 years.

Keeping Mouflan Because of habitat and low predation, mouflan typically do well in the Hill Country of Central Texas. Generally compatible with other exotics. Should keep away from other sheep to avoid hybridization. Expect fertile hybrids with any other kind of sheep species. More tolerant of toxic plants that many other exotics. Supplemental feeding may be required if snow persists because of a lack of pawing behavior to reach food. Horn tips of males may have to be trimmed if curl reaches neck. Fencing height of 4.5 feet usually sufficient; can jump 4 foot fence when motivated. Mouflan hunting Expect to pay from $2, 000 to $3,000 for a mouflon ram. The average ram hunt is ~$2700. Check out our 'Find A Hunt' section for featured outfitters. Check Out These Exotic Species European Mouflon Sheep - Exotic Hunts Canada, Silvertine Wildlife Co. Exotic Hunts Canada, Silvertine Wildlife Co. Links European Mouflon The European Mouflon is thought to be one of the two ancestors for all modern sheep breeds. It is definitely the grandfather of all Corsican breeds.

Mouflon's are regal and deer-like in looks and nature. They have striped faces, white tail patches and underbellies, and body coats ranging in color from fawn to mahogany. Rams develop long, dark manes and white saddle patches on their sides in winter. Mouflons are smaller than the other exotic breeds, and rams stand 27 to 35 inches tall and weigh 90 to 120 pounds. The males are horned with a good trophy being 25-35" in length. Rams rarely get full curl, and grow the enormous, heart-shaped, arching horns terminating at the jaw line. With some selective breeding larger rams are possible and a full curl ram is a elite prized trophy. The Mouflon has been successfully introduced into the wild in central Europe, including Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republics, and Romania. About Mouflon Ram Meat . . . Mouflons yield lean, delicate-flavoured meat with none of the “muttony” flavour, that many people find distasteful. The carcass is much leaner than domestic market sheep, and has a brighter red color.

It resembled the carcass of a lean goat, and is often said by many people that the meat tastes more like beef than sheep. PLEASE NOTE: All exotics must be "pre-ordered" before the guest arrives, and the hunt booked for that specific species. All species of exotics will be of exceptional trophy class, scoring well in the SCI Record Books. Please contact me so we can discuss what your expectations are and what I can deliver. Meat only animals will not be of trophy class, and the price will reflect this. Jeremy Manning shot this 38" MONSTER Top Ten SCI Ram with us fall 2015! Chelsey and Aoudie Bigalow and a Crossbow killed Mouflon Mouflon Sheep Breed Standards The General Character and Appearance of the Sheep represented by the United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc., should be one of a noble animal. The sheep should look like an athlete with a lean, sleek form. The sheep are not purely a meat breed but are more for multiple markets (Click Here for more information about multiple markets ) and may not necessarily weigh nor exhibit the deep and heavy muscling of sheep which are considered purely meat breeds.

A good term in regards to Mouflon is deer-like in appearance and nature. HEAD: Should be well balanced and proportional to the body and held high when the sheep is alerted. Ewes should have a more feminine face and features than the rams. The back of the head of mature rams may display a slight to extreme rounded hump behind the horn base. This is part of the rams’ physical frame which helps cushion the brain during any sparring. Young lambs typically have a straight profile. As ewes age, some may display a slight roman nose (elevated area on the nose bridge seen when viewed from the side profile) while many will maintain the straight profile. As the rams age, a slight to moderate roman nose (elevated area on the nose bridge seen when viewed from the side profile) may be displayed. One may note a bigger elevation on the nose bridge during times association with breeding cycles or during an increase in sparring activity among rams. The Nose and Muzzle of the Mouflon sheep reflect their status as one of the most colorful wild sheep found. The nose has varying amounts of Black and dark Fawn on their nose with some light gray to white.

Light Gray to White is usually found above the generally black nose pad. On Mouflon ewes, the light coloring will generally increase in size as the sheep matures. COAT: Mouflon Sheep are considered a hair or shedding sheep. These sheep actually have two coats: a hair type coat and usually a more wooly undercoat. The undercoat may resemble a thicker hair to a more wool type look and texture. This undercoat grows during cool weather and will naturally shed off when warmer weather arrives. In colder climates, some sheep may exhibit a fuller winter undercoat; however, the undercoat should completely shed off without shearing when warm weather arrives with the exceptions of lambs and some yearlings. The ability of the sheep to grow and shed the undercoat, may lead to only partial shedding for a time in various climates. A complete shedding generally occurs by May, June or early July. The exact time for a complete and natural shedding depends on the climate. Lambs and some yearlings may not shed totally till the next year. Mouflon sheep may have a slight shedding of coarse guard hairs in the fall, dependent of the climate.

The complete and natural shedding ability is important in maintaining ease of care and a lack of such shedding may be indicative of parent breeds in the background that are not desirable or of having wool parent breeds in the recent background. COAT COLORS: Variations of Brown from Fawn, Mahogany to Cinnamon with black hairs mixed in at times. Inside of ears may take a a grayish color or be white. The underside should be white and the area underneath the tail and surrounding the tail (the tail patch) should also be white. The sides may have a defined black line separating the white underside and the main body color. This is seen especially on the rams. Black on top of forelegs will vary in amount among individuals with cream to white on the bottom of the legs. Rams will display light gray to white saddle patches in winter. Saddle patches are areas of color located in the middle of the side of the sheep and flowing over the back as shown in the picture to the left. Winter colors may be darker with the ram developing more black in the chest area. Ewes will not display a white saddle patch nor develop as much black in the chest area. The nose will show light gray to white around the nose pad.

As the Ewes age, the lighter area may spread out. As they age, rams’ winter saddle patches may brighten from light gray to totally brilliant white also. EARS: Ears are generally at a slightly higher angle than parallel to the ground. Naturally occurring (not due to injury or other difficulties) droopy ears are a disqualification for registration as they may be indicative of crossbreeding. Ears generally should come to a slight point at the tip, appear relatively narrow and not be completely rounded in shape. Natural ears may vary in length but are generally in the range of 3 - 4 inches. Abbreviations used within the registry are as such: E indicating Elf Ears, G indicating Gopher Ears, and N indicating Natural Ears. Elf Ears and Gopher Ears are a disqualification in the UHHSA, Inc. for Mouflon Sheep, and will render the sheep unregisterable. EYES: Eyes should be bright and alert and must be free from genetic eyelid defects such as Entropion. The color of the eyes vary from dark brown, golden brown to amber. INCISOR TEETH: Incisor teeth should meet the dental pad.

A severe and distinct space between the incisor teeth and the dental pad is a disqualification. Sheep should not have an extreme overbite (parrot mouth) or underbite (monkey jaw). SEE DIAGRAM to the right. CLICK HERE to learn how to estimate the age of your sheep by looking at the teeth! NECK: Neck should continue from the head and gradually lead into the shoulders and be gracefully held when sheep are alert. A ewe’s neck will be graceful and proportional in size based on the ewe‘s overall frame. A ram’s neck will be thicker and more muscular than a ewe‘s neck in appearance and to the touch. During the Fall or cooler weather, rams may display an increase in hair and undercoat growth around the neck area which will make the neck look much larger. MANE: Mature rams will display a dark mane in the winter and will generally shed the mane in the summer. Mouflon ewes should not show a mane. A ram’s mane may be varied in length from short to long. SHOULDERS AND WITHERS: The shoulders should be developed and muscled proportionally to the size of the sheep. They should flow into the ribs (well laid into the ribs).

The withers (area between the shoulder blades along the top line) may be elevated with rams exhibiting a more pronounced and higher elevated wither. Some sheep may have a completely straight topline and no elevation at the withers. CHEST: The width of the chest of most Mouflon Sheep will be narrow to moderate with a more athletic look - proportional to the size of the sheep. The width of the front of the sheep should not be greater than the width of the back of the sheep to facilitate lambing. BACK: Continuing after a smooth transition from straight or elevated withers, the back should be strong, level and relatively smooth. The Back may tend in width to look lean, sleek, and athletic. The back is proportioned to the height of the sheep and is generally not longer than the height. Ribs should be well sprung. The abdomen of Mouflon and high content Mouflon ewes are primarily shaped and geared toward single births. BOTTOM LINE: The bottom line should not be tucked in at the foreflank nor the rearflank. LEGS: The Legs should be sound and proportioned to size of individual sheep. Sheep will have long athletic legs, usually longer than body height from bottom line to top line.

Rams will generally have thicker legs then ewes. Legs should have a conformationally correct appearance. Front legs should not be knock kneed, bowlegged, buck-kneed or calf kneed. Rear Legs should not be cow hocked, sickle hocked or post legged. Lower Legs on both front and rear legs should not toe in (angle inward/pigeon toed) or toe out (angle outward/splayfooted) too much. Pasterns should be strong and correct. A nice four square stance is desired with legs standing nicely in line with the body of the sheep. Mouflon sheep are known to stand at alert... ready to flee at a moment's notice. Many will brace and stand with one rear leg behind the other. RUMP: Continuing from the back, the rump should exhibit a gradually angled slope to the dock. Size and muscling of rump are proportional to the size of the overall sheep. THIGH: The Thigh should be well developed in proportion to the size of the sheep. TWIST: The twist is the junction where the insides of the thighs meet. To compare sheep as far as meat capability, the measurement of the depth of the twist may be taken.

To measure the depth of the twist, one can place hands at the top of the tail and at the crotch. This measurement assists especially in judging of pure meat sheep breeds and shows the depth of muscling in this area. The Mouflon sheep tend toward the depth of the twist being minimal to moderately deep. The Twist should be muscled proportional to the size and frame of the individual sheep. A ewe’s udder should be well proportioned and relatively symmetrical and have only two teats. A ewe with more than two teats is discriminated against. The teats should be free of obvious defects affecting function. SCROTUM: Both Testicles should be uniform and symmetrical, free of obvious deformities. Testicles should be well sized and the scrotum itself should also be free of obvious deformities. SEE SCROTUM/TESTICLES Diagram to the right for illustrations. TAIL: Tails should not be “round” and should be more “flat“. Tail length must be no longer than 4 inches or having more than 11 coccygeal vertebrae. Short tails are a requirement for registration. SEE TAIL LENGTH DIAGRAM TO THE RIGHT FOR ILLUSTRATION and below right for photos.

Hooves should be well formed and kept free of deformities and disease. Hooves should be dark colored. HORNS: All rams must grow and display horns, however, both polled (hornless) and horned ewes are acceptable. Ewes must not have scurs. Rams with scurs are not eligible for registration. To be registered, ram lambs out of unregistered parents will need to exhibit horns in submitted registration photographs. HORN DISTANCE FROM FACE: Rams horns display when viewed from the front should show plenty of space between the face and the curve of the horns. The tips should not be allowed to grow into the neck and cause health issues. Filing or training of the horns to prevent horns from touching the face or the neck is acceptable and will not prevent the ram from being registered. However, such activities should always be disclosed in a honest manner to potential customers. HORN SHAPE AND TYPE OF HORNS: Mouflon Sheep will display Heart Shaped horns called Supracervical (abbreviated as SH) when viewed from the front. Some may be wider than others at the “tips“. The horns should arch in creating the heart shape and not outward.

The horns may or may not start a turn back up; however, when the horns do start a turn upward, the generally broomed tips (broken ends) should not flare outward past the other part of the horns. At times horns may approach face or the neck but care to ensure that the horns do not grow into face or the neck should be taken. SEE PICTURES below right. Ewes’ horns really do not take on shapes as the rams’ horns. They sometimes can be curved outward or backward. Most pure mouflon ewes should not have horns and some believe horned ewes indicate crossbreeding; however due to some sheep which have been labeled as mouflon being imported (from Corsica) exhibiting horns, horned ewes are not a disqualification in the UHHSA, Inc. To indicate Horned Ewes in the registry, HE is the abbreviation used. HORN LENGTH Horn Length generally range from 20 - 29 inches with broomed ends (tips broken off by the ram). Exceptional horns are 26 - 33 inches in length. Bases generally range from 8 - 10 inches in circumference. An exceptional few will have 11 inch bases.

Most will only complete ¾ of a curl when viewed from the side and by age 3 - 4 a ½ curl is visible as viewed from the side. By 5 to 6 years of age, rams may exhibit ¾ of a curl. Horns generally slow down during late winter/early spring unless fed to overcome the slowdown. For Mouflon Sheep, cream/white to dark colored horns should be exhibited. SIZE: Mouflon sheep are one of the smallest sheep found in the wild. Rams tend to 27 - 35 inches in height and ewes stand 25 - 30 inches tall. However, some heights of individual sheep may be less than those ranges. It is not a fault or disqualification for sheep outside the average height at this time. WEIGHT: The weight of the sheep varies and individual sheep may weigh outside the range. Generally, adult rams weigh upwards of 90 - 120 lbs and ewes weigh around 77 lbs average. It is not a fault or disqualification for sheep outside the average weight at this time. Color as per Breed Standards must be exhibited with limited individual variances.

United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc., reserves the right to request additional photos showing horns, coat or other attributes of the sheep for which registration or recording is requested. Mature rams must display a white saddle patch during the winter Sheep at maturity normally exhibiting shedding ability Tails must be less than 4 inches or 11 coccygeal vertebrae in length TRAITS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST (considered a fault): Rams’ horns touching the face or neck at maturity and causing a health issue which is not monitored by the owner Extra Teats on ewes Entropion (inverted eye lids) or other genetic eyelid defects Naturally occurring droopy or floppy ears on adults NOTES: Sheep with Disqualifying traits are not eligible for registration and will be denied registration. Excessive Discriminating traits of an individual sheep may render that sheep ineligible for registration if, at the inspectors and board of directors discretion, such traits seriously challenge the breed identity. THIS website is copyright May 2009 by United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc. Active Members of UHHSA are permitted to use information on their website to help in ethical and honest promotion and education about the breeds represented.

However, a link to this website should be provided. Breeds of Sheep: The Mouflon - Plutonium Muffins Plutonium Muffins by Corrie Berry Posted on September 12, 2014 Following on from the second episode of the Plutonium Muffins Podcast: Gachira , I have been doing a bit more research into the Mouflon sheep! What can I say, I’ve got a lot of time on my hands – and it is also interesting… The Mighty Mouflon Mouflon are thought to be the primary ancestor to the majority of domestic sheep today. Some sources that I’ve read have even stated that sheep were the second animal to be domesticated, after the dog. This is unverified though – the joys of writing a blog post and not a scientific paper is that I can add hearsay like that and not worry about it, hurrah!! I have spent some time looking for where I found that fact, but it is lost to the mists of time unfortunately. A European Mouflon male.

There is not a lot of science that has been published recently to back any of this up – as an alumnus of Imperial College, I have (limited) access to articles published after 1970, but have found few studies which can be of use on Plutonium Muffins! However, “Five Ovine Mitochondrial Lineages Identified from Sheep Breeds of the Near East” in Genetics 175 (3) p. 1371 by Meadows, Cemal, Karaca et al, published in 2007, indicates that scientists have managed to trace back to five mitochondria that originate from the mouflon in many domestic sheep. This could indicate the modern sheep are descended from pure-bred mouflon ancestors, or that early sheep cross-bred with mouflon to get these mitochondria into their DNA. There is one other sheep that could have contributed to the domestication of the animal; this species has not been identified, according to the Journal of Heredity. In any case, it is without dispute that the mouflon is the oldest breed of sheep currently living. The conservation status is classed as ‘vulnerable’. An Armenian Mouflon Male.

Mouflon live in steep mountainous woods near tree lines, and they migrate to lower altitudes in winter. They have short haired coats which are red-brown with dark back stripes and light-coloured saddle patches. Males are always horned, while females can be either horned or polled. The horns are very impressive – very big and curly, and I would not like to get in a fight with them! They are small, with large males being around 50 kg – the size of a big labrador. It is nigh on impossible to find mouflon fibre for spinning/knitting on the Internet – if I am wrong and you have some, please do get in touch. I suspect that this is because of the nature of the fleece, which is short haired and nothing at all like the fleeces we are used to. You can buy a mouflon sheep-skin if you are so inclined. Mouflon meat is a popular food in areas where they are bred for eating. There is a bit of debate over the scientific classification of the sheep, and five sub-species have been identified: Armenian Mouflon, found in Iran, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Some flocks also exist in Texas, having been introduced there. There are around 11,000 of these in the wild, and it has been illegal to hunt them since 1936. Armenian Mouflon (or Iranian Red Sheep) on a stamp. European Mouflon, introduced around 7,000 years ago in Corsica and Sardinia and now endemic to these regions. This sub-species can also be found in other parts of Europe, but is nearly extinct in Sardinia and Corsica. Cypriot Mouflon, in Cyprus with around 3,000 currently alive on the island. These are the largest animals found on the island and live in the Paphos Forest. Mouflon in Cyprus – a male and a ewe. Esfahan Mouflon, found in the Zagros Mountain in Iran. Laristan Mouflon, also Iran but found in desert reserves. The European Mouflon is very common in a Google Image search – as a trophy hunting animal! Although this sheep is very small, the horns seem to be a great prize for hunters and there are a lot of photos of triumphant stalkers with their little catch.

The breed was extinct in native Sardinia around 100 years ago, but has since been reintroduced and is now prevalent once again. Mouflon in a zoo in the USA. The Esfahan and Laristan Mouflon are very difficult to find information about – in fact, I have only managed to find scientific articles regarding the genetics of them, and webpages where you can book your own hunting trip to shoot one. Needless to say, I don’t think it is necessary to include this information – but if you have any information on the sheep, please do let me know! The mouflon breed hit the headlines in 2001, when a mouflon was successfully cloned in Sardinia using genetic material from a mouflon and a domestic sheep. This was the first time a wild animal had been cloned using domestic eggs, and the lamb lived for at least seven months. I can’t find information on it after this age, so presumably it lived a long and happy life and was not of interest to media outlets anymore, or it died and they didn’t want to report it! A Mouflon Lamb, cutey pie! Well, that’s it for the Mighty Mouflon!

They have left us with a fantastic legacy, and I am in no doubt that the domestication of these animals has changed the way that we live today – for the better. Thank you, Mouflon. I hope you found this informative – if you have any further facts for me to add, please do let me know. Much love, Sources accessed on Thursday 11th September 2014. “Five Ovine Mitochondrial Lineages Identified from Sheep Breeds of the Near East” in Genetics 175 (3) p. 1371 Meadows, Cemal, Karaca et al (2007) ( “Analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicates that domestic sheep are derived from two different ancestral maternal soured: no evidence for contributions from urial and argali sheep.” in The Journal of Heredity Hiendleder, S.; Mainz, K.; Plante, Y.; Lewalski, H (1998) “Mammal Species of the World, A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference” (3rd ed) Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005) accessed on Friday 12th September 2014.

accessed on Friday 12th September 2014. accessed on Friday 12th September 2014. Click on pictures to view original sources « Previous Mouflon videos, photos and facts - Ovis orientalis | ARKive Top Mouflon biology Mouflon tend to feed early in the morning and in the evening, resting during the day under an overhanging bush or rock, where they are well hidden. Mouflon are gregarious and form non-territorial herds grazing on grasses, unless food is scarce when they will turn to browsing leaves and fruits. The senses are well developed as the sheep are dependent on early detection of, and flight from, approaching predators, particularly leopard, wolf and jackal. Mouflon have an average life span of between eight and ten years for males and ten to twelve years for females and reach sexual maturity at about two to three years, although in populations with low hunting pressure, males are unlikely to reproduce before four years of age (4) . Females usually give birth to a single lamb (occasionally twins) after a gestation period of five to six months (6) .

Top Mouflon range Mouflon are found throughout various countries in central Asia, from Turkey in the west, to Pakistan in the east (1) . Subspecies are found throughout the area but some are more restricted in range than others, for example, O. o. isphahanica (Esfahan mouflon) and O. o. laristanica (Laristan mouflon) are restricted to Iran and O. o. vignei (Ladahk urial) occurs in India and Pakistan (1) . Populations are also found in a number of Mediterranean countries which are thought to be the result of introduction by people during the last few centuries, originating from Corsica or Sardinia. It is believed they are descendents of feral sheep and have been widely introduced as an exotic to many countries (4) . Top Mouflon status Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1) and a number of subspecies are listed on CITES (3) . The taxonomy of the mouflon is very complex and there is no general consensus on how many separate species and subspecies there are.

Many scientists recognise two separate species: the Urial (Ovis vignei) and the Mouflon (Ovis gmelini) together with a number of subspecies (4) . However, at present the IUCN Red List recognises the mouflon as one species (1) . The unresolved taxonomy is a problem for conservation as specimens are often hard to identify, and hybrids exist naturally (4) . Top Mouflon threats The mouflon is threatened by the expansion of agriculture and farming, resulting in a reduction in population numbers and dispersal into small, fragmented groups. The expansion of sheep farming throughout their range has resulted in overgrazing and erosion, reducing the amount of suitable habitat for the mouflon. O. o. cycloceros (Afghan mouflon) avoids mountainous terrain and therefore competes directly with livestock. Consequently hunting pressure is high, resulting in a fragmented distribution. Contagious diseases and parasites from domestic livestock, particularly domestic sheep, are a major threat in many areas (4) . Adult rams are poached for the trophy value of their horns and lambs are sometimes taken at birth to be kept as pets (1) .

Top Mouflon conservation Few conservation measures for the mouflon have been documented and the successes of those which have been are unknown. Three of the mouflon subspecies are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), forbidding international trade. However, national trade is still allowed and poaching remains a problem. The Punjab government, in Pakistan, has declared 12 protected areas within the range of the mouflon, and there is one game reserve which is managed by the community, but enforcement is poor and there is still no restriction on domestic livestock (1) . Outright protection of certain areas may seem like the best option, but in many areas this is not feasible due to human settlements and pasture. It is thought that without enforced protection efforts, numbers of this wild sheep will continue to decline and subspecies will be lost (7) . For further information on the mouflon see: IUCN Species Specialist Group - Caprinae:

Question: What is a mouflon a type of?
Answer: Sheep