Ontario Sheep Breeds Canadian Sheep Breeds Berrichon Du Cher The Berrichon du Cher was established in the Berry region of France. The original breed was crossed with a Merino in the mid-1780's. Further improvements were made in the 1800's with the introduction of the Dishely Leicester. Bluefaced Leicester The Bluefaced Leicester is a longwool breed of sheep which originate from Northumberland and were made known at the beginning of the 20th century.[1] In the 1970s, the Bluefaced Leicester was exported to Canada. Exportation of frozen semen from the UK is now used to expand the genetic diversity in Canada and the United States. Border Cheviot The Border Cheviot originated as a mountain breed, native to the Cheviot Hills between Scotland and England, where the climate is harsh and the conditions are rugged. Cheviots are extremely hardy and can withstand harsh winters and graze well over hilly pastures. They were bred to look after themselves. Border Leicester The Border Leicester is a dual purpose breed of sheep, producing both meat and wool. Border Leicester wool falls in long, shining locks that are popular with hand spinners.

The Border Leicester also has a longer loin and leaner meat than many sheep of its size. British Milk Sheep The British Milk Sheep can now be found in the UK and Canada. The exact composition of this breed is debated. However, it is agreed that the breeds East Friesian, Bluefaced Leicester, Polled Dorset and Lleyn are at least a part of this breed. The breed was released in 1980. As the name of the breed suggests, it is a prolific milk producer Canadian Arcott The Canadian Arcott is one of the three Arcott breeds developed at the federal government research station in Ottawa between 1970 and 1985 and released to Canadian farms in the late 1980's. Canadian Arcotts were the result of a crossbreeding program that included Ile de France and Suffolk, producing a new breed with strong meat characteristics. Charollais The Charollais is a breed of domestic sheep originating in France. It has been exported internationally, and is commonly used in the U.K.

as a sire to produce market lambs with purebred ewes and mules Clun forest The Clun Forest is a breed of domestic sheep originating from the area surrounding the Clun Forest in Shropshire. Similar to many of the British breeds of upland sheep, Clun Forest are hardy, adaptable, good foragers, and are long lived. The breed has a short to medium-length wool and dark brown faces. They are a multi-purpose animal, kept for meat, wool, and milk. Columbia The Columbia is one of the first breeds of sheep developed in the United States and is large breed. The product of USDA and university research, it was intended to be an improved breed specially built for the Western ranges of the country (where the majority of sheep raising takes place). Beginning in 1912 in Laramie, Wyoming, Lincoln rams were crossed with Rambouillet ewes. Corriedale Corriedale sheep are a dual purpose breed, meaning they are used both in the production of wool and meat. The Corriedale is the oldest of all the crossbred breeds, a Merino-Lincoln cross developed almost simultaneously in Australia and New Zealand and first brought to the United States in 1914.

Cotswold Cotswold sheep are a breed of domestic sheep originating in the Cotswold hills of the southern midlands of England. It is a dual-use breed providing both meat and wool. As of 2009, this long-wooled breed is relatively rare, and is categorized as "minority" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the U.K. Dorset The Dorset or Dorset Horned breed of sheep is known mostly for its prolific lambing. It has been known to produce two lambing seasons per year: bred in May for lambs finished by the holidays, and bred again immediately after the first lambing to produce again in March or April. This type of management, the ewes sold with the lambs, sometimes produces as many as four or five lambs a year. East Friesian The East Friesian is a breed of dairy sheep originating from East Frisia in northern Germany. It is either the best or one of the best sheep breeds in terms of milk yield per ewe. There are reports of individual animals with milk yield reaching 900 litres. In order to provide a high milk-yield, the ewe must receive a high-quality diet.

Finnsheep The Finnish Landrace or Finnsheep is a breed of domestic sheep which has a high incidence of multiple births - it is common for a ewe to have three, four, or even five lambs at once. In North America there have been several instances of births of seven lambs, and the record in Finland is nine live lambs. The lambs are often small, but are vigorous at birth and grow well. Hampshire The Hampshire or Hampshire Down is a breed of sheep which originated around 1829 from a cross of Southdowns with the Old Hampshire breed, the Wiltshire Horn, and the Berkshire Nott, all horned, white-faced sheep - these were native to the open, untilled, hilly stretch of land known as the Hampshire Downs. Horned Dorset The exact history of the Horned Dorset is not real clear. History tells that the Spanish wished to conquer England, perhaps at this time Merinos were introduced to Southwest England. Crossing with the Horned Sheep of Wales may have resulted in the start of the Horned Dorset, a desirable all-purpose sheep. Icelandic The Icelandic sheep is a breed of domestic sheep.

The Icelandic breed is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep, which exhibit a fluke-shaped, naturally short tail. The Icelandic is a mid-sized breed, generally short legged and stocky, with face and legs free of wool. The fleece of the Icelandic sheep is dual-coated and comes in white as well as a variety of other colors, including a range of browns, grays, and blacks. Ile de France The Ile-de-France is a breed of sheep native to the French region of Ile-de-France near Paris. It was first developed at a French veterinary college in the 1830s through crosses of Dishley Leicester and Rambouillet, and was originally known as the Dishley Merino. In 1933 it was rigorously tested early on its breeding for meat characteristics and maternal qualities. Jacob The Jacob sheep is a rare breed of small, piebald (colored with white spots), polycerate (multi-horned) sheep. Jacobs may have from two to six horns, but most commonly have four. Jacobs are usually raised for their wool, meat, and hides.

They are also kept as pets and ornamental animals, and have been used as guard animals to protect farm property from theft or vandalism and defend other livestock against predators. Karakul Hailing from the desert regions of Central Asia, Karakul sheep are renowned for their ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions. They can survive because of a special quality they have, storing fat in their tails. Karakul are also raised in large numbers in Namibia, having first been brought there by German colonists in the early 20th century. Lincoln The Lincoln, sometimes called the Lincoln Longwool, is a breed of sheep from England. The Lincoln is the largest British sheep, developed specifically to produce the heaviest, longest and most lustrous fleece of any breed in the world. Great numbers were exported to many countries to improve the size and wool quality of their native breeds. North Country Cheviot The North Country Cheviot is a big, long rugged sheep which combines thriftiness and healthiness with prolificacy and strong maternal qualities. The breed is particularly suited to grassy hills and uplands.

Outaouais Arcott The Outaouais Arcott was one of three breeds developed at the Agriculture Canada research station near Ottawa. The Outaouais was produced by crossing a number of breeds but predominantly the Suffolk, Finnish Landrace, and Shropshire. Oxford Oxford sheep (also known as Oxford Down) is an English breed developed in the 1830s by crossing the Cotswold with a forerunner of the Hampshire, and using the resulting cross-breeds to form the basis of the present-day breed. This breed is primarily raised for meat. The fleece of the Oxford is short, relatively large-bodied, hornless, has a brown face and legs covered in white wool. Polpay The Polypay sheep breed is a white, medium sized sheep which was developed in the 1960s at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho. In general, Polypay sheep are noted for being a highly prolific, dual-purpose (meat and wool) breed. Rambouillet The Rambouillet is also known as the Rambouillet Merino or the French Merino.

The development of the Rambouillet breed started in 1786 when Louis XVI purchased over three hundred Spanish Merinos from his cousin, King Charles III of Spain. The flock was subsequently developed on an experimental royal farm, the Bergerie royale (now Bergerie nationale). Rideau Arcott One of only a few livestock breeds developed in Canada, the Rideau is a synthesis of many different breeds, but it primarily the product of Finnsheep, Suffolk, East Friesian, Shropshire, and Dorset Horn. The research flock was closed in 1974, and the breed was distributed to shepherds beginning in 1988 The Rideau Arcott today is a maternal breed, with twins and triplets the norm. Romanov Romanov is a breed of domestic sheep originating in Russia. These domestic sheep got the name Romanov from the town of the same name. In the 18th century, these sheep first got noticed. Soon after they were noticed, they were imported into Germany and then into France. In the year of 1980, they were brought by the Canadian government and were quarantined for 5 years.

Romney The Romney, formerly called the Romney Marsh sheep but generally referred-to by the local farmers as the Kent, is a breed of sheep originating in England. The Romney is a "long-wool" breed recognized in England by 1800. Exported to other continents, the Romney is an economically important sheep breed, especially in the sheep-meat and wool export trades of New Zealand. Rouge de L'ouest The Rouge de l'Ouest is breed of domestic sheep originating in France. The breed's name, which literally translates from French as "Red of the West", refers to its region of origin and its unique pinkish face and legs. It was developed in the Maine et Loire department of France, through crossing local landrace sheep with Wensleydales and Bluefaced Leicesters. Scottish BlackFace The Scottish Blackface is the most common breed of domestic sheep in the United Kingdom. This tough and adaptable breed is often found in the more exposed locations, such as the Scottish Highlands or roaming on the moors of Dartmoor. It is also known as Blackfaced Highland, Kerry, Linton, Scottish Mountain, Scottish Highland, Scotch Blackface and Scotch Horn.

Shetland The Shetland sheep is a small, fine-woolled breed of sheep originating in the Shetland Isles, but now also kept in many other parts of the world. It is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and is closely related to the extinct Scottish Dunface. Shetlands are classed as a landrace or "unimproved" breed. This breed is kept for its very fine wool, for meat, and for conservation grazing. shropshire The Shropshire breed of domestic sheep originated from the hills of Shropshire, and North Staffordshire, England, during the 1840s. The breeders in the area used the local horned black-faced sheep and crossed them with a few breeds of white-faced sheep. This produced a medium-sized polled (hornless) sheep that produced good wool and meat. In 1855 the first Shropshires were imported into the USA. South African Meat Merino Derived from Deutsche Fleisch Merino animals imported into South Africa from Europe in 1932, to improve the quality of wool and meat from sheep in South Africa.

The Deutsche Fleisch Merino is a common meat sheep in Germany, Austria, and Poland. Southdown The Southdown is a small, dual purpose British sheep but is raised primarily for meat. The Southdown breed was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes, East Sussex about 200 years ago. His work was continued by Jonas Webb ofBabraham in Cambridgeshire who developed the larger animal that we see today. It was exported to New Zealand and was used in the breeding of the Canterbury Lamb. Suffolk The Suffolk is renown as a terminal sire breed and remains No 1 for growth rate as proven by numerous independent scientific studies. This ability to grow and finish quickly is essential in a falling market and Suffolk lambs can also be taken to heavier carcase weights, if required. Targhee The Targhee is a breed of domestic sheep developed in early 20th century by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. They are hardy, and are especially suited to the ranges of the West where they were developed. Targhee are especially popular in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota, where they are favored by western ranchers. This breed is raised primarily for wool.

Texel The Texel sheep originates from the island of Texel, one of the north-western islands off Holland where the ancient native sheep was known as Pielsteert (Pin-tail, because of its thin short tail). In an attempt to improve prolificacy, growth rate and size several English were introduced at the end of the nineteenth century. Rigorous selection resulted in the development of a large, prolific and well muscled sheep. American Sheep Industry | Breed Directory AWASSI (fat tail, dairy) The Awassi is the fat-tailed sheep of the Middle East originally raised by the nomadic Bedouin shepherds. They are the major breed of sheep in many countries of the region and are known for their hardiness and adaptability to hot, arid environments with limited feed of poor quality. They have a low prolificacy of approximately 1.1 lambs per ewe, a very coarse and colored fleece, and a very large fat tail. The Awassi has been highly selected for milk production in Israel, and the Israeli Awassi is known as the Improved Awassi. The first Awassi embryos and semen in the United States were imported from Australia in 2011 and were of Israeli Improved Awassi origin.

MATURE EWE DORPER and WHITE DORPER (hair) The Dorper breed was developed in the early 1940s in South Africa from crossing Blackhead Persian and Dorset Horn breeds. Their color is solid white (White Dorper) or white with a black head (Dorper). Dorpers are highly fertile and have an extended breeding season. Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. They are hardy and adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Dorpers have a mixture of hair and wool, but do not require shearing. They are non-selective grazers and perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. Dorper lambs have rapid growth, early maturity and yield muscular, high-quality carcasses. MATURE EWE EAST FRIESIAN (dairy) Originating in East Friesland in northern Germany and the Province of Friesland in the Netherlands, East Friesian crosses were first imported into the United States from Canada in 1993, and the first purebreds came from Canada in 1994.

They have the highest milk production of all the improved dairy breeds with lactation milk yields of 1,100 to 1,700 pounds for mature ewes. A high percentage of ewes will lamb at 12 months of age, and mature ewes will produce lamb crops of 200 to 230 percent. East Friesians are large-sized, white-faced with a bare head, yield medium-wool fleeces free of black fibers, and have a distinctive “rat” tail which is long and sparsely covered with very short wool. MATURE EWE FINNSHEEP (prolific) The Finnsheep originated in Finland, and was imported into Canada in 1966 and the United States in 1968. The breed is one of the world’s most prolific, and is noted also for early puberty, easy lambing, good lamb vigor at birth, and excellent maternal instincts.

The breed is white-faced with bare head and legs, and is used primarily in the United States to produce crossbred ewes; 1/2-Finn ewes produce in excess of 200 percent lamb crops with good management, and 1/4-Finn ewes are adapted to more extensive management while retaining a high twinning rate. Purebred Finnsheep are small and lack desired carcass conformation. They produce medium wool with good, staple length. They have a late onset of the breeding season (August, September), but continue to cycle into March or even April and May. Finnsheep crosses with long season breeds have very good out-of-season breeding performance. MATURE EWE GOTLAND (colored, pelt) The breed was first established on the Swedish island of Gotland by the Vikings centuries ago with Karakul and Romanov sheep brought back from expeditions deep into Russia and crossed with the native Gute sheep. It is one of the Northern European Short-Tailed breeds and is especially noted for their “furskins” or pelts. The breed is also known as the Gotland Peltsheep. They are fine-boned, medium-sized, and polled in both sexes.

They have black heads free from wool; sometimes with white markings. The fleece is dense, long, lustrous, and grey to black in color and valued by handspinners and felters. Gotland semen was first used in the United States in 2004 on domestic breed ewes as the start of a grading-up program. MATURE EWE GULF COAST (general purpose) The Gulf Coast Native is one of the oldest types of sheep in the United States and has existed in the southern regions for several centuries. They have developed largely through natural selection under semi-tropical range conditions. They are open-faced with white to brown color, small in size with refined skeletal structure, without wool on the legs and underline, and produce lightweight, medium-grade fleeces. They are very hardy and highly adapted to extensive management conditions in the humid subtropical climates that exist in the southeastern United States. They also have a unique, innate tolerance to gastrointestinal parasites and will breed during the summer months. MATURE EWE ILE DE FRANCE (general purpose) The Ile-de-France was developed in northern France in a region near Paris by crossing the English Leicester and a French Merino strain.

Later the Mauchamp Merino was also used in the breed’s development. The breed was originally known as the Dishley Merino. The breed is widespread in France and has been exported to many other countries. The breed is large, thick set, and muscular. The face and lower legs are free from wool. The face is white, and both sexes are polled. The ewes have high prolificacy and tend to breed out-of-season. MATURE EWE KARAKUL (fat tail, carpet wool) Native to deserts of Central Asia (particularly Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan), the Karakul is one of the world’s oldest breeds. They are fine-boned and open-faced with long pendulous ears and a fat tail. They are hardy, adaptable, easy lambers with strong maternal instincts, have an extended breeding season with low prolificacy, and are noted for their longevity. Fleece colors include black, silver, blue, gray, tan, reddish brown, and white. Lambs are born with a lustrous “Persian lamb fur” fleece coat. Karakuls produce a long-stapled, light-weight, often double-coated fleece with excellent felting qualities.

MATURE EWE KATAHDIN (hair) The Katahdin hair sheep breed originated in Maine from crosses of imported Caribbean hair sheep and a variety of wooled breeds. The Katahdin has been selected for a shedding hair coat which does not require shearing, low-maintenance lambing, multiple births, and improved muscling. The hair coat can be any color or color pattern. Katahdins are medium-sized and exhibit out-of-season breeding ability, as well as parasite tolerance. The breeds used in developing Katahdins have conferred adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions; their hair-sheep ancestry makes them better adapted to hot, humid climates than most U.S. breeds. MATURE EWE LACAUNE (dairy) The dairy Lacaune is the most numerous breed of sheep in France and found primarily in the south central part of the country around the city of Roquefort where their milk is processed into the famous Roquefort blue cheese. Their neck, belly, and sides generally are free of wool with only a “cape” of wool over their back.

The breed has slightly lower milk yield and lower prolificacy but much greater percentage of milk fat and milk protein and better udder conformation than the East Friesian, the other dairy breed in the United States Most ewes in dairy sheep flocks in North America are crossbreds with various percentages of Lacaune and East Friesian breeding. MATURE EWE NAVAJO - CHURRO (colored) The Navajo-Churro sheep was developed in the United States by the Navajo Indians in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Originating from the Spanish Churro, the first type of domestic sheep in North America, the Navajo-Churro is known for its adaptability and hardiness under harsh desert conditions. Some rams have four, fully developed horns and some ewes have small horns. The ewes cycle naturally out of season, lamb easily, often have multiple births, and are protective mothers. The Navajo-Churro has a long, hairy, outer coat and a fine-wool inner fleece, which may be white, black, gray, or brown.

Their wool is excellent for use in hand-spinning, specialty garments, and carpets, and this wool is the basis of the famous Navajo Indian blankets. MATURE EWE NORTH COUNTY CHEVIOT (general purpose) Originating in northern Scotland, North Country Cheviots were first imported into North America in 1944. The North Country Cheviot is a resourceful hill sheep adapted to rough terrain and adverse conditions of northern hill climates. They are polled, medium to large-sized with a white face and bare head and legs, and produce a medium-wool fleece with good staple length. Ewes are good milkers, easy lambers, and are fairly prolific. Their medium-grade fleeces are free from hair and kemp and are used in the Scottish tweed trade. In common with most breeds developed in northern latitudes, they have a relatively short breeding season.

MATURE EWE RIDEAU ARCOTT (general purpose, dairy) The Rideau Arcott was developed by Agriculture Canada at the Animal Research Centre in Ottawa from 1968 to 1986 and is of approximately 40- percent Finnsheep, 20-percent Suffolk, 14-percent East Friesian, 9-percent Shropshire, 8-percent Dorset, and 9-percent other (North Country Cheviot, Leicester, Romnelet, and Corriedale) breeding. The breed was released to selected Canadian breeders in 1988 and 1989 and was first imported into the United States in the early 1990s. Rideau Arcotts reach puberty at an early age, are prolific (2.0 to 2.4 lambs per ewe), have an extended breeding season, and are heavy milk producers. They are medium- to large-sized, white- or mottle-faced, open-faced, polled, and produce a medium-wool fleece. MATURE EWE ST. CROIX (hair) The St. Croix was developed in the Virgin Islands and is also known as the Virgin Island White.

They are derived from West African hair sheep with some crossing with European breeds including the Wiltshire Horn. Most are free of wool and do not normally require shearing. Most individuals are white, but tan and spotted animals occur. Rams are polled and have a mane. They are fairly prolific, have an extended breeding season, and lamb unassisted. Crosses with wool breeds have shown superior reproduction to wool breeds in warm, humid areas of the United States. MATURE EWE SOAY (colored) The Soay is an extremely small, primitive breed descended from a population of feral sheep on the 250-acre island of Soay in the St. Kilda Archipelago off the northern coast of Scotland. It is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds and believed to be a survivor of the earliest type of domesticated sheep kept in northern Europe. Soays may be solid black or brown, or more often blonde or dark brown with a buffish-white underbelly and rump; a few have white markings on the face. They naturally shed their wool in the Spring. Rams are horned or scurred. Ewes can be horned, scurred, or polled, but horns are common.

MATURE EWE SOUTHDOWN (terminal sire) The Southdown originated in England, is one of the oldest sheep breeds, and was imported into the United States in 1803. The Southdown is medium- to small-sized with a light brown to grey face and wool on the legs, and is best suited to farm flock production of hot-house lambs or meaty carcasses at light weight. The Southdown is fairly prolific, with average milking ability, and produces a medium-wool fleece. For several years, there has been selection for increased body size in the Southdown breed in North America. Some breeders preferred the smaller animals of previous years and formed the North American Babydoll Southdown Sheep Association and Registry to promote and maintain pedigree records on this smaller-framed Southdown. MATURE EWE SUFFOLK (terminal sire) The Suffolk originated in England from Southdown x Norfolk crosses and was imported into the United States in 1888. The Suffolk is the largest-sized breed in the United States, and is widely used as a terminal sire in market lamb production. The Suffolk has a black head and legs which are free of wool, excellent growth rate, and the ewes are prolific and good milkers.

Suffolks produce superior, high-cutability carcasses, but medium-wool fleeces are frequently contaminated with black fibers. Longevity is less than in many other breeds, especially in harsh environments. Suffolk x fine-wool cross ewes (“terminal cross” ewe lambs) are frequently kept as ewes for market lamb production. They are large, prolific, and good milkers, but have a shorter breeding season and lighter and lower-quality fleeces than their fine-wool mothers. MATURE EWE Romney Sheep | Sheep Breeds - Raising Sheep Romney Romney Sheep Breed Information The Romney originated in the Romney Marsh area of England and this breed of sheep can thrive in wet and cold environments. In 1904 Romney sheep were first introduced to the United States. They are average in size and their faces are solid in color. Romney sheep can be either white or colored with slightly different breed standards applied to each breed. Typically white Romney sheep have a greater emphasis placed on their body and confirmation while colored Romney sheep breeders focus more on the quality and consistency of their flock's lustrous fleece. The Romney has wool that covers its entire body, including the legs.

Romney ewes are good at caring for their young and have excellent abilities when it comes to producing milk. Both white and natural colored Romney sheep are raised primarily for wool production due to the high-quality fleece they're capable of producing each year, which is quite thick and long and ideal for hand-spinning. Romneys are one of the more versatile sheep breeds in that they are capable of producing both wool and high quality meat in harsh conditions. Their hooves and fleece make them suitable for a wide range of environments. Sheep Breeds at University of Florida - StudyBlue StudyBlue What are the six main classifications of Pure Breeds of Sheep? 1. Hill or Mountain Breeds 2. Longwool/Crossing Breeds 6. Breeds used for Dairying What are the two types of shortwool ewe breeds? 1. Upland Shortwool What is the stratification of the UK Sheep Industry in relation to sea level? 1. Hill Sheep Flocks (300-1200m above sea level) 2. Upland Sheep Flocks (150-450m above sea level) 3.

Lowland Sheep (below 300m above sea level) Commercial sheep production in the UK is based on a system of ___________. CROSSBREEDING What is characteristic of Hill Flocks? * Small, hardy and thrifty breeds of sheep * Occupy practically all the mountain and moorland grazing in the UK * Mated Pure (e.g. Scottish Blackface, Swaledale, Welsh Mountain, Cheviot) The majority of ram lambs are kept as flow replacements in hill sheep flocks. True or False? FALSE - The majority of ewe lambs are kept as flock replacements. * Surplus ewe lambs are sold as store lambs to Lowland Farms for finishing on grass & forage crops. What are the four main types of pure breed hill sheep? 1. Scottish Blackface 4. Welsh Mountain * Mated pure: Scottish Blackface with scottish blackface, Cheviot with cheviot, etc. When breeding sheep for hill flocks, what type of ram would you match with a Welsh Mountain ewe? Welsh Mountain Ram * Hill sheep flocks are mated PURE.

Draft Ewe Ewes that have provided 4-5 years of offspring and are past their prime reproductive level within the hill flocks. * Sold for further breeding on Upland and Lowland Farms (less severe environments) * Must be 'fully correct' - have no injuries/illness and have all their incisors Once an ewe has experience 4-5 lambing cycles, she is no longer suitable for breeding within the extremes of Hill Flocks (LSA) and so she will be sold of as a ______ ewe to Upland and Lowland farms for further breeding. DRAFT Which types of Hill Flock lambs are typically sold off as store lambs to Lowland Farms for finishing on grass/forage crops? * Castrated male (wether) lambs * Surplus ewe lambs What is the target lambing % for Hill Sheep flocks and what is the average in practice and was is the typical range? Target = 100% An ewe no longer suitable for breeding. * Typically due to loss of incisor teeth, but could range from severe injuries to illnesses.

'Wether' lambs Lambs that are sold off to be finished on grass/forage crops Advertisement What two groups are the Upland Flocks broken into? 1. Cross-breeding Flocks (Draft hill ewes mated to a longwool crossing ram such as Bluefaced Leicester or Border Leicester) 2. Purebred Flocks (Longwool crossing breeds and 'Upland' Shortwool ewe breeds) Give an example of what types of sheep will be mated for 'Upland' (A) Cross-breeding Flocks and (B) Purebred Flocks. (A) Draft Hill Ewe mated with Longwool Crossing Ram (Bluefaced Leicester, Border Leicester) (B) 'Upland' Shortwool Ewe Beeds (Clun Forest, Kerry Kill) mated with each other * Longwool Crossing breeds also could be purely mated to produce rams for crossing with draft hill ewes Most important Longwool Crossing Breeds? * Bluefaced Leicester What options are there for Halfbred ewe lambs in Upland sheep flocks? 1. Sold for use as breeding sheep in Lowland Farms 2.

Sold as store lambs to Lowland Farms 3. Sold as finished lambs What is the purpose of the Draft Hill Ewes in Upland sheep flocks? To REPRODUCE halfbred lambs which may be sold for either use as breeding sheep, store lambs, or finished lambs to Lowland Farms. * Mated Longwool Crossing breeds (bluefaced or border leicester) What are the sources of income in Hill sheep flocks? * Sale of Store Lambs * Sale of Draft Hill Ewes for further breeding * Sale of Wool Which has better quality grazing for sheep: Hill or Upland Farms? UPLAND * Provides much improved standard of nutrition. Why do Upland Farms cross a draft hill ewe with a longwool ram? This will produce rams with a faster growth rate, allowing the farmer to achieve finished lambs much faster which are worth more. ___% of halfbred upland ewe lambs are sold for the purpose of breeding in Lowland farms 30% Ewe lambs can start breeding at _____ months. 18 months The halfbred ewe lambs sold to lowland flocks will be mated with a ________.

Terminal sire rams (Texel, suffolkm charollais) Numerically by far the most important flock type of Lowland Farm's is . . . flocks of halfbred ewes mated to terminal sire rams (texel, suffolk, and charollais) Finished (prime) Lambs for Slaughter are sold to . . . Lowland Farms What is the target lambing % for Upland sheep farms and what's the average and actual range %? Target: 160% What is the target lambing % for Lowland sheep farms and actual range %? Target: 180% What are the sources of income for Upland Farms? * Sale of finished lambs * Sale of halfbred ewe lambs as breeding sheep on lowland farms * Sale of wool What are the four flocks that may be present in Lowland Farms? 1. Halfbred Ewes mated with Terminal Sire 2. 'Upland' Shortwool Ewe Breeds 3. Draft Hill Ewes mated to terminal sire 4.

'Lowland' ewe breeds (short or longwool) mated purely * All produce finished lambs for slaughter What is the most widely used/important terminal sire breed in the UK? Texel * Suffolk used to be the most important, but is now the 2nd most important. Terminal Sire Breeds? What are the sources of income from Lowland Sheep Farms? * Sale of Finished lambs for slaughter * Sale of Breeding Sheep * Sale of Wool * Government Funding The stratified sheep farm system is designed so that the farms are dependent on each other. True or False? TRUE Relatively poor mean performance of the hill breeds is a function of poor environment and management rather than of their genetic potential. True or False? Suckled and grass finished lambs are killed at _____ weeks. 10-25 weeks From September to March, most sheepmeat is from _____. LAMBS The main products at all levels of stratification scheme are __________ and _________. Finished/Store lambs and breeding stock. * Wool is a secondary product. What are the advantages of crossbreeding in sheep?

* Positive effects on litter size * Increased lamb survival * Early growth rate (finished faster) There are just over __ pure breeds of sheep in the UK. 90 What are the numerically most important pure Hill Breeds of sheep? 1. Scottish Blackface 5. North Country Cheviot 6. Hardy Speckledface Which type of sheep are generally small in size (50kg), survive and produce lambs under difficult conditions, able to make good use of often limited and poor quality grazing, and has strong mothering instincts? Hill/Mountain Sheep Hill sheep are generally _______ across the back and shoulders than lowland breeds. NARROWER Lambing is likely easier in sheep with fairly narrow shoulders but wider in the pelvic region. True or False? Associated with a cover of fat as body reserves for winter survival. Body Conformation What physical qualities are important to the well being of sheep? * Soundness of mouth, feet and legs * Good protective fleece Prolificacy is not wanted in hill sheep. True or False? TRUE * Prolific sheep are subject to greater lamb mortality under difficult conditions, so this would not be ideal for hill sheep. A large mature size is prefered in hill sheep.

True or False? FALSE - A fairly SMALL mature size is desirable because they will fatten more easily, allowing some lambs to be finished on the better hill farms, but also this will enable body reserves to be laid down more rapidly in the ewe. Improvement of _____ and _____ can considerably increase lamb production from hill ewes far more readily then genetic improvement. NUTRITION and ENVIRONMENT * Scottish blackface ewes for example can produce up to 1.5 lambs/ewe on lowground compared with less than 1 on the hill. SCOTTISH BLACKFACE * Most numerous breed in the UK.

* Very hardy- can run over rough ground and over very large areas (1-4 ha/ewe) * 'Hefting' (Homing) instinct - becomes acclimated to an area and will not voluntarily leave or mix with sheep from other areas * Usually run in distinct units - 'hirsels' *Black or B/W face & legs; roman nose; swirly horns 'Hefting' Instinct Homing instinct * Becoming acclimated to a certain area and will not voluntarily leave or mix with sheep from other areas * Run in distinct units - 'Hirsels' * Common in Hill sheep (Scottish blackface) 'Hirsel' Distinct unit of sheep In which of the three sheep farms do the sheep receive an overall higher standard of living due to ideal weather conditions & nutrition? Lowland Sheep Farms What are the two different categories of hill sheep? 1.

Dark-faced Hill breeds **MOST IMPORTANT LONGWOOL CROSSING BREED** * Upland Sheep Flocks; Longwool crossing breed * Most PROLIFIC of all native British Sheep (lambing % = 250%), thus most popular crossing breed * Milking ability to match multiple births * Long erect ears, tendency towards a roman nose * Similar to the Border Leicester except with a blueish face What are the characteristics of Longwool Crossing Breeds? * Characterized by the abscence of horns, great size, longwool (with a silvery, glistening appearance - lustre), and white/almost white faces. * Fast growing compared to hill breeds * Large carcase * Prolific (have multiple lambs) and ewes are milky * Used primarily for mating with draft hill ewes and the sale of the lambs as either finished or store. What are the three important crossbreeds of the Bluefaced Leicester (BFL)? BFL x Swaledale (Hill breed) = North of England Mule BFL x Scottish Blackface (Hill) = Scottish Mule BFL x Welsh Mountain (Hill) = Welsh Mule * Typical Halfbred lambs.

* Upland Farms - Longwool crossing breed * Very distinctive arched, roman nose with high-standing ears and head covered with short white hair. * Until recently were the most important longwool crossing breed (replaced by blueface leicester) What are the most important crossbreeds of the Border Leicester (BL)? * Greyface (BL x Scottish Blackface) * Scottish Halfbred (x Cheviot) * Welsh Halfbred (x Welsh Mountain) * English Halfbred (x Clun Forest) SWALEDALE * Interbred with scottish blackface (SB) resulting in increased fertility and decreased lambing death. * Longer in body and shorter in fleece then SB * More of a dark grey fur then black * Less desirable meet production then SB Which sheep breed is heavier: South Country Cheviot or North Country Cheviot? NORTH COUNTRY CHEVIOT What are the main types of White faced Hill Breeds? 1. South Country Cheviot * Look very similar; white all over, roman noses. * North Country Cheviot is larger then the South. 3. Welsh Mountain How can you distinguish between a South and North Country Cheviot and which is more popular?

The North Country is typically heavier and the ears are longer/less erect. North Country Cheviots are more common. WELSH MOUNTAIN * Males have strong curved horns, while females are hornless * Extremely active and difficult to confine * Ears are distinguishing from the other white face breeds: short and are not very erect * Rather small: 40-45kg (99 lbs) ______ flocks are ideal for crossbreeding rams in Longwool Crossing Flocks. SMALL What has been the main objective with the longwool crossing breeds? PROLIFICACY * Improving lamb production in the resulting crossbred daughters All the wether lambs and a high proportion of the ewe lambs produced in Upland Farm crossbreeding flock are slaughtered for meet. True or False? What is the average size of flocks of Border Leicesters and Bluefaced Leicesters?

BL = 25 ewes (218 flocks) BFL = 17 ewes (1393 flocks) ROMNEY MARSH * Longwool Ewe Breed (only one of significance) * Commonly mated pure or to a terminal sire ram to produce slaughter lambs (quickly fattening) * Graze evenly and claimed to be highly resistant to parasitic infestation * Distinguishable by it's hairy head and legs What are the most important terminal sire breeds? 1. Texel BC Purebred Sheep Breeders' Association Sheep Breeds Bluefaced Leicester A longwool sheep which was exported to Canada in the 1970s. Exported frozen semen from the United Kingdom is now used to expand the genetic diversity in Canada. This breed is raised primarily for meat, but their fleece is becoming from North East Englandincreasingly popular for handspinning. Bluefaced Leicester sheep may also have brown on their face. They have curly threadlike wool which makes it considerably lighter than others. These sheep have no wool on the head or neck.

Bluefaced Leicesters are recognizable through their Roman noses, which have a dark blue skin which can be seen through the white hair, hence the name. Mature Body Weight Rams up to 110 kg Ewes up to 89 kg Fleece: Fine, dense, good lustre, long with a likeness to mohair 26 Micron and an average length of 85-90mm Border Cheviot The Border Cheviot is a native of the Cheviot Hills of Scotland and is said to have originated when Merino sheep, carried by the ships of the Spanish Armada, washed ashore and evolved with the local breeds. They have been raised in Canada since the 1850s. Border Cheviots are extremely vigorous, hardy and good foragers that can survive in harsher conditions than many other sheep. They are a quick and alert breed, the ewes are excellent mothers who need little help at lambing and the lambs grow quickly to 20 kg as milk lambs but progress slowly after that.

Border Cheviot rams are used as terminal sires to produce a fast rate of gain in the Down breeds, and to give lambs smaller front ends and heads for easier delivery in first time ewes. Mature Body weight: Fleece: Long, strong and lustrous British Milk Sheep The breed was developed in England during the 1970's and released in 1980. The animals are medium to large in size, polled, with white, woolless, face and legs and have the ability to breed out of season. BMS are a prolific breed with yearling litter size avg. 2.21, 2-yr. olds at 2.63 and 3.07 in mature ewes. Lambing is usually reported as easy due to an exceptionally large pelvic area. A milk yield of 650-900L. has been reported during a 300 day lactation. The high milk yield results in even triplets often reaching 0.33kg./day in weight gain.

Milk solids are quite high and protein content rises from about 5% in early lactation to about 7.5% in late lactation and fat content goes from 5.5 to 9%. BMS produce a heavy, lean carcass Rams: 103 kg Fleece: from 4.0kg./ewe to about 6.5kg./ram. Charollais Charollais originated in France in the early 1800's from a cross of Leicester Longwool and local landrace breeds. The breed is often used as a terminal sire to increase the muscling and growth rate of the lambs. The Charollais has excellent maternal qualities, early maturity, good fertility, high prolificacity and are excellent milkers. They are a medium to large sheep, long, well muscled and have a mature body weight of 100-150 kg for rams and 80-100kg for ewes. The breed is found in more than twenty countries around the world. The Charollais fleece is fine and dense. Clun Forest Clun Forest sheep are a local breed of the upland hill country between England and Wales.

The first flock was imported into Nova Scotia, Canada in the 1970's. They are easy keepers, hardy and able to fend for themselves under harsh conditions, while still producing good lambs. For these reasons, the breed has spread into many pasture based systems across Canada and the US, where they thrive in the desert conditions of Utah, the humidity of British Columbia and the cold of Minnesota. Clun Forest sheep are a maternal breed. The ewes generally produce twins, are good mothers and good milkers. They are most often used in crossbreeding programs with Suffolk and Hampshire rams to produce market lambs. Clun Forest rams can be used on first time ewes to downsize the lambs and reduce lambing problems. -Mature body weight Tight, fine texture. Free of kemp and dark or gray wool Corriedale The Corriedale was developed in New Zealand during the mid-19th century as breeders attempted to improve the meat characteristics of the Merino sheep by cross-breeding with the British longwool breeds, especially Lincoln. The Corriedale is now one of the most populous breeds throughout the world with large flocks in Australia, New Zealand, South America and the U.S.

The Corriedale was imported to Canada from New Zealand, and for many years was a popular dual purpose breed. The ewes are average in prolificacy, good mothers and good milkers. The lambs are slower-growing than the Down breeds but finish well as light or heavy lambs. The popularity of the breed in Canada has declined with the fortunes of the wool industry, but they remain an excellent dual purpose choice for small acreage. Body weight: Fleece: Bright, soft Cotswold Cotswold sheep are a heritage breed in Canada. All Cotswold tend to be calm and friendly, known around the world as the "Gentle Giants". Cotswold sheep are polled (hornless) with black hooves. Their ability to maintain a good carcass size on less grain and produce an amazing fleece, makes the breed highly desirable for small farm flocks. They are also noted for having a very mild-flavoured meat. Today Cotswold are considered a fairly slow growing sheep, easily birthing hardy lambs that have small heads. Nicknamed the 'Golden Fleece Breed', Cotswold wool is exceedingly strong and lustrous.

It hangs in long, ringlet locks, and attains 8 to 12 inches of growth in a year. One of the oldest breeds of sheep, it is unknown whether the Cotswold breed was named after the Cotswold Hills where they were found or alternatively, the hills were named after the Cotswold sheep that were already there. Body weight: Rams: 115 - 130 Kg Ewes: 80 - 100 Kg Fleece: 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) in length, and weighing 6 to 9 Kg (13 to 20 lbs) *CVM/Romeldale Sheep CVM/Romeldale sheep are a critically endangered fine-wool breed developed in California in the early 1900s from a cross of New Zealand Romney rams with Rambouillet ewes. The breeding program focused on producing soft, fine wool and good fleece weight as well as medium-to-large market lambs for meat. Romeldales were originally white, but in the 1960s, coloured lambs began to appear.

A badger-faced variation sparked the interest of breeder Glen Eidman, who line-bred these "mutants" for several generations, further selecting for outstanding fleece quality. These sheep became known as "California Variegated Mutants", or CVMs. The classic colour pattern of the badger-faced CVM creates a range of shades of colour within a single fleece. Unlike most sheep, CVM/Romeldale lambs get darker from birth to their first year, and the fleeces get softer over the life of the sheep. Although CVM/Romeldales are best known for their fibre, they make excellent all-round sheep for the small farm.

Mature Body Weight: Rams 225 to 275 lb Ewes 140 to 175 lb Fleece: - Next-to-the-skin soft, 21-25 microns (64s-60s) - all colours: white, black, grey, moorit, brown - Staple length 3-5" with a well-defined crimp Dorper Dorpers were developed 60 years ago in South Africa as a meat breed by crossing the Dorset Horn and Persian Blackhead (a fat tailed South African sheep). They are now the second most popular breed in that country. They ideally have a black head or head and neck with white body. see for breed standard They're an easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into growing meat instead of wool. In fact, you don't have to shear them at all! Dorpers have a high lambing rate, the ability to breed all year, outstanding mothering ability, hardiness and many other qualities that make them easy to raise. The ewes can produce offspring three times in two years.

Dorpers have well developed hind quarters and their meat is lean and tastes delicious Body weight: Rams: 100 lbs. at 90 days Ewes: 80 to 90 lbs at 90 day Fleece: Bright, white, dense Dorset One of Canada's most popular breeds, the Polled Dorset is descended from the Horned Dorset, which has been one of the most widely kept breeds in Southern England and Wales since the 16th century. Polled Dorsets originated from a mutation at the North Carolina State College in the U.S. and were accepted into the U.S. registry in 1956. Since that time they have spread into Canada and become a major contributor to the light lamb market in this country. The ewes are prolific, good milkers, breed out of season and adapt well to confined, accelerated cross-breeding programs. The lambs are not heavy feeders and gain quickly to 27 kg after which point they gain more slowly. Because the breed is easily kept and responds well to confinement, whether for lamb feedlots or ewe flocks, they appeal to anyone with a small acreage interested in intensive production.

Body weight: Fleece: Bright, white, dense East Friesian Dairy East Friesian Dairy Sheep are the most productive dairy sheep breed and a crossing breed used to improve lambing percentage and milk production in meat breeds. They are polled in both sexes with clean faces, legs and under the tail which is naturally crutched with the distinctive "rat-tail" which is free of wool. The East Friesen has pale or white hooves and is large framed with very lean meat. They have a quiet temperament (easy to work with). They are prolific with an average lambing percentage of 230% with weight gains to 100 days (average) - 0.73 lb/day (0.33 kg/day). Body Weight Between 160 and 200 pounds Average milk production 160 gallons (600 liters)/220-230 day lactation.

- average milk fat - 6% and average total solids - 18% Fleece white wool of medium texture, 30-37 micron count, 52-54 Bradford count - 12 lb (5.5 kg) wool/ewe/yr *Gotland A breed of Northern Europe, short-tailed and named for the Swedish island of Gotland. They are thought to be the product of crossbreeding between the Gute with Karakuls and Romanovs during the 1920s and 30s. They are a truly dual-purpose breed, being raised both for their excellent fleece and for their tender and tasty meat. Gotland sheep are fine-boned and of medium size. Gotlands are polled and have no wool on their black heads and legs. Sometimes there may be white markings on the top of the head or around the nose and mouth. Their slender neck and shoulders set smoothly into a level back with good depth and reasonable breadth of body.

Mature Body Weight Rams 165 to 190 lb Ewes 120 to 155 lb Fleece: - Fine, long, lustrous and dense and can be all shades of grey from silver to charcoal grey to almost black - Clearly defined even curl (purl) and staple soft to the touch. - 29 to 34 micrometres in diameter. - Lambswool can be in the low to mid 20s micrometre range. - Prized by hand-spinners and are most desired for their pelts. Hampshire The Hampshire is one of the Down breeds that originated in Hampshire County in England during the 18th century when Southdown rams were crossed with the local horn sheep. Fixed as a breed in 1889, it was exported to Canada at the turn of the century and since then has remained, with the Suffolk and the Dorset, one of the most consistently popular breeds in Canada. They are large sheep, stocky, with excellent meat characteristics and high-yielding carcass. They are extremely fast-growing and serve both the light and heavy lamb market.

The ewes are average in prolificacy, long-lived, easy keepers and adapt to either pasture or confinement management. Rams used as terminal sires pass on the Hampshire loin and leg very consistently, but the lambs are large at birth and large ewes should be used. They are very docile, easy to manage and make an ideal small farm flock. Body weight: Fleece: Medium coarse, semi-bright Horned Dorset The exact history of the Horned Dorset is unclear. The breed was in Oregon in 1860, brought by the Hudson Bay Shipping Co., some were imported to the U.S. east coast from England for a livestock show in Chicago in 1885 and the breed was then imported into Canada sometime before 1900. Their ability to lamb out of season coupled with the ewes being excellent mothers, heavy milkers with a high percentage of multiple births are some of their most desireable traits which gives sheep producers the ability to have 3+ lamb crops in two years and get lambs to market weight early. As a meat breed, they have exceptional muscle conformation and usually produce about a 50% live weight to carcass weight ratio.

Horned Dorset sheep are on the Rare Breeds Canada list but through importation of rams from the U.S and semen imports from New Zealand and the U.K. good quality ram genetics are not difficult to obtain. Body Weight Fiber diameter: 33.0-27.0 microns. Ile de France The Ile de France are a triple Purpose breed. They have excellent growth rate and carcass quality, strong maternal instincts and out-of-season breeding, and good wool quality. They are a polled, white sheep with depth, broad loin with good length, superior muscling, and a well-balanced body. It was developed in France in the 1830's and registered in 1892, making it one of the oldest breeds with a standards registry. The highest performance index embryos and semen, were imported to Canada in 1995. They are superior terminal sires, and produce vigorous, hardy, fast growing lambs, yielding carcasses which grade well and demonstrate superior muscling of the loin and leg.

For cross-breeding with other breeds, the Ile de France add hardiness, longevity, feed conversion, out-of-season breeding ability, easy lambing, and excellent conformation to maternal ewes. These sheep are particularly successful when raised on only pasture and thus cost effective. The Ile de France produces a fine, heavy fleece that is very high in grease which results in low yields. The average fleece weight is 4 to 6 kilograms with a 7 to 8 cm staple length. The quality of the fleece is 56's to 60's. Body Weight: Ewes 85 - 95 kg Jacob Handsome and Hardy the Jacob is ideal for the small flock owner or the large flock breeder. They are a small to medium breed allowing more sheep per acre. Colour is basically black & white or lilac spots at least 15% of each colour must be present. The fleeces from Jacobs are a delight for handspinners and connisseur of natural colour. Being a carrier of the polycerate gene they can produce 2,4.5 or 6 horns. The ewes are also horned.

They are easily handled, rarely need veterinarian care and show a great resistance to foot related problems and internal parasites. Ewes lamb easily and lambs are up and nursing quickly. Body Weight: Ewes: 80 to 140 pounds Rams 150 to200 pounds North Country Cheviot The North Country Cheviot is a breed that has been widely used for centuries in the North of England and Scotland. They are an independent, outdoor sheep, strong-willed, vigorous and very hardy in harsh climates and rough pasture. The ewes show superior mothering instincts, deliver lambs easily and feature the longest lactation period of any of the more popular breeds. The lambs are very spry at birth. Although only average in rate of gain, the carcass quality is very good, with high red meat content and above average percentage yield. For all of these reasons, North Country rams are often used in cross-breeding to pass on the maternal strengths of the breed and to improve carcass quality. Best suited to pasture systems where management is not intensive.

Body weight: Fleece: Bulky, low lustre *Olde English "Babydoll" Southdown The "Babydoll" woolly teddy bear face will always give you a smile. Their short legs along with their small size allows them the ability to do well in small areas. They are ideal for suburban lot owners who want the tranquility of sheep as living lawn ornaments. Both ewes and rams are polled (have no horns) and are non-aggressive by nature. The ewes are very good mothers, often raising twins and triplets with ease. Because "Babydoll" Southdowns are a ancient breed are resistant to foot rot. In general, they are cared for like any other sheep which includes worming, hoof trimming, shearing, and vaccination. Mature Size: 24" or under shorn, measured straight up the front leg to the top of the shoulder Ewes under 18" are discouraged Fleece: Fine texture, great density and of sufficient length of staple Polypay The Polypay was developed at the Experimental Station in Dubois, Idaho beginning in the late 1960s.

Researchers drew from four breeds: Finnsheep, Rambouillet, Targhee and Dorset, to produce a prolific sheep that would lamb out of season and produce a fast growing lamb and high-yielding carcass. The breed was fixed in 1975 and has since spread to farms across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Polypay lambs are good feeders and grow quickly and steadily to 36 kg. They are docile, easily managed and thrive in pasture, rotational grazing and confinement systems. Body weight: Fleece: Fine, pronounced crimp Rambouillet Rambouillet are large sized sheep of good body length and muscle conformation. Rams are strongly masculine, Ewes are distinctly feminine. Their head is open faced free of wool around and under the eyes. Their ears are broad and relatively short and thick. They are polled or horned with sturdy necks free of wrinkles. Their shoulders are trim, smooth and well rounded. The chest is deep and full with moderate width between the forelegs. Their back is long, level and broad. Their loin is long and wide, thick with natural flesh throughout.

Their legs are well set on their corners, straight, strong and thickly muscled with pasterns strong and upright with white hooves. Body weight: Dense, long and uniform over whole body No more than two grades drop on britch Bright, clean, free from other fibres Fine and white Romney The Romney is a British longwool sheep that evolved in the low, wet Romney Marsh district of Kent County, in Southeast England during the 13th century. Effectively isolated from other parts of the country for centuries by the Kent Forest, the Romney developed on its own and adapted well to its damp and often harsh environment. It was exported to New Zealand in 1853 where it flourished and became the most popular breed in the country. Because of its resistance to footrot and internal parasites, the Romney has become popular in the wet coastal regions of British Columbia. The lambs are large and lean and convert feed very well. They are not a competitive sheep and when mixed with commercial breeds, but docile and easily managed. Romney wool is in demand with hand spinners who pay a premium for the fleece.

Body weight: Fleece: Medium coarse, lustrous white Scottish Black Face All Blackfaces are horned, with black or black and white face and legs. The fleece should be free of black fibre and can vary from short, fine wool used for carpets and tweeds to strong coarse wool, which is sold mainly for the Italian mattress trade. There are several distinct types within the breed. These have evolved over the years, influenced by climate, environment and grazing quality. This gives the breed the advantage of being able to produce species to suit every climatic condition. Shetland Shetlands are a small sized sheep, alert and nimble, giving a smart active appearance. Rams are generally with horns, ewes are generally polled. They have wool on their forehead and poll tapering into the neck, likewise wool on cheeks. The variety of colour and fineness of the wool is a distinguishable feature of the breed. Wool on the tail tapers off from the base leaving the lower end almost bare, except for short stubby hairs. This feature readily permits the purity of the breed to be gauged.

Body weight: Ewes 30-60 kg Fleece: Extra fine and soft texture, longish, wavy and well closed. Length 5 to 10 centimetres, which ideally should have 9-10 crimps per 2.5 centimetres. Southdown The Southdown was developed in Sussex, England during the late 1700s and early 1800s and exported to the U.S. shortly after. In this century it became known as the "Aberdeen Angus" of the Canadian sheep industry because of its ability to flesh out a small carcass, however, the breed dropped drastically in numbers in the 1960s because of its too small stature and difficulty with lambing. Breeding improvements have restored size to the Southdown and while preserving its feed conversion efficiency and the breed has come back in favour. It is a medium-sized sheep that excels in producing meaty carcasses for the medium to light lamb market. The Southdown is very docile, adapts well to confinement operations and can easily be finished on pasture.

Southdown rams are widely used as terminal sires to put finish on many other breeds but the ewes are usually bred pure. Because of its size and gentle nature, the Southdown make an excellent starter flock or 4-H project for children. Body weight: Fleece: Dense, fine *St. Croix St. Croix are prolific, often with two lamb crops per year with the total flock averaging 230% annual lamb crop raised to market. Yearlings average 1.5 lambs born per birth with later lambings averaging over 2.0 lambs. They are good on rough forage utilizing coarse fodder. In addition they are adapted to hot climates. They have inherent resistance to internal parasites. Gentle and easy to handle - both sexes are hornless. St. Croix are haired sheep and naturally shed their winter coat in spring. Lambs finish out without excessive fat and the carcass conformation is similar to a Ramboulillet with the exception that the St. Croix has a higher slaughter yield. Very few birthing problems. This includes young females who generally lamb their first time at one year of age.

Body weight: Rams: up to 90 Kg Ewes: up to 75 Kg Suffolk The Suffolk was developed in the early 1800s in the southeastern area of England by crossing Southdown and Norfolk Horned sheep. It came to Canada in 1888 and interest in the breed rose rapidly after 1920. It is now the dominant breed in Canada. Because the Suffolk lambs are usually twins, exceed all others in rate of gain, respond well to confinement and command higher prices, they offer the best economic returns in the industry and continue to dominate the heavy lamb market in Canada. The rams are widely used as terminal sires on rangelands because of their ability to pass on valuable traits in meat production: i.e. rate of gain, carcass quality and high red meat content. However, the Suffolk is a heavy feeder and those breeders enjoying success with them have kept them at a moderate size, resisting recent trends by some breeders to make them bigger. The moderate sized Suffolk is an efficient converter of feed, somewhat shorter-lived than white-faced breeds and performs best on small farms and acreages under controlled management.

Body weight: Fleece: Dense, fine with no black fibres, fine crimp Texel The Texel originated on the Isle of Texel off the coast of The Netherlands early in the nineteenth century. The characteristics of the breed were established early with the emphasis on a sheep that would produce heavily muscled lambs of superior eating quality. The most outstanding feature of the Texel breed is its muscle development and leanness. The Texel has become the dominant terminal-sire breed in Europe. It is currently nearly equal to the Suffolk in market-share in the United Kingdom. The Texel breed today is a white-faced breed with no wool on the head or legs. The breed is characterized by a distinctive short, wide face with a black nose and widely placed, short ears with a nearly horizontal carriage. These sheep also have black hooves. Mature body weights:

Question: Romney Marsh, Suffolk and Clun Forest, are all breeds of which animal?
Answer: SHEEP