This is a result of less dominant traits that may have been "hidden" in the DNA beginning to show through as more dominant traits are bred out. This breed is one of the purest breeds that was introduced in Australia. East Friesian sheep’s most attractive feature is their tail, and its tail is often described as “Rattail” because of its thin and free of wool appearance. This breed is certainly useful to the small farmer or homesteader as an easy-keeper and meat producer, and their unique genetics make them valuable both for cross-breeding and breed preservation purposes. They have delicate bones, which makes them entirely liable for any significant injury. Their breeding has to be in specific locations as they are not well suited for extreme climates. Lincoln Sheep. Best sheep herding dog breeds. If you've ever purchased athletic clothing or any high-end wool clothing, it's likely woven from Merino wool. Being a somewhat obscure hair sheep breed, with small adult body weight, the Barbados hasn't seen much attention from commercial breeders and is therefore in danger of being placed on the threatened livestock species list. Non-seasonal breeding can allow for more than one lamb crop per year, and the ewes are prolific, usually producing twins or even triplets. These sheep don't belong to any particular breed, and while some of their characteristics might be recognizable as originating from (or being the originators of) popular, commercial breeds, they are successfully helping small farmers like me to make a living. They have good meat production and heavy wool of medium quality. Breed choice is usually a matter of personal preference or circumstance. They don't tolerate a worm load very well either, so a consistent worming routine is needed, which can get costly. They can adapt to climatic changes very quickly and can be bred in most of the climates. Clun Forest. Indian sheep breed, related to the Persian sheep and producing a rough wool, best suited for carpets and other similar uses. Most of the time, people prefer to crossbreed them with other sheep to improve the mixed breed’s meat quality. Do you want to raise lambs that will be grown into ewes for breeding purposes? My experience with Hog Island Sheep involved crossing a ram with Dorset ewes (a heavy meat breed). I love hybrid vigor! The mutt sheep are less likely to have damaging traits bred into their flock, such as blindness, lameness, a propensity for cancers or cysts, deafness, or a low tolerance for disease or worms. This is a list of breeds of domestic sheep.Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are partially derived from mouflon (Ovis orientalis) stock, and have diverged sufficiently to be considered a different species.. Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on June 03, 2015: Great hub Rachel on the different types of sheep for the farm. Producers of Suffolk must remember to use a de-wormer for their sheep on a regular schedule, as these animals don't perform well with a high worm load. Border Cheviot British Milk Sheep. They are very liable to suffer from spider lamb syndrome; therefore, breeding requires more labor than other British breeds. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on August 01, 2014: Yep, in two years...and goats...must not forget goats. The Barbados Blackbelly sheep evolved on the island of Barbados, as the name suggests. Being hardy, their breeding is done in almost all parts of the world as they can adapt to climatic changes quickly. For the small farmer, Polypays are an excellent choice of sheep. This meat sheep breed is a result of cross culture, and that is the reason for its varying skin tone. Does that even make sense? The California Red is one of the most easy-to-manage sheep breeds and is therefore prized by homesteaders with small children or other livestock. Tsigai has adequate milking capacity. They can breed year-round, throw two lamb crops per year, their wool is good enough to sell, and yearling ewes are able to breed and successfully produce twins or more. A hardy sheep that’s also a good lamber, the Shetland produces meat that’s known for its fine flavor. This list will give you information about the different breeds of sheep for meat. Below we have selected 10 breeds of dogs famous for the fact that over time they have proven to have the best skills in sheep herding. I also didn’t … Corriedale is polled and has a black nose and hooves. Icelandic. They are a large size breed that is bred for both meat and wool as well as being used as sires for “cross … They can survive in almost every kind of climate as they are good foragers. These dog breeds are highly intelligent, energetic, sociable, have a great personality, and not least, they are extremely loyal to their owners. Rams can weigh between 200 and 300 pounds. At least it's not her first winter in Minnesota. What makes this breed of sheep so interesting to me is its ability to forage, and thrive on very little when compared to more commercial and modern breeds of sheep. The Dorper breed is very economical; it requires less input and is easy to manage as they are docile. If I were, I would want a Friesian. May I ask what you do with your sheep? We have listed a few of the best sheep breeds for meat, their positives, negatives, taste, and texture of meat. Breed attributes: Despite not having the thick fleece familiarly seen on UK sheep breeds, the Wiltshire Horn is a relatively hardy lowland breed with easy lambing and good mothering traits. 7: Suffolk Sheep Breed: Those who are interested in having the best type of meat sheep breed must go for Suffolk sheep. Sheep ewes produce a lot less average milk than goats or cows, so sheep milk is kind of rare but is almost the best variety of rich, creamy, butterfat milk. Hopefully, this guide will help shed some light on the topic, as I introduce to you my top five picks of sheep breeds for various uses on the small farm. California Red Sheep . Because of the nearly-two centuries of isolation, the Hog Island Sheep is genetically unique, especially among American sheep breeds. The best pets Any breed of sheep can be kept as a pet. Do you want dairy sheep for the purpose of producing milk, or cheeses such as Feta or Romano? South African Meat Merino South African Meat Merino is raised for Meat. Hair & Meat Productive Sheep Breeds… The wool has a range for micron count of 17 – 22 microns and a staple length between 2.5 and 4 inches. Learn about each of these breeds and see my list of two honorable mentions below. By Original: User:Fir0002 Derivative work: Charles Esson at en.wikipedia (Edit of Image:Sheep eating. They can be found in farms across the Midwest and along the East Coast into New England. Sheep that breed out of season are best if you want to sell lamb for the Easter market. Texel. This breed was created mainly to get a good yield of meat and milk by the South African Department of Agriculture. This type of sheep is medium-sized and is hornless. are highly meat productive sheep breeds. If you're trying to decide which type of sheep best suits your small or hobby farm, the information can get a little overwhelming! To preserve the dairy quality of the Friesian while side-stepping the animal's lack of hardiness, I would probably cross it with a hardier breed such as the Lacaune or Cheviot. We all agree with the fact that sheep meat is the best-tasted meat for anyone. One of my new mixed-up crossbreed mutt ewe lambs. The East Friesian sheep is considered the best breed of dairy sheep by researchers. I know he raised them for both meat and wool. Hampshire. Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on August 01, 2014: Bill, you'll get there. are hair productive sheep breeds. Also Read: 11 Best Dairy Sheep Breeds for Milk Production. Level of reproduction. Carcass size of this breed is relatively smaller than other breeds of sheep. DLS. Another consideration is that, while adult Suffolks generally do very well on pasture and forage, the lambs may need supplemental grain in order to reach ideal market weight quickly. How did I come by such a rare find? Liz Davis from Hudson, FL on July 20, 2014: I would love to have sheep, simply because they are so beautiful and have such a calming nature about them. 4. The hard-wearing wool is chiefly used in carpets as … The average weight of a Hampshire varies from 91 – 120 kg. Although the lambs won't reach standard market rate as quickly as those of other breeds, small-scale operations can certainly afford to forgive this tidbit. 3. Considering that the Hog Island is one of the most critically endangered sheep in the world, and with only a few thousand specimens in the United States, I can only hope that my efforts will pay off and help to preserve this genetic cache... before it's lost forever. This breed is extremely popular in both Australia and the United States. Tsigai is well suited for low lands, and freezing temperatures may not be favorable for their breeding. Nellore Sheep: This breed is mainly distributed in Andhra Pradesh & some parts … I’ve done quite a bit of research and didn’t realize how many different breeds there were. That's an average, but about what we run. The shepherds made crossbred in order to obtain the best qualities from multiple types of breeds. So six sheep should bring in 10 lambs, and one cow brings in one calf. It’s native to England and can thrive in harsh … The thin-faced ewe staring at the camera is Friesian. Suffolk sheep can’t tolerate every climate; they are bred in mostly native environments. Border … While all of these modern traits may seem superior, the fact of the matter is that other aspects of the animal suffer when only one is emphasized in breeding practices. Columbia. Cheviot. Suffolk. Grassfed lamb is a great way to put meat in the freezer as a homesteader. There are two different breeds of Tsigai one is native or old Tsigai, which is a dual-purpose breed used for its wool and milk, whereas the other one domestic Tsigai is used for the production of milk. Looks to me like there are a couple Friesian crosses in this photo as well. Hence, sheep rearing is a profitable business that does not require too much maintenance, either if you choose the right variety. At the same time, some are raised for dairy purposes. The Suffolk is a popular breed for meat, milk and kids participating in 4-H and other youth shows. The milk yield per lactation ranges from 1000 to 1500 pounds of milk. They do not carry dual properties as they are primarily bred for milk. They are almost on the verge of getting extinct. The interesting thing is that it's often the case that when breeding hybrids to hybrids, they don't "breed true"—that is, the traits that were present in the parents stop showing up in the offspring, or show up to a lesser degree, at a certain point. The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie for short, is a shepherd breed exclusively developed to herd sheep, ponies and domestic fowl (chicken, ducks, etc.). The Hampshire, also known as Hampshire down, is a breed of sheep that mainly originates from the United Kingdom. Hahah Anyway, I do love sheep feta cheese, so I'm drawn toward the East Friesian (note to Billybuc: write that one down :) . They should not have horns. Hair Productive Sheep Breeds: Merino, Rambouillet etc. They are large-sized animals, and their fleece weighs around 4-5 kg. Very good job for people who are interested. Friesians are among the best sheep breeds for dairy. Male vs Female Pigs: Which Should You Keep? They are polled, black-faced breed and mostly used for its good quality meat. Tsigai only reproduces once a year during a specific time. East Friesian Dairy. Shetland. I understand why huge operations rely on just one or two specific breeds of sheep to turn a profit. They descend from crosses of African hair sheep and European wool sheep, dating back as far as the 17th century. Even her previous owner wasn't sure! They require shorn twice a year as their wool keeps on growing. Friesians produce upwards of three times as much milk per lactation as other breeds of sheep, a trait for which they have been bred. Merino’s origin was in Morocco, but later on, they were found in Spain’s high altitudes too. The milk produced is thick in texture and is of good quality. 3. Charollais. BUT, on the other hand, if someone is dedicated to doing a sheep dairy I'm sure all the extra trouble would be worth it. Rambouillet– Developed from Spanish Merino and used extensively in the western United States in large sheep flocks.This breed is large boned and tall. EwigLernender at the German language Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY. When you say they're not hardy, do you mean they're susceptible to illness, or you need to work hard to keep them comfortable in different climates, or all of the above? Tsigai originates from Asia and is a Hungarian sheep breed; it came to Hungary in the 18th century. With greater genetic diversity comes greater potential for desirable traits, as well as undesirable ones. The average weight is about 88 – 125 kg. Due to their excellent milk-producing capacity, they are exported in most countries. Dorper sheep breed is a domestic sheep breed mainly originated from South Africa. Selecting a breed of sheep. Dorpers are raised for meat, and have both hair and fleece. Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on July 20, 2014: Fascinating, Rachel! Some are famous for its wool, and some are for both wool and meat. Moreover, it contains many vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 that are incredibly beneficial for humans. Different types of Sheep Breeds. Voted up! Poor thing! Dorper sheep are small to medium-sized animals with no horns, and the lambs can weigh about 36 kg during their 100 days of age. It is believed that sheep meat has a variety of benefits. They raise this breed at low cost and gain enormous profits by selling their meat, wool, or dairy purpose. Commercial desirability: The Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society promotes the breed as low input and economical, because of its ability to shed its … Charollais. The main aim behind this crossbreeding was to make a breed that can adapt to climatic changes quickly, such as lower rainfall areas. Some breeds of wool sheep will shed their own wool, while others will absolutely require a helping hand. Quite often people seek my advice with an already set mind and tell me: “I heard Suffolk sheep are the best breed,” or “Dorper sheep are the best sheep.” My standard response They are supposed to be either polled or horned. Generally, farmers want to preserve exotic breeds for crossbreeding. 5+ Best Breeds of Sheep for a Small Farm Selecting Sheep Breeds for Your Small Farm. They produce a thick and well-muscled carcass. They are docile, which makes their breeding convenient and economical as well. They were developed by cross-breeding of Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian Sheep. The small farmer or homesteader interested in raising dairy sheep would be wise to look into purchasing a Friesian or two, even if the plan is to cross the sheep with another breed. With so many animals, the producer doesn't have time to closely monitor each individual of the flock. What is the best breed of sheep for meat? The origin of the breed is not known; broken-coloured polycerate sheep were present in England … So, if you're not willing to learn to shear or to spend the money to have someone do it for you, then a breed of hair sheep will be your obvious choice! They are polled as they do not have horns. These... 2. 11 Best Sheep Breeds for Meat Production Suffolk. 4. For the small farmer or homesteader, Merino sheep would be a good choice for home meat production because they are easy keepers. Fat lambs, that is - which means they're born in the spring and we sell in the fall, when they're heavier and their dams have weaned them. Give it a read to know more: Merino’s origin was in Morocco, but later on, they were found in Spain’s high altitudes too. Very useful and informative for farmers to have them as livestock. 10 Reasons That Goats Are Awesome Pets for Homesteaders, Complete Pig Feeding Guide: Feeding Your Pig the Perfect Diet. Its wool is used for spinning and other craft purposes. Texel Sheep is a popular meat sheep breed in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, United States, and Uruguay. You can see the remnants of it hanging from her withers. They are exported and bred almost in all parts of the world to adapt to all climates. One such is that it keeps the body warm in high altitudes, and it has an ample amount of protein. Their lambs grow at a significantly faster rate; therefore, its breeding is quite tricky. The Suffolk is easily one of the most popular breeds of sheep for meat production. The Merino is famous around the world for producing soft, fine, high-grade wool. I'm pleased to report, however, that there is an increased demand for hair sheep in the U.S. as of late, so these guys are slowly making a comeback. Manx Loaghtan Dark brown, 4-6 horned sheep, native to the Isle of Man, raised primarily for meat, but also for wool. This author happens to think they have one of the cutest faces of any sheep, but that's beside the point. They're bred for wool production and don't reach market weight as quickly as sheep that are bred for meat. Hampshire sheep are large sized animals with a fleece of about 2.7 to 4.5 kg. The ewes are highly fertile; unlike other breeds, it does not often require sheering and shorn of wool. This breed is developed from crossbreeding. Domestic sheep breeds… The Suffolk sheep breed is a native of British species, and it is a domestic breed. That seems kind of confusing, but basically the story behind the Polypay is that some producers got together in the 1970s and decided they wanted to create a new type of sheep that would meet specific demands. Are you interested in breeding a rare breed of sheep for preservation purposes? 11 Best Sheep Breeds for Meat Production. :). How does your Barbados do in the winter? Southdown. This breed is... 2. Maybe an Icelandic, maybe a Brown Mountain. Suffolks are easily distinguishable from other breeds of sheep by their white wool, black faces, and long, black legs. Pet sheep should should be females (ewes) or neutered males (wethers). Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on July 19, 2014: Hi DrMark! They are dual-purpose animals and are raised for both meat and wool. Cotswold. Hampshire breeds experience long breeding seasons and can give births at multiple times during one year. The Cheviot breed started as a mountain breed, native to the Cheviot Hills between Scotland and England. They are medium sized, quickly growing breed. They are a dual-purpose breed as they can be used for getting wool as well as for meat. They are heavily muscled, and the lambs grow... Dorper. It produces high-quality wool and meat, and thus perfect for commercial purposes. I'm in favor of the Polypay (in fact, I own three of them) because they represent a wonderful phenomenon known as hybrid vigor. In fact, most records suggest that this breed dates back at least a thousand years. Just luck, I guess. Finnsheep. Cool stuff, wouldn't you say? Border Leicester. Generally an average male sheep weighs around 35ks & female sheep around 25kgs. They have dual characteristics and can be used for the production of meat and milk. Many of the rat-tailed sheep (Romanov, Finn, Friesian, Icelandic and Shetland) have litters of three to four lambs, rather than just a single or twin lambs like other breeds… The offspring exhibited increased growth rate without supplemental grain, and not one lamb of this cross suffered from scours, pinkeye, or any other debilitation. But the flock of mutt sheep has less to worry about. The Friesian doesn't do well in climates that are different from Northern Germany where they evolved. Merino. Do you just want some pet sheep that will help mow the grass. The Shetland sheep breed is a multicolored sheep that is regarded as a primitive breed. The breed is the product of a cross between the Rambouillet and Lincoln sheep breeds. Sheep breeds are of three types according to their production which are described below.. Meat Productive Sheep Breeds: Dorset, Suffolk, Cheviot etc. Their milk is excellent for producing many types of cheeses, and as raw and organic milk gains popularity in the U.S., so will sheep's milk. Most breeds of wool sheep need to be shorn (their wool cut away) at least once per year, while hair sheep do not require shearing. The best breed for you will depend on the objectives you have for your farm or homestead. They have dual properties as they produce high-quality meat and wool. This problem can be sidestepped by lambing earlier in the season, or can simply be ignored. However, I have heard many stories from my mother about how much my … I'll take my chances with the crossbreeds and mutts, and be sure to let you all know how it goes. Personally, I wouldn't keep East Friesian sheep on my farm due to there general lack of hardiness; then again, I'm not interested in milk production. Canadian Arcott. They are well suited for the cold and dry climate type, not favorable to be raised in other kinds of weather. Like the Merino, the Suffolk is also a popular sheep for showing in competition. Luckily, the small farmer has few enough animals to be able to keep an eye on things, and make sure that less-than-desirable animals aren't kept as breeding stock. During the milking phase, a ewe can produce 300-600 liters of milk. Hair sheep are a good choice because they will not require shearing. The tenderness and juiciness are something that stays on, only making us want more. The Hog Island Sheep is a veritable treasure trove of untapped genetic diversity, which, if bred into our more popular, commercial sheep breeds, would create advanced hybrid vigor and simultaneously help to "breed out" some of the health issues we have unintentionally created. Twin and triplet births are more common than singles with this breed. Do you want to show sheep in competition? Docile in nature, most Merino are polled (no horns), make good mothers, and are fairly hardy and adaptable animals. Whether for home-use lamb or mutton or for producing lambs to sell to customers or to market, the Suffolk sheep would be a good addition to a small farmer's or homesteader's flock. 2. My one and only Barbados Blackbelly ewe. Looks great. They originated in the 18th century due to the cross-breeding of Norfolk Horn ewes and Southdown rams. Hampshire sheep are prevalent animals as they produce fine quality wool. By Jacquie Wingate from Recovery, usa (Flickr) [CC-BY-SA-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by. And probably like me, you'll find it's all so much less than perfect. :). Leicester Long Wool Sheep. The Texel is a strong hardy sheep with a sturdy robust build. She owned and operated a small farm in Minnesota for 5 years, until 2019. Merino sheep are medium-sized animals. This breed has compact body with long, leafy & droopy ears. Their average weight is 11-15 pounds. Adaptability to the production environment. Even I don't know! 4. This breed is one of the youngest around today and are popular in the western states. And since variety is, as they say, the spice of life, isn't a monosyllabic flock of sheep with their matching colors, identical heights and weights, and utterly predictable offspring just kind of boring? Its wool is used in spinning, weaving, and other crafts. Corriedale sheep produce good quality meat and wool. The ancestors of the Hog Island Sheep were brought to the island in the 18th century, and abandoned sometime in the early twentieth century. If I get a ram lamb out of my Barbados I will keep him for a herd sire, because he'll be a six-way crossbreed and his genetics will be superior (in my opinion) and better suited to the kind of farming I do. These offspring were again bred to a Hog Island ram, and the next generation exhibited similar improvements in growth rate and general hardiness. Commercial dairy sheep operations generally use a 50% cross of the Friesian, because they are not a very hardy breed and adapt poorly to environments that differ from that which they evolved in. My little experiment isn't enough to convince large sheep producers to consider the hog island, but as a farm-owner and sheep producer, you can bet I'll be going to great lengths (and probably costs) to procure a couple of Hog Island Sheep to increase and strengthen the genetic diversity of my flock. Every breed is different in terms of taste and texture. Its main attraction is its curled horns and pink nose; they produce a thick fleece of about 2.25 to 3 kg. It can produce 110-120 liters of milk during its milking phase. Type of coat or wool. They are very versatile and adjust themselves in all kinds of weather conditions. Appreciate your comment, as always :) We breed our sheep and sell the lambs. Level of care. Blackface Blue Faced Leicester Border Leicester. There, its breed is known as United States Merinos and Australian Merinos, respectively. Neat, huh? Like I said, I've never kept this particular breed of sheep, so this info is based on research and on talking to the one guy I know who has had them in the past - he said they weren't worth the money for him, that milk goats were much more reasonable. I'd like to close this article with a shout out to the "mutt sheep," which is a catch-all term I'm going to use to describe any nondescript, non-distinct type of sheep that might be grazing the pastures of small farms across the world. The Dorper and Katahdin hair breeds, both developed in modern times, are now among the most common sheep in America. They are categorized as “endangered” by Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Their fine quality wool makes them suitable for commercial purposes. Thanks, Rachel! 15 Best Sheep Breeds for Meat 1. However, some sheep breeds fit certain managing systems better than others. It is a great milk and meat producer, with rams growing to more than 220lbs on average. Notable and desirable traits of the Barbados include resistance to disease, tolerance for different climates (especially hot and humid, and including cold climates), ability to tolerate a higher worm load than other types of sheep, and low-maintenance foraging skills.
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