Breeds and Selection of Sheep

1. Breeds and Selectionof Sheep Chapter 26

2. Objectives • Describe major characteristics of the sheep enterprise • Summarize the origin and development of the common breeds of sheep • Identify the common breeds of sheep • Select high-quality breeding stock using generally accepted criteria

3. Overview of the Sheep Enterprise • Raised in every U.S. state • Range production • Concentrated in 12 western states • Native, farm flock production • Found everywhere else • Recent trend toward smaller sheep operations

4. Overview of the Sheep Enterprise (cont.) • Flocks fewer than 100 account for 90 percent of all sheep operations • Only make up 35 percent of U.S. inventory • Most lamb feeding is concentrated in large commercial feedlots • Numbers steadily declined since 1990 • Mixed grazing – cattle and sheep

5. Classes of Sheep • Wool type used to classify sheep • Fine wool • Medium wool • Long wool • Crossbred wool • Carpet wool • Fur sheep • Hair sheep

6. Breeds of Sheep • Fine Wool Breeds • Merino • Originated in Spain, came to U.S. in 1793 • Fleece is white, grows 2.5 to 4 inches per year • Rams horned or polled, ewes are polled • Medium sized, angular bodies • Wool known as the “Golden Fleece”

7. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Fine Wool Breeds (cont.) • Merino (cont.)

8. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Fine Wool Breeds (cont.) • Rambouillet • Originated in France, developed with Spanish Merino • Came to U.S. in 1840 • Most popular of the fine wool breeds • White in color • Fleece grows 3.5 inches per year

9. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Fine Wool Breeds (cont.) • Debouillet • From cross of Rambouillet and Delaine Merino • Developed in New Mexico, adapted for western range conditions • Smooth body, long-staple wool of 3 to 5 inches • Long-staple wool is most valuable

10. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds • Cheviot • Originated in England, and southern Scotland • Imported to U.S. around 1838 • Small blocky body type • Fleece grows about 4 to 5 inches per year • Lacks strong flocking instinct

11. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Dorset • Bred in England, came to U.S. in 1887 • Medium size, blocky body type • Both polled and horned strains • Produce muscular carcass

12. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Dorset (cont.)

13. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Finnish Landrace (Finnsheep) • Originated in Finland, came to U.S. in 1968 • Medium-course fleece that averages 4 to 5 pounds • Less desirable carcass characteristics • Noted for high lambing rate • Principal use in U.S. is crossbreeding to improve lambing rates

14. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Finnish Landrace (Finnsheep) (cont.)

15. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Hampshire • From southern England, came to U.S. prior to 1840 • Large in size, blocky body type • Produce fleece of 6 to 7 pounds of medium-fine wool • One of most popular medium wool breeds in U.S. • Crossbreed well for market lambs

16. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Hampshire (cont.)

17. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Montadale • Originated in U.S. in 1933 • Cross of Columbia ewes with Cheviot rams • Medium-large breed, blocky body type • Fleece averages 10 to 12 pounds

18. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Montadale (cont.)

19. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Oxford • From south-central England • Came to U.S. in 1846 • One of largest medium wool breeds • Shears heavy fleece of 10 to 12 pounds • Prolific

20. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Shropshire • Originated in England • Came to U.S. in 1885 • Heavy face covering of wool • Produce small carcass • Have lost popularity in U.S. due to small size

21. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Southdown • From England, came to U.S. about 1803 • Moderate size sheep • Economical to feed, maintain • High-quality carcass • Fleece 5 to 7 pounds • Adaptable to all climates, environments

22. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Southdown (cont.)

23. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Suffolk • Originated in England, came to U.S. about 1888 • Large, muscular body type • Shears about 5 to 6 pounds of fleece • Lambs grow rapidly • Lean, muscular carcasses; desirable yield grades • Popular in U.S. production of market lambs

24. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Suffolk (cont.)

25. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Medium Wool Breeds (cont.) • Tunis • Originated in North Africa • Ancient breed of sheep • Imported to U.S. in 1799 • Produces a course wool

26. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Long Wool Breeds • Cotswold • From England, came to U.S. about 1832 • Not popular in U.S. • Leicester • Developed in England, imported to U.S. late 1700s • Poor fleece for weather protection • Not popular in U.S.

27. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Long Wool Breeds (cont.) • Lincoln • From England, came to U.S. in late 1700s • Course fleece, not popular in U.S. • Romney • From southern England, came to U.S. in 1904 • Large, hardy breed, used in crossbreeding • Compact, finer fleece than other long wool breeds

28. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Crossbred Wool Breeds • Columbia • Bred in U.S. in 1912, used in western ranges • Shears 9 to 13 pounds of fleece • Lean market lamb • Corriedale • Originated in New Zealand, imported to US 1914 • Acceptable carcass, 9 to 15 pound fleece

29. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Crossbred Wool Breeds (cont.) • Polypay • Developed in U.S. in 1970s • Developed to produce efficient lambs • Targhee • Originated in U.S. in 1927 • Medium sized • Shears about 10 to 12 pounds of wool

30. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Carpet Wool Breed • Black-Faced Highland • From Scotland, in U.S. about 1861 • Not common in U.S. today • Fur Sheep Breed • Karakul • From Asia, to U.S. about 1909 • Never popular breed in U.S.

31. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Hair Sheep Breeds • Barbados Blackbelly • Developed in Barbados • Heat tolerant, popular in southwest U.S. • Dorper • From South Africa in 1930s • Heavy muscle, rapid growth • Recent interest in U.S.

32. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Hair Sheep Breeds (cont.) • Katahdin • Developed in north central Maine by crossing African hair sheep with various wool breeds • Muscular, lean carcass • Very popular in U.S. in recent years

33. Breeds of Sheep (cont.) • Hair Sheep Breeds (cont.) • Romanov • From Volga Valley near Moscow, Russia • Very high lamb crop percentages • St. Croix • Originated in U.S. and British Virgin Islands • Solid white coat, mix of hair and wool • Increased resistance to parasites

34. Selection of Sheep • National Sheep Improvement Program • Computerized, performance-based program • Ram Testing Stations • Provide information for comparison of ram lambs from several different flocks • Rams brought at 7 to 12 weeks of age, tested for 8 to 12 weeks

35. Selection of Sheep (cont.) • Genetic Testing • Companies offer genetic testing to show specific genes an animal has for specific traits • Common tests for • Spider Lamb Syndrome • Scrapie susceptibility

36. Selection of Sheep (cont.) • Breed Selection • Personal preference • Adaptation to breed for climate • Market for the product • Availability of breeding stock • Multiple births

37. Selection of Sheep (cont.) • Selecting Native or Western Ewes • Western ewes • Produced in western range area • Popular for range areas • Native ewes • Produced in other parts of U.S. • Popular in farm-flock area • Cost less, better adapted to local conditions

38. Selection of Sheep (cont.) • Selecting Breeding Sheep • Ewes • Check udder for softness • Soundness of teats • Incisor teeth should meet the dental pad • Heavy fleece • Uniform ewes of correct type • Young better than old

39. Selection of Sheep (cont.) • Selecting Breeding Sheep (cont.) • Rams • Large • Rugged • Muscular • Masculine • Plenty of bone • Two well-developed, pliable testicles

40. Judging Sheep • Judged by two particular traits • Meat • Wool

41. Judging Sheep (cont.) • Market Lambs • Type • Muscling • Carcass merit • Yield • Quality • Style, finish, balance, and smoothness

42. Judging Sheep (cont.) • Breeding Sheep • Condition and size • Feet • Legs • Bone • Breed and sex character • Fleece