Sheep Facts about Sheep l Female is called

Sheep!

Facts about Sheep l Female is called a Ewe l A male that is still intact is called a Ram l A castrated male is called a Wether l A baby is called a lamb

Sheep Numbers l Heat Period last 1 -3 Days l Heat Cycle happens every 13 -19 Days l Gestation Period is 145 Days l Ideal Market Weight is 120 to 150 lbs. l Average days to Market 6 to 8 Months

Classification l Two Types of Classification l Wool Breeds l Hair Breeds l Wool Breeds l Fine Wool l Medium Wool l Long Wool

Fine Wool Breed l There are 2 main fine wool breeds l Rambouillet l American l. A Merino high percentage of Range sheep are fine wool sheep.

Rambouillet l White l France l Half of the sheep in the U. S. A have Rambouillet blood in them l Dual Purpose Breed

Merino l White l Originated in Spain l Able to do well on poor quality ground

Medium Wool Breeds l There are 9 main breeds in the medium wool sheep. l l l l l Cheviot Dorset Hampshire Montadale Oxford Shropshire Southdown Suffolk Tunis

Cheviot l White with black nostrils l Originated in England l Have great mothering ability

Dorset l White l Originated in England l Ewes are very good mothers

Hampshire l Black face, ears, and nose l Originated in England l Extremely heavy muscled l Most popular of the medium wool breeds

Montadale l White l Originated in the U. S. A. l Known as a dual-purpose breed

Oxford l Black, Dark Brown or Grey l Originated in England l Wool extends over poll down to eyes l Known for their Large Frame

Shropshire l Face and legs dark colored l Originated in England l Wool on face l Great Carcasses

Southdown l White or Grey l Face, ears and legs are gray or mouse brown l Originated in England l Very Quick Maturing l Tend to become overfat at an early age

Suffolk l Black face, ears, and legs l Originated in England l Most popular Black faced breed in U. S. A.

Tunis l Face is reddish brown to bright tan l Originated in North Africa l Highly disease resistant

Long Wool Breeds l There are 3 main long wool breeds l Cotswold l Lincoln l Romney

Cotswold l White l Can also be grayish white l Tuft of wool on forehead l Originated in England l Large Framed

Lincoln l White l Originated in England l Largest Framed sheep l Used mainly for crossbreeding

Romney l White l Originated in England l Dual-Purpose Breed l Better adapted to wet, marshy areas

Crossbred Wool Breeds l There are two main types of crossbred wool breeds l Columbia l Corriedale

Columbia l White l Originated in the U. S. A. l Very Adaptable

Corriedale l White l Originated l Cross in Australia between Leicester rams & Merino ewes l Dual-Purpose l Great Carcass

Hair Sheep l There are two main types of hair sheep. l Katahdin l Dorper

Katahdin l White to cream or red l Originated in the Virgin Islands l Very Docile

Dorper l White or White with black head l Originated in South Africa l Grows quickly and heavy muscled

Polypay l White l Originated in the U. S. A. l Multiple Births

Top 5 Sheep States 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Texas California Wyoming Colorado South Dakota