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Breeds of Sheep and Goats

history | sheep in America | classifying sheep breeds | comparative analysis of the breeds | major and minor breeds of sheep

History: For some 12,000 years sheep and goats were wild animals roaming the countryside. In some parts of the world, this continues today. Eventually, man and the sheep/goats developed a symbiotic relationship – man protected these animals from predators, while the animals provided man with food and clothing. The following list contains the history of the domestication of sheep:

1. Sheep first evolved in Eurasia in the early Pleistocene period around 1,000,000 years ago. Domestication of the sheep took place in southwest Asia at the foothills of the Zargos Mountains as early as 9,000 B.C.
2. The ancient Egyptians regarded their rams as sacred and through a series of stages mummified them.
3. The first sheep reached the United Kingdom about 3000 B.C. when the Stone Age settlers were crossing the English Channel.
4. In the Middle Ages, the Spanish regarded their Merino sheep as prizes or gifts, which rarely left the country and were jealously guarded from other countries.
5. According to a survey, made following the Norman Conquest in 1066, there were more sheep in England than all other livestock put together. Their function was to provide the people with milk, wool, manure, meat, and by-products.
6. The first archaeological remains of domestic sheep were discovered in 1861 in Swiss lake dwellings belonging to the New Stone Age (i.e.. 2000 years B.C.).
7. Various regions had native sheep that gradually developed into particular breeds, but not until the 18th Century were definite breed descriptions and illustrations available.
8. By 1800 there were approximately twenty different breeds. From these original twenty, come all the breeds known today.
9. There are still four types of wild sheep in the world today: the Urial in southwest Asia, the Argali in central Asia, the Mouflon in the central islands of the Mediterranean, and the Bighorn in the Rocky Mountains of North America.

Sheep in America: Sheep were first introduced into what is now the southwest United States in 1519 by Spanish troops under Cortez. The type of sheep that was introduced was called the "churra" or common type of mutton sheep. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that these early churra were mingled with the European/Asian sheep trailed from the east coast of the United States by western immigrants.

George Washington, always keenly interested in the growth of the industry, imported the first broadtail Persian sheep two years before his death. Unfortunately, there is no record of the results of his efforts.

In 1802, Robert R. Livingston, Minister of France, shipped to the United States a flock of Rambouillet sheep from the national farm at Versailles. In the same year, Colonel David Humphreys, retired Minister to Spain, imported a small flock of Merinos. He sold them to neighbors in Derby, Connecticut, where the first Merino breeding farm was established.

In 1808, President Thomas Jefferson urged Washington Irving, then Minister to Spain, to purchase Merino sheep for export to this country. As a result of this request, 4,000 sheep were obtained. In 1811 an additional 25,000 sheep were imported and distributed to sheep raisers throughout the country. This led to the widespread establishment of the Merino strain in the United States. Within a hundred and fifty years the United States became the second largest fine wool-growing area in the world, topped only by Australia.

Sheep Breed Classification in the United States: In the United States there are over 47 breeds and types of sheep. Various associations register nearly 100,000 ewes and rams annually. Since present importation laws greatly restrict the introduction of new breeds of sheep into the United States, these domestic breeds will continue to be the foundation of the American sheep industry.

Development and improvement of the industry depend upon the selection of the best producing sheep within these breeds, and the proper combining of these breeds in commercial enterprises to develop the most productive sheep and the most desirable lamb and wool products.

Comparative Analysis of the Breeds: Sheep breeds have been bred and developed to fit almost every ecosystem in the world. Generally, breeds can be broken down into four groups: fine wools, long wools, dual purpose (medium wools), and meat type (medium wools) breeds.

1. These animals are rugged and can exist under wide extremes of weather and feed.
2. The wool is of high quality and normally sells for the highest price per pound.
3. These animals breed during early April to July.

1. They lack meat-type conformation and weight (especially the Merino).
2. These breeds have heavy shrinking fleeces.
3. Due to wrinkles and skin folds, they are more subject to fly strike.
   
   
   

1. These animals are large in size.
2. They cross well with fine wool breeds to produce dual purpose breeds.
3. These breeds have heavy fleeces of long staple wool, which helps them to withstand wet weather. They are also footrot resistant.

1. They mature to market size slowly. Because of this, these animals generally require abundant feed in order to produce a lamb ready to market.
2. These breeds have very coarse fleeces that are often of lower value.
3. They are not adapted to hot, dry climates.
   
   
   

1. These animals have a mutton or meat-type conformation that is superior to fine wool breeds.
2. Their herding instinct is superior to meat-type breeds.

1. These animals lack the meat producing ability of the meat-type breeds.
2. There is too much variability in fleece quality for high level wool production.
   
   
   

1. These breeds have outstanding meat conformation.
2. They reach market maturity (readiness or finish) at an early age.

1. They have lower quality fleeces and dark fiber contamination.
2. These breeds lack herding instincts.

Major and Minor Breeds of Sheep and Goats in the World: