Guide to Sheep Breeds

(Page 3 of 12)

Janet Wallace
September/October 2008
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Black Welsh Mountain 

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Size: small
Appearance: black body and wool; clean face and legs below the knees
Horns: rams, curled horns; ewes, polled
Fleece: light black to reddish-black; moderately fine with a short staple
Breeding: seasonal
Lambing rate: 175 percent
Behavior: not flocking; self-reliant; lamb quick to their feet
Use: lean meat; fleece for handspinners
Origin: Wales
Environment: good for range; don’t need grain
ALBC rating: recovering

A hardy dual-purpose breed with resistance to fly-strike and footrot. The meat is lean and tasty. Handspinners value “cuchddu,” the black fleece with red highlights.

American Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Association
P.O. Box 534
Paonia, CO 81428

California Red Sheep 

Size: medium, rams weighing from 200 to 250 pounds and ewes from 110 to 140 pounds.
Appearance: Lambs are born solid rust or cinnamon red color, but as they mature they maintain the red face and legs, and at maturity fleeces turn beige or oatmeal color. Legs and face are without wool. Long, pendulous ears.
Horns: both sexes are polled
Fleece: beige or oatmeal colored, silky wool.
Breeding: non-seasonal, can be bred for three lamb crops in two years.
Behavior: Calm, gentle disposition and hardy, resistant breed. Ewes are patient but possessive mothers that instinctively care for their young.
Use: wool and Meat
Origin: California
Environment: does well when fed a balanced pasture grass and/or hay diet. The breed has successfully ranged in extremely harsh weather area ranches in Canada, Colorado, Idaho and throughout the United States.
ALBC rating: not rated 

This relatively new breed produces wool that is prized by hand spinners and weavers, and the meat is highly desired for its tenderness and flavor. The California Red is a hardy, resistant breed that does well on grass.

California Red Sheep Registry, Inc. 
P.O. Box 468
LaPlata, New Mexico 87418
505-325-2837
caredsheep.org 

Clun Forest 

Size: medium
Appearance: dark brown clean face and legs; white fleece
Fleece: moderately fine and short
Breeding: seasonal
Lambing rate: 180 percent
Behavior: good foragers; alert; easy lambing
Use: flavorful meat; fleece
Origin: England
Environment: adaptable to wide range of habitats; good on pasture
ALBC rating: recovering

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