Guide to Sheep Breeds

(Page 5 of 11)

September/October 2008
Janet Wallace 
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Friesian Milk Sheep

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Size: large
Appearance: white wool; clean face and legs; rat-tail
Fleece: fairly heavy, moderately fine fleece with moderate staple
Breeding: year round
Lambing rate: 225 percent
Behavior: docile
Use: dairy, meat
Origin: Germany
Environment: don’t perform well under harsh conditions, in heat or on the range
ALBC rating: not rated

Also known as the German East Friesian sheep, this breed produces more milk than any other breed with an average milk yield of 1,350 pounds (160 gallons) per lactation with 6-7 percent milk fat. The large carcass has only mediocre quality.

Dairy Sheep Association of North America
HC 69 Box 149
Anselmo, NE 68813
308-749-2349  

Icelandic 

Size: medium
Appearance: range of colors from white to brown to grey to black; some have patterns such as badgerface; short-tailed;
Horns: most horned, some naturally polled
Fleece: a soft, lustrous undercoat with a long, coarse outer coat
Breeding: seasonal
Lambing rate: 170-180 percent
Behavior: alert, almost wild; rams can be dangerous; poor flocking instinct; good browsers and strong mothering instinct
Use: milk, meat, fleece
Origin: Iceland
Environment: suitable for cool climates
ALBC rating: not rated

The breed was brought to Iceland by the Vikings more than a thousand years ago; it is possibly the oldest pure breed of sheep in the world. The ewes are heavy milk producers, good mothers and often lamb until they are 12-14 years old. They have an excellent conformation as a meat breed and fine-flavored meat.

Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America
9030 Cascade Road
Rochester, IL 62563
217-498-7522  

Jacob 

Size: small
Appearance: white with black splotches on body,; most have a badgerface (black cheeks and muzzle with a white blaze down the nose)
Horns: both sexes: two, four or six horns
Fleece: light, variable in crimp and length
Breeding: seasonal
Lambing rate: low, one or two,
Behavior: alert, almost goat-like; strong maternal instinct
Use: interest, fleece
Origin: Egypt? Spain? Scandinavia? Scotland? Many theories – few facts
Environment: widely adaptable
ALBC rating: threatened

A sheep with an intriguing look and mysterious background. Many rams have two long forward horns, and two others that curl back towards the ears. The breed is often raised as a curiosity, or for breeding stock. Typical of ancient breeds, Jacobs are hardy and rarely need assistance during lambing.

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