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Sheep Breeds D - F
- Dalesbred
The Dalesbred is found in Upper Wharfdale and Central Pennines
in England. The breed originated from the Swaledale and Scottish
Blackface breeds. The breed shows a black face with a distinct
white mark above and on each side of the muzzle. The legs are
similarly colored. They have have no wool on either the face or
legs. Both sexes have a round, low set of horns.
Dalesbred wool
is of typical carpet quality. The fleece is curly on the outside
with a dense undercoat. Dalesbred sheep are very adaptable to
climatic changes and can survive in the harsh environmental conditions.
Dalesbred ewes are often crossed with Teeswater rams to produce
the Masham which is one of the most famous of British crossbreeds.
Breed category: carpet wool, heritage
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to Heritage Sheep =>
- Damara
The Damara originated from the Hamites of Eastern Asia and Egypt
and moved down to the present day Namibia and Angola. For many
years, the sheep were in an isolated region of Namibia and thus
remained free of influence from other breeds. Damara sheep can
survive in a harsh environment and under poor nutritional conditions.
Research has indicated that up to 64% of the diet of the Damara
sheep can consist of browsing material. This places the Damara
in the same feeding category as goats. Hair is mostly short with
a tendency to a fine layer of woolliness developing under the
hair during winter. The sheep has a wide range of colors which
are all equally acceptable and desirable. With the exception of
the tail and the rear rump, there is no visible localized fat.
Breed categories: hair (meat), fat-tailed
Distribution: Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada
Go to Damara Sheep Breeders
Society of Australia Inc. =>
Go to Damara Sheep
Breeders' Society of South Africa =>
- Debouillet
The Debouillet was developed in New Mexico in 1920 from Delaine
Merino x Rambouillet crosses.The breed is best adapted to the
range conditions of the southwestern United States. The Debouillet
is a medium-sized sheep with white hair on the face and legs.
They are hardy and gregarious and adaptable to unassisted pasture
lambing. They produce a fine wool fleece with a deep, close crimp.
Breed category: fine wool, rare
Distribution: United States
- Delaine Merino
(American and Delaine Merino)
Several strains of Merinos evolved in the United States. The type
"A" Merino was developed in Vermont through selection
and inbreeding. This Merino carries a very heavy, wrinkly hide.
In form, the type A is angular and has little carcass value. It
is not advocated for commercial lamb and wool production. The
"B" type Merino was developed principally in Ohio, a
result of breeders selecting for a heavy fleece on a sheep that
has a fair mutton form.
Its body is fairly free of wrinkles, but
it carries heavy neck folds and frequently wrinkles or heavy folds
behind the shoulders and on the thighs and rear flanks. The type
B is larger and better adapted to everyday conditions than the
type A. The type "C" or Delaine Merino is the most practical
Merino and is especially adapted to range sheep production in
the western and southwestern parts of the U.S.
The Delaine Merino
is of medium size. Mature ewes with full fleece average from 125
to 180 pounds. Rams are larger ranging in weight from 175 to 235
pounds. The Delaine has a smooth body and is free of wrinkles.
In the U.S., over 95 percent of Merinos are smooth or nearly smooth.
Breed categories: fine wool
Distribution: North America
Go to American Delaine &
Merino Record Association =>
- Derbyshire Gritstone
One of the oldest British sheep breeds, the Derbyshire Gritstone
was originally bred by the farmers of the Peak District to survive
in a harsh environment and to thrive on the poor quality grazing
found on the moors. They are concentrated today around Derbyshire,
Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, but Gritstone rams have been
used widely on Welsh sheep to increase their size.
Gritstones
are big, strong sheep with a good weatherproof fleece, the finest
of all the fleeces found in the hill breeds. Both sexes are polled
(hornless). The face and legs are black and white.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat, hill
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to The Derbyshire Gritstone Sheepbreeders Society =>
- Devon Closewool
The Devon Closewool is a medium sized, white faced, hornless sheep
with a dense white fleece of medium length and staple which contributes
to its valued quality of hardiness. The wool of the Devon Closewool
is ideally suited to the home spinner and also modern manufacturing
processes. It should contain no black fiber, and therefore commands
a premium price.
The wool is close and fine with a wool count
of 48-53. The fleece enables the Closewool to withstand wind and
rain. The breed is primarily a grassland sheep and is very hardy.
A well established breed the Devon Closewool's original home was
Exmoor but it is now spread throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset
and parts of Wales.
Breed categories: dual-purpose, long wool
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to
the Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders' Society =>
- Devon and Cornwall Longwool
The Devon Longwoolled is a mutton and long-wool producing breed
found in northern Devon in England. The breed is similar to the
South Devon but smaller. Both sexes are polled. They were developed
from Leicester Longwool crossed with Southam Nott and Bampton
Nott. Their wool is very strong and is used mainly in the manufacture
of rugs and carpets.
Breed categories: long wool, rare
Distribution: United Kingdom
- Dohne Merino
(Dohne, El Dohne Merino)
The Dohne Merino is a synthetic, dual-purpose Merino developed
by the South African Department of Agriculture using Peppin-style
Merino ewes and German Mutton Merino sires. The progeny were interbred
and selected for high fertility, rapid lamb growth rate, and fine
Merino wool under commercial rangeland conditions.
The breeding
program was initiated in 1939 and the Breed Society was formed
in 1966. Selection since 1970 has been done with the aid of performance
and progeny testing and comprehensive production records. All
recorded animals are maintained in a computerised flock recording
scheme. The Dohne Merino is one of the leading woolled breeds
in South Africa.
Breed categories: dual-purpose, fine wool
Distribution: South Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Go to Dohne Merino
Sheep Breeders Society of South Africa =>
Go to The Australian Dohne
Breeders Association =>
- Dormer
The Dormer is a cross between Dorset Horn rams and German Merino
ewes (presently known as the South African Mutton Merino). It
was a direct consequence of a series of extensive slaughter lamb
experiments carried out at the Elsenburg Research Station of the
Department of Agriculture since 1927 over a period of more than
ten years. The name Dormers is an abbreviation of the linkage
Dorset-Merino.
The main object with the development of the Dormer
was to breed a mutton breed which could adapt to conditions in
the winter rainfall area of South Africa (cold and wet) and from
which suitable rams could be produced for cross breeding purposes.
The Dormer is well known for its high fertility, excellent mothering
abilities, long breeding season and easy lambing.
Breed category: meat
Distribution: South Africa
Go to Dormer
Sheep Breeders Society of South Africa =>
- Dorper
(White and Blackheaded)
The Dorper breed is numerically the second largest breed in South
Africa. Their popularity has spread to many countries throughout
the world, including the United States in 1995. The Dorper was
developed in South Africa in the 1930's, through crossing of the
Blackheaded Persian ewe (a native fat-tailed sheep) with the Dorset
Horn (a mutton breed).
The breed has a characteristic black head
(Dorper) or can be all white (White Dorper). Dorpers are a well-proportioned
breed with heavy muscled hindquarters. Their skin covering is
a mixture of hair and wool and it will drop off without being
sheared. The Dorper has a thick skin which is highly prized and
protects the sheep under harsh climatic conditions. It is the
most sought after sheepskin in the world.
Breed categories: hair (meat)
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to American Dorper
Sheep Breeders' Society =>
British Dorper Sheep Society =>
Go the Canadian
Dorper Sheep Association =>
Go to Dorper
Sheep Society of Australia =>
Go to Dorper SA =>
-
Dorset
(Horned and Polled)
Dorsets are best known for their ability to produce a lamb crop
any time during the year. History tells us that centuries ago
when Spain wished to conquer England, Merino sheep were brought
into southwest England and crossed with the Horned Sheep of
Wales. The result was a desirable, all-purpose sheep that spread
over Dorset, Somerset, Devon and most of Wales.
The first Horned
Dorsets were brought to the United States in 1885. In 1948,
a dominant gene for polledness occurred resulting in Polled
Dorsets which are now popular in the farm flock states. Dorset
ewes are prolific, heavy milkers that produce lambs with moderate
growth and maturity that yield heavy muscled carcasses.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to Continental
Dorset Club =>
Go to California
Dorset Breeders' Association =>
Go to Dorset Horn and
Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders' Association =>
Go to Polled Dorset
Association, Inc. =>
- Dorset Down
The Dorset Down originated in England around 1800 by mating Southdown rams with the large Hampshire Down, Berkshire and Wiltshire ewes.
The Dorset Down is a solid, medium sized, dark-faced, polled sheep.
It has a short, close white fleece with wool round the cheeks,
between the ears, on the forehead, and down the legs.
The wool
is generally of high quality. The breed produces early maturing
lambs and as such is an ideal terminal sire. Ewes will take a
ram in most months of the year, making the breed ideal for the
Christmas or early spring lamb market when prices are at a seasonal
high. Carcass conformation is good with fine bone and shoulder,
being well fleshed with delicately flavoured tender meat.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat, terminal sire, rare
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand, Australia
Go to Dorset Down Sheep Breeders' Association =>
-
Drysdale
The Drysdale is a dual-purpose breed whose wool is used mainly
for carpet manufacture. Drysdale sheep carry the dominant Nd
gene, a mutant which occurred in the Romney breed. The Nd gene
causes a high abundance of coarse, very hairy fibers, called
halo-hairs.
The wool of the Drysdale is without crimp, highly
medullated, with a fiber diameter of 40 microns. It is known
for its whiteness and dyeing versatility. The Drysdale is found
in most environments throughout New Zealand. They are sheared
twice a year.
Breed categories: carpet wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: New Zealand, Australia
- Dutch Spotted
The Dutch Spotted sheep is native to the Netherlands. The first record of it is in the 1880s. The breed is believed to have originated from the hardy sheep that were used to graze peat bogs in medieval times. In the 1950s, farmers crossed the sheep with the Texel and Zwarbles to get better qualities. No crossing has been done for the past 20 years. The Dutch Spotted is a compact muscular breed, with short, curly, connected wool and a preferred color ratio of 80:20 black to white, but with black knees.
Breed categories: meat
Distribution: Netherlands, United Kingdom
Go to the UK Dutch Spotted Sheep Society =>
- East Friesian
(Friesian Milk Sheep, Ostfriesisches Milchschaf)
The origin of the Friesian sheep breeds is the region of Friesland
extending along the North Sea coast westward from the Weser River
in the northeast of Germany along the north coast of the Netherlands
and south to the Schelde (Scheldt) River at the border of the
Netherlands and Belgium.
The German East Friesian Milk Sheep is
the best known and most important of the Friesian breeds and is
the breed known in the scientific literature as the "East
Friesian." The East Friesian is considered to be the world's
highest producing dairy sheep. They are highly specialized animals
and do poorly under extensive and large flock husbandry conditions.
Friesian sheep cross well with local adapted breeds.
Breed categories: dairy, short-tailed
Distribution: Worldwide
- Easy Care
The guiding principle behind Easy Care is straightforward. Centuries
ago, sheep didn't naturally have huge fleeces, merely a winter
coat which was shed in springtime, as with most wild animals.
However, man began to breed sheep for wool because of its value.
In recent times, the value of wool has fallen so dramatically
that its production is uneconomic. Meat production without the
overhead and extra shepherding required in wool production would
be much more profitable.
By using highly selective breeding to
combine the rapid growth rate, lambing quality, and other strengths
of his naturally wool-less pedigree Wiltshire Horn flock with
the smaller, hardy Welsh Mountain and combining some of the strengths
of other breeds, Iolo Owen has achieved his aim: a breed of sheep
with all the qualities sought after by the modern farmer with
fewer of the drawbacks.
As well as being woolless, Easy Care are
extremely hardy, thrive on grass and inexpensive feeds, have a
superb lambing ratio (180% is the average), and produce excellent
meat.
Breed category: hair (meat)
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to the Easy Care
Sheep Society =>
- Est à Laine Merino
(Merino de l'Est)
At the end of the 18th century, Merino blood was introduced into
German sheep in the borders with France, and gradually these large
"meat" Merinos were kept in large numbers in the Alsace
Lorraine region of France. This strain became known as the Est
à Laine, which translated means East and Wool.
The Est
à Laine Merino is an attractive, strong, large-framed sheep
with very fine white wool. The head is long, white in color, with
long, drooping ears. The sheep is naturally polled (no horns),
unlike the original Merinos. The neck of the Est à Laine
Merino has no folds or dewlap, making it easier to shear.
Breed category: fine wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom, North America
- Exmoor Horn
Though ancient in origin, the Exmoor Horn, which has existed since
time immemorial in the west of England, is well adapted to modern
requirements. The Exmoor can be described as a dual purpose breed
to keep pure on the higher moorland; in fact, they are classified
as a hill breed.
The Exmoor Horn is an excellent crossing ewe.
The Bluefaced Leicester cross produces the Exmoor Mule which is
docile and prolific in lowland areas. The Exmoor is white faced,
with horns, cherry colored skin, and a white fleece of medium
length and good quality.
Breed categories: hill, dual purpose
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to Exmoor
Horn Sheep Breeders' Society =>
- Faeroes Sheep
(Færøerne, Foroyskur Seydur)
The origins of the Faeroes breed goes back to the Old Norwegian,
Icelandic, and perhaps Shetland breeds. They are not gregarious
and tend to be territorial. The Faeroes will forage in small groups,
spreading to cover the entire area, behaving somewhat like the
Icelandic sheep. These sheep are small and well adapted to mountainous
terrain. The color varies from white, grey, light red, dark red,
chestnut brown, to black.
However, due to the low price of wool,
they are sheared primarily for the comfort of the sheep. The lambs
reach a slaughter weight of 20 to 45 pounds at 5 months of age.
A good ewe will weigh about 45 pounds at 6 to 7 years of age.
Rams weigh from 45 to 90 pounds. Bone structure is light, but
strong. These animals are seasonal breeders, with singles being
most common.
Breed categories: short-tailed, primitive
Distribution: Denmark
-
Finnsheep
(Suomenlammas, Finnish Landrace)
Finnsheep or Finnish Landrace, as they are known in their native
country of Finland are considered to be several hundred years
old, descending from the Mouflon that live in the wild on Sardinia
and Corsica and also said to be related to other Scandinavian
short-tailed sheep.
First imported to the United States in 1968,
the primary use of Finnsheep was the production of crossbred
ewes. Finn ewes are hardy, will lamb on an accelerated lambing
program, have strong maternal instincts, and are highly prolific.
Lambs are noted for their high livability.
In the last 20 or
so years, more research work and data has been compiled in the
United States involving Finnsheep and their crosses than any
other breed of sheep. In more recent years, Finnsheep have become
valued for their soft fleeces of medium wool.
Breed categories: medium wool, dual-purpose, short-tailed,
prolific
Distribution: worldwide
Go to American Finnsheep
Breeders Association =>
Go to Australian Finnsheep
Breeders Association =>
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