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Gansu Alpine Finewool
Image source: ConSDABI
German Blackheaded Mutton
Image
courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
German Gray Heath
Image
courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
German Merino
Image
courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
German Mutton Merino
Image
courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
German Whiteheaded Mutton
Image courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
Gotland ewes
Image
courtesy of Frank De Smedt and
Vlaamse hobbyfokkers van geiten en
schapen
Gotland ewe
Image
Courtesy of
Gotland Sheep in Australia
Dartmoor sheep
Images
Courtesy of Dartmoor
Sheep Breeders' Association
Australian Growmark
Gulf Coast Native rams
Images courtesty of
Running Moon Farm
Gute ram
Image
courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
Gute sheep
Image courtesy of Helena Sundin
Hampshire ewes in the UK
Image
courtesy of Hampshire
Down Sheep Breeders' Association
Hampshire ewe in the U.S.
Image
courtesy of South
Dakota State University
Large tail Han
Image
source: ConSDABI
Small Tail Han
Image
source: ConSDABI
Hebridean ewe (sheared)
Images
courtesy of the
The Hebridean Sheep Society
Hebridean ewe in full fleece
Heidschnucke ram
Images
courtesy of Frank De Smedt
and Vlaamse hobbyfokkers van
geiten en schapen
Heidschnucke ewe
Record-selling Herdwick ram
Image
courtesy of the
Mitchell's Auction
Company, Ltd.
Herdwick ewe and lamb
Image courtesy of Sheep of Cumbria
Hill Radnor sheep
Image courtesy of sheepkeeper33
Hog Island ram
Image
courtesy of the
Accokeek Foundation
Hog Island Sheep
Image courtesy of Walnut Hill Farm
Hu ram
Image
source: ConSDABI
Icelandic ewe
Images
courtesy of Lavender Farm
Icelandic Leadersheep
Ile de France rams
Images
courtesy of
Ile de France Sheep Breeders' Society of South Africa
Ile de France ewe
Imroz ewe
Image
courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
INRA 401 sheep
Image
source: Upra Ovine INRA 401
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Sheep Breeds G - I
- Gansu Alpine Finewool
The Gansu Alpine Finewool was one of a number of finewool breeds
in China which made use of Xinjiang Finewool, along with Russian
Merino rams in its development. The Gansu Alpine Finewool was
initially based on Mongolian and Tibetan ewes and was developed
through backcrossing to Merino type, followed by selection.
The
breed was developed in the Huangchen District of Gansu Province,
China, which has an altitude of 2,600 to 4,000 m (8,530-13,123
ft), an annual mean temperature of 0 to 3.8°C (32-39°F),
an annual precipitation of 257 to 461 mm, and an average humidity
of 35 to 58 percent. The sheep are well adapted to this particular
ecological condition. The average weight of grease fleece in ewes
is about 4.6 kg (10.1 lbs), and the wool quality is 60-64's (20-25µm).
Breed categories: fine-wool
Distribution: China
German Blackheaded Mutton
(Schwarzköpfiges Fleischschaf)
In 1850, blackheaded meat breeds, such as Leicester, Southdown,
and Hampshire were imported from England into Saxony to be crossed
with local breeds. Thirty years later, breeding of these sheep
started more in Westfalia and Eastern Prussia than in Saxony.
The Merinofleischschaf (Merino mutton sheep) was prevalent in
Saxony.
Westfalia, with its high precipitation was the perfect
area for the Schwarzkopf Fleischschaf, and it is still the main
breeding area. German Blackheaded mutton sheep are medium-sized,
white sheep that are wide and long with dark-brown to black
head, ears, and legs. They grow crossbred wool with a tight
and firm staple that protects them in a wet climate.
Breed category: meat, medium wool
Distribution: Europe
- German Gray Heath
(Graue gehörnte Heidschnucke)
The German Gray Heath is the symbol of the Lueneburger Heide
in Germany. Their ancestors, the Mouflon were at home in Corsica.
Single lambs are born in spring with a curly, black fleece.
After the sheep’s first yearly shearing, its wool turns
silver gray with a black bib. Head and legs are black and free
of wool. Rams weigh up to 80 kg (176 lbs) and have imposing
horns that curl close to the face. Ewes weigh about 45 kg (100
lbs) and have short horns.
Their meat tastes like venison. The
dual-coated fleece of a ewe weighs 2.2 kg (4.4 lbs.), of a ram
4 kg (8.8 lbs).. The coarse, straight outer coat is 25 cm (11.4
in.) long. The downy underwool grows 6 cm (2.7 in) long and
has a fiber diameter of 25-30 microns. The wool used to be sent
to Belgium and Turkey to be worked into carpets.
Breed category: landrace, rare, double-coated
Distribution: Germany
Go to Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung
alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen e.V. (GEH) =>
- German Merino
(Merinolandschaf)
In the 18th century, Southern German Landsheep were crossed
with French and Spanish Merinos, which produced the Merinolandschaf.
This sheep breed is the most wide-spread one in Germany today,
with 40% of the total German sheep population. The Merinolandschaf
of today started with the dual- coated Zaupelschaf, which already
in 1539 was not liked because it produced inferior wool. For
that reason it was crossed with the Marschschaf from the Lower
Rhine.
This sheep was large, prolific, and could march, and
its wool had a fiber diameter of 33 to 36 microns. Later, Merino
wool sheep from Spain and France were used to improve the wool
quality. The Merinolandschaf has a large frame, a straight head
with a small woolly tuft on top, no horns, and rough, large
ears that stick out to the side, with legs free of wool. It
is in no way a landrace, but a highly adaptable breed.
Breed category: fine-wool
Distribution: Europe
German Mutton Merino
(Merinofleischschaf)
There are three German Merino breeds: Merinolandschaf (Merino
landsheep), Merinofleischschaf (Merino mutton sheep), and Merinolangwollschaf
(Merino longwool sheep). Although all three breeds produce Merino
wool and are similar in meat yield, they went through a different
historical and genealogical development. The Merinofleischschaf
is at home east of the Elbe river, spreading all the way to
the Ural Mountains.
It is suited for intense production in arid
or in agricultural areas. It is highly resistant and easily
adapts to any climate and keeping conditions. It grows easily
with good meat yield. Non- seasonal breeding cycle (3 breedings
in 2 years), high fecundity, and good mothering instincts make
the Merinofleischschaf a good choice for intense milk-lamb production.
Breed category: dual-purpose
Distribution: Europe
- German Whiteheaded Mutton
(Weißköpfiges Fleischschaf)
This breed was developed along the North Sea coast in the middle
of the last century. English Leicester, Cotswold, Hampshire,
and Oxfordshire were imported and crossbred with the local Wilstermarschschaf,
a northern German marsh sheep. Breeders succeeded in retaining
the wanted qualities of the marsh sheep, such as high fecundity,
fast development, and large size. In the 1930’s, a new
breed, the Deutsches Weißköpfiges Fleischschaf started
to roam the grassy areas next to the North Sea.
It is the perfect
breed to withstand the rough, damp sea climate and suited for
life on the dikes. The sheep fatten on the lush dike grass,
pound down the earth and encourage new grass growth, thus helping
to stabilize the North Sea dikes which makes them resistant
against storm floods. The sheep need to be rugged and to protect
them against the weather, they have a long, rough fleece with
a fiber diameter of 37 to 41 microns. The white wool, also known
as Eider wool, has a good crimp which is unusual for such rough
wool.
Breed category: dual-purpose
Distribution: Europe
- Gotland
(Gotland Pelt Sheep, Swedish Fur/Pelt, Pälsfår)
Gotland sheep were first established on the large Baltic island
of Gotland, off the east coast of Sweden. The Vikings brought
Karakul and Romanov sheep back from Russia and crossed them
with native landrace sheep, such as the Gute. Gotlands are polled.
They have short, hair-tipped tails and do not require crutching.
Lambs are born black and grow quickly, many turning to grey
as they mature. Gotlands produce a quick growing, lustrous,
colored, curly fleece of medium micron. The Gotland is found
throughout Sweden where it is kept for its pelt and meat production.
The breed was recently established in the United States via
artificial insemination.
Breed categories: fur, primitive
Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand,
North America
Go to American
Gotland Sheep Society =>
Go to Gotland Sheep
Breeders Association of North America =>
Go to British Gotland
Sheep Society =>
- Greyface Dartmoor
(Dartmoor)
The Greyface Dartmoor is also known as the Dartmoor or "Improved"
Dartmoor. Descended from the local breeds, which grazed the low
ground in and around Dartmoor, they have immense strength of constitution
developed through withstanding the severe winters and exposed
conditions, which exist around the Moor. Improvements were carried
out during the 19th century using the local Longwools (Notts)
and the Leicester.
The Dartmoor fleece is classified as Lustre
Longwool. They are a medium sized sheep (approx. 60 kg/132 lbs),
hornless, deep bodied, short legged, with well woolled head and
legs. The white face should be mottled or spotted with black or
grey with matching feet.
Breed categories: long wool
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to Dartmoor Sheep Breeders' Association =>
- Growmark
Development of the Gromark began in 1965 in northern New South
Wales, Australia. The Gromark is fixed at approximately 50 percent
Corriedale and 50 percent Border Leicester. It is a dual-purpose
sheep which evolved from objective selection for high growth rate
and fertility with final selection being based on visual criteria:
wool quality, frame, and carcass attributes.
The Gromark is a large-framed
breed (ewes average 80 kg/175 lb) producing large lean lambs and
good fleeces with wool fiber diameter being about 30 microns.
Breed categories: dual-purpose
Breed categories: dual-purpose
Distribution: Australia
- Guirra [NOT PICTURED]
(Levant Red, Sudat)
The Guirra is found near the Mediterranean coast in the Spanish provinces of Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón de la Plana. The early history of the breed is not known, but according to some authors, the Guirra developed from crossings of the Manchega with thin-tailed North African breeds brought to the Mediterranean coast
Except for about 5 percent which are black, the color of their medium-fine fleece varies from reddish-brown to yellow-white. Sheep with white coats are not considered pure. The coat color of newborn lambs is a rich, reddish brown, which gradually lightens, becoming at full maturity, a dirty-cream color. Guirra means "reddish" in the Valencian dialect. Sudat means greasy, in reference to the oily condition of the uncleaned wool.
Guirra sheep are raised almost entirely for meat. The main market is for "cordero pascual," Eastern lamb butchered at 2 to 3 months of age.
Breed categories: meat, endangered
Distribution: Spain
Go to Asociación Nacional Criadores Raza Guirra =>
- Gulf Coast Native
(Florida Native, Louisiana Native)
Spanish sheep first arrived in Florida in the 1500's. Later
importations of Spanish and other breeds of sheep mixed with
the earlier population, all evolving under the strong natural
selection of the native range conditions of Florida and the
other Gulf Coast states. Today a remnant of this population
survives and is known as the Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coasts are best
known for their resistance to internal parasites. The Florida
Agricultural Experiment Station in Gainesville has a flock which
has been maintained without the use of anthelmintics since 1962.
The Gulf Coast Native is classified as a "critical"
breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat
Distribution: United States
Go to Gulf
Coast Sheep Breeders Association =>
- Gute
(Gutefår)
Gute sheep are the most primitive breed in the collection of breeds
that make up the Swedish Landrace breed group. These breeds belong
to the North European Short Tailed Breeds and are related to such
breeds as the Finnsheep, Romanov, Spelsau, Shetland, Faroe, Orkney,
and Icelandic sheep.
Both rams and ewes have two well-developed,
slightly turned, converging or diverging, symmetrical horns which
are strongly curved and deeply ringed. The rams' horns are large
and strong; the ewes' are thinner. Gute wool is coarse and may
be straight or wavy. It is a mixture of fine wool, long coarser
hair, and kemp fibers. Most sheep shed their fleece partly or
entirely in the beginning of the summer.
Breed categories: Swedish landrace, primitive, short-tail, coarse wool
Distribution: Europe
Go to Gute Sheep Society
of Sweden =>
-
Hampshire
(Hampshire Down)
The Hampshire sheep acquired its name from the agricultural county
of Hampshire in southern England where it was developed from Old
Hampshire, Southdown, Wiltshire Horn, and Berkshire Knot crosses.
Hampshires were first brought to the United States in 1860, but
all of the flocks were either destroyed or scattered during the
Civil War.
Importations in large numbers did not resume until
the 1880's. Hampshires are a large breed, with black faces and
legs and wool on the legs and head. Their fast growth rate and
superior carcass merit make them a popular choice to sire crossbred
market lambs.
Breed categories: meat, medium wool, down
Distribution: Worldwide
Go
to American Hampshire Sheep Association =>
Go to Hampshire
Down Sheep Breeders Association UK =>
- Han
(Large-tail and Small-tail)
The Han is a type of Mongolian sheep. It was developed in the
semi-humid agricultural areas of China (Henan, Hebei, Shandong,
Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces). There are two types of Han which
in 1982, were claimed as two different breeds: Large-tail Han
and Small-tail Han. The Large-tail Han are polled and are characterized
by a long, broad, fat tail, with a thin twisted end turing upwards
between two lobes, and broadest at the base. Maximum weight
being 25 kg.
Since the tail is too heavy for the sheep to move
around easily during grazing, this type (or breed) is only adaptable
to the plains. Han sheep are precocious and highly prolific,
their fecundity levels being 163% for the Large-tail Han and
229% for the Small-tail Han. Recent reports have given even
even higher figures of 192 percent for the Large-tail Han and
270 percent for the Small-tail.
Breed categories: fat-tail
Distribution: China
- Hebridean
The Hebridean, a sheep breed now classified as rare, originated
in the islands off the western coast of Scotland. They are classified
as one of the Northern Short-tailed breeds. Over the centuries,
Hebridean ewes have been selected by natural systems for hardiness
in all weathers, ease of lambing, milkiness and good mothering
instincts.
Because Hebrideans have not been modified by artificial
selection they remain a small, economically efficient breeding
ewe with a surprising ability to produce quality cross-bred lambs.
Both sexes are usually horned with either two or four horns, four
horns being the most common. They have shown a greater tendency
to browse than other sheep breeds which has made them useful in
ecological projects where the control of brush and weeds was needed.
Breed categories: Rare, Northern European short-tail
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to The Herbridean
Sheep Society =>
- Heidschnucke
(Lunebergs heideschaap)
The Heidschnucke are a fairly small sheep, initially originating
from Niedersachsen in Germany. There are several varieties of
Heidschnucke sheep: the grey horned Heidschnucke, the white
horned Heidschnucke, and the moorschnucke (marsh sheep). At
one time, the Heidschnucke were the most important sheep in
northern Germany, but their numbers have declined substantially.
Lambs are black at birth, but their fleece discolors their first
year of life, until it gets its characteristic grey color. Both
rams and ewes have beautiful horns. Lambing percentage is usually
low, only about 100 percent.
Breed categories: rare, primitive
Distribution: Europe
- Herdwick
They name Herwick is derived from an old Norse word that means sheep pasture. It is believed that the ancestors of Herdwick sheep were introduced by early Norse settlers. Herdwick sheep are considered the most hardy of British hill sheep. They are raised mostly in the central and western dales of the Lake District and are noted for their foraging ability in rough terrain. They produce a good crossbred lamb, but their wool is considered to be of low quality and low value.
The produce a coarse, grey wool, a carpet wool.
Breed categories: rare, heritage
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to Herdwick Sheep
Breeders' Association =>
Hill Radnor
The Hill Radnor is a hardy hill sheep with a long history attached
to the central marshes of Wales. The Hill Radnor has a light
brown face and legs, free from wool. The rams are horned, with
horns of varying size; ewes are naturally polled. Compared to
some other hill breeds, the fleece is white and dense, with
a fine staple, and is popular with local hand-spinners and weavers.
Like many hill breeds they are thrifty and good foragers
Breed categories hill, medium wool, rare
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to Hill Radnor
Flock Book Society =>
- Hog Island
About 200 years ago, a flock of sheep was established on Hog Island,
one of Virginia's barrier islands located off its Eastern Shore.
The sheep were already native to the area and are believed to
have had a substantial amount of Merino blood in them. There were
occasional subsequent introductions to the population, the last
being in 1953, when a Hampshire ram was taken to the island. In
1974, the island was sold to The Nature Conservancy, which decided
to remove all the sheep and cattle.
Gunston Hall Plantation in
Fairfax County, Virginia, eventually became the owner of the greater
number of these sheep and exhibited them as part of their replication
of 18th century plantation life. Hog Island sheep evolved and
survived for over 200 years in an extremely harsh environment
on a limited diet and no medical attention.
It is estimated that there are approximately 200 Hog Island breeding ewes, mostly in Virginia.
Breed categories: medium wool, rare, heritage
Distribution: United States
Go to Hog Island Sheep Breeders Association =>
- Hu
Hu sheep originated from Mongolian sheep. They are distributed
in the Zhejiang Jiangsu provinces of China and the suburbs of
Shanghai. Hu sheep are well recognized for their beautiful wavy
lambskins, early sexual maturity, aseasonal breeding, prolificacy,
and the adaptability to a hot and humid climate. Hu sheep are
raised indoors all year round. The lambskins taken from lambs
slaughtered within the day of birth have distinctive wave-like
stripes which are still retained after processing.
Hu sheep lambskins
are traditional export item of Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.
The first estruses in ewes occur at the age of 4-5 months. Rams
are capable of mating at the age of 4 months. Ewes cycle all year
round. The average ovulation rate is 2.38 with higher ovulation
rate of 2.60 in autumn and lower rate of 2.2 in spring. Under
normal conditions, ewes lamb twice a year with litter size 2-3
lambs in most cases, and 7-8 lambs occasionally.
Breed categories: fur, meat
Distribution: China
- Icelandic
The modern Icelandic Sheep is a direct descendant of the sheep
brought to Iceland by the early Viking settlers in the ninth and
tenth century. They are of the North European Short Tailed type,
related to such breeds as the Finnsheep, Romanov, and Shetland.
A major gene controlling prolificacy has been identified in the
Icelandic breed. This gene exhibits action similar to the gene
found in the Booroola Merino.
The fleece from Icelandic sheep
has an inner and outer coat typical of the more primitive breeds,
and it is the wool for which Iceland is known. It is illegal to
import any sheep into Iceland.
Breed categories: double-coated, short-tailed
Distribution: North America, Iceland, United Kingdom
Go to Icelandic Sheep Breeders
of America =>
Read
about Icelandic Leadersheep =>
Go to South
Iceland Sheep Breeding Centre (SOUTHRAM) =>
- Ile de France
The Ile de France is the result of crossing the English Leicester and the Rambouillet. The breed was originally known as the Dishley
Merino. The breed is widespread in France and was introduced to
Great Britain in the 1970's. The breed is wide and thick set.
Both sexes are polled. The Ile de France is widely used throughout
the world as a terminal sire for quality lamb production.
Breed categories: meat, medium wool
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to the French
Ile de France Society =>
Go to Associação
Brasileira do Ile de France =>
Go to Ile de
France Sheep Breeders' Society of South Africa =>
- Imroz
(Gökçeada)
The Imrov is among the smallest sheep breeds in Turkey. They
are raised for meat, milk, and wool. Animals are predominantly
white, with black marks around the mouth, nose and eyes, on
the ears and rarely on the tip of the legs. The tail is thin
and long, usually reaching below the hocks. Rams have strong
spiral horns extending sideways; ewes are usually polled, but
up to 30% of the ewes may have small scurs. The head is narrow
and its profile is straight. The wool is very coarse and long,
and it covers the top of the head
Breed categories: dual-purpose, carpet wool
Distribution: Turkey
- INRA 401
The creation of the INRA 401 sheep bloodline began in France in
1970, after a series of experiments crossing the Berrichon du
Cher x Romanov which began in 1963 with the Romanov breed. Matings
were carried out for several successive generations, between breeding
stock of the same generation chosen in priority to maintain the
origins represented in the foundation generation. The INRA 401
is a highly productive ewe, with a 200 percent prolificacy, excellent
out-of-season fertility, good milk production, and outstanding
mothering ability.
Breed categories: meat, medium wool
Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom
Go
to Upra Ovine INRA 401 La Romane =>
Go to the British INRA 401 Sheep Society =>
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