List of Sheep Breeds

Sheep are mammals, domestic herbivores. Mainly raised for meat, milk, wool and skin, sheep are one of the first animals to have been domesticated. They appear in ancient legends, such as the Golden Fleece, and were used as sacrificial animals in Jewish and Muslim rites. Sheep are mainly bred in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and Central Asia, and there are several hundred sheep brands throughout the world.

  1. Australia and New Zealand

    • Australian Merino is the most popular sheep breed in Australia, with over 80 percent of the sheep in the country being pure merino. The merino breed is native to Spain, but the Australian merino is a distinct breed, adapted to the specific conditions of Australia. There are four strains of this breed: Peppin, Spanish, Saxon and South Australian. The South Australian Merino is mostly found in the semi-arid areas of Australia, including New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. Inland Australian territories, which feature harsher conditions, are more suitable for the Peppin Merino. Another sheep breed specific to Australia and New Zealand is Drysdale, whose white wool is used for carpet manufacture.

    United Kingdom

    • The United Kingdom has over 60 sheep breeds that are mostly bred for their wool. The Dorset Down breed is native to the Dorset region of England. It was obtained at the beginning of the 19th century by mating Hampshire Down, and Berkshire ewes with Southdown rams. Dorset Down sheep have short white fleece and tender meat with a delicate flavor. Another domestic sheep breed is the Greyface Dartmoor, originating in the Dartmoor district of the United Kingdom. This short-legged breed has long wool and it is used primarily for its meat.

    United States

    • Rambouillet is descendant from the Spanish Merino and is the principal sheep breed in the United States. The breed is well adapted to dry climates and it is a dual purpose sheep, bred for its fine wool and meat. It produces high quality wool with white homogeneous hair. This breed is also found in Mexico, Canada and India. California Red is another breed specific to the United States, raised for its silky wool and meat.

    Central Asia

    • Turki sheep are one of the characteristic breeds of Central Asia, raised in the northeastern regions of Afghanistan. This is a fat-rumped breed and its wool is used in the carpet industry. The Gansu Alpine Finewool is a wool breed of China, native to Tibet and Mongolia and well adapted to low temperatures and high altitudes.