Good Sheep for Wool

Sheep, one of the most ancient of domesticated animals, are raised for their meat, milk and, of course, their wool. More than 1,000 distinct breeds exist worldwide, and they are often classified by their use. Sheep wool, called fleece or fiber, is either fine, medium or long/coarse. The diameter of the fibers is measured in microns -- the higher the number, the finer the wool. Some sheep have hair rather than wool.

  1. Fine Wool Breeds

    • A sheep's first shearing produces particularly fine fibers.

      Fifty percent of the world's sheep produce fine wool, which has a diameter of 20 microns or less. The wool is used by hand spinners, weavers and for most commercial yarn. The American Sheep Industry Association lists five fine wool breeds: American cormo, Booroola Merino, Debouillet, Delaine-Merino and Rambouillet. All five breeds have Merino ancestry, an ancient breed from Spain or North Africa. Delaine-Merino and Debouillet produce the finest grade of wool.

    Medium Wool Breeds

    • Domestic sheep are descended from wild sheep.

      Breeds raised for meat can also produce medium wool, so they're classified as dual-purpose animals. ASIA lists 16 breeds in this category. From England are Dorset, Hampshire, Montadale, Oxford, Shropshire, Southdown and Suffolk. The Cheviot come from Scotland, Corriedale come from New Zealand and the East Friesian from Germany and the Netherlands. American Miniature Brecknock, Columbia, Montadale, Panama, Polypay and Targhee originate in the United States. So-called short-tailed sheep -- East Friesian, Finn Sheep, Icelandic, Romanov, Shetland and Soay -- produce medium wool with a mohair-like texture.

    Long Wool Breeds

    • Some breeds also grow spectacular horns.

      Long, or coarse, wool breeds produce wavy or ringed fibers. Border Leicester, Coopworth, Cotswold, Lincoln, Perendale, Romney and Wensleydale are the seven breeds listed by ASIA in this category. The diameter of long wool is between about 30 and 50 microns, and the wool is largely used for tweed and rugs; it's a favorite of weavers. The longer wool means these sheep are best suited to cool, possibly rainy, climates. Long wool is usually quite strong.

    Hair Breeds

    • Hair breeds are considered primitive.

      Wild sheep have coats made of hair, rather than wool. Some domestic breeds -- hair breeds -- that retain this characteristic are the American blackbelly, Barbados blackbelly, California reds, Dorper, Katahdin, Romanov, royal white sheep, St. Croix and Shetland. They do not need shearing, because the hair sheds naturally. Because the hair cannot be spun, these breeds are raised primarily for meat and leather. The University of Maryland Extension notes that "hair breeds are the fastest growing segment of the American sheep industry."