Different Breeds of Sheep in Columbia

Sheep have played an integral role for the people of Colombia since Spanish explorers introduced them in the 1500s. The sheep industry has been hurt by declining wool prices and a lessened demand for sheep meat, but is still active today. Two major sheep breeds dominate the Colombian landscape with many others present in small numbers.

  1. Africana

    • The Africana sheep, sometimes called the red African, rojo Africana or West African, is found in northern and central Colombia with a population of well over 300,000. This breed is a hair sheep, which allows them to thrive in a tropical environment where wool sheep cannot. Africana sheep range in color from tan to cherry red and are poled, meaning they have no horns. The breed is farmed for its meat.

    Criollo Columbiano

    • Criollo Columbiano is a rugged breed found in the Andes Mountains that is known for its ability to survive and thrive in rugged conditions. According to the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System, Colombia is home to almost 1 million of these sheep, more than enough to classify the population as stable. The breed is raised for its meat.

    Criolla Mora

    • The criolla mora is a breed that resides within the highlands of Colombia in relatively small numbers. It is a descendent of the Spanish churro and its roots in Colombia extend back to 1548. The criolla mora is used for its meat and its wool, which can be white, black or pied in color. The 2005 book "Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry" listed the criolla mora as one of its selected food animal breeds in danger of disappearing, despite the fact that the breed has good rates of fertility.

    Others

    • Eight other breeds of sheep have been reportedly imported in small numbers to Colombia, according to the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. These breeds are all exotic and no official count has ever been made of their population. These breeds include blackface, border leicester, cheviot, corriedale, hampshire, persa cabeza negra, rambouillet and romney marsh sheep.