Sheep are versatile animals that can be used in many capacities. They can be the primary source of farm income, help diversify an agricultural operation, or simply provide additional income for those who only have a few acres.
There are over 200 breeds of sheep worldwide, but only a certain few are acclimated to thrive in arid climates. Therefore, breed selection should be a critical part of planning and managing a sheep flock in the arid Southwest. The other aspect to consider when selecting a breed is production goals. Sheep can serve to produce exclusively wool or meat, or a combination of the two.
For accelerated sheep production, it might be necessary to use three or more breeds to develop a ewe flock that exhibits high levels of desirable traits. Accelerated flocks must be able to lamb out of season, produce large lamb crops, reach sexual maturity at an early age, and grow rapidly. Accelerated sheep production typically encompasses two breeding and lambing seasons within one year. Another option for maximizing lamb and wool production is through simple crossbreeding. Whenever two breeds are crossed, the benefit is hybrid vigor.
Breeds of sheep are generally classified according to their best assets.
Best Sheep Breeds | Meat, Wool and Dual Purpose Sheep Breeds
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Fine Wool Breeds
The fine wool breeds are very common in the Western United States. These breeds can withstand heat, cold, and drought, and produce satisfactorily under harsh conditions. Fine wool breeds are more likely to breed out of season than are many other breeds. They produce a more desirable, finer-grading fleece that is more uniform than fleeces from other breed types.
Figure 1. Merino breed
The Merino breed (Figure 1) originated in Spain over 1,200 years ago. Since being brought to the United States, breeders from different regions have developed varieties of Merinos that best suited their respective environments. Specifically, the Delaine Merino is the breed primarily used in more arid climates since they can thrive under harsh conditions and with little feed. They are moderate- to small-sized and have few health or lambing problems. This breed also provides producers an excellent opportunity for crossbreeding if you are looking to improve wool quality.
Figure 2. Rambouillet breed
A derivative of the Merino breed, the Rambouillet (Figure 2) is one of the most commonly raised sheep in the Western United States. They have fewer skin folds, which reduces skin and external parasite problems. Rambouillets also have excellent wool quality. These sheep are very agile and have ideal flocking behavior, allowing for better management in rugged mountain terrain. They are gregarious (tend to flock), which can also help with managing predation issues.
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Figure 3. Navajo-Churro breed
Though quite rare today, the Navajo-Churro sheep (Figure 3) were the first domesticated sheep developed in the United States when the Spanish conquistadors introduced their Iberian breed to the Native Americans. The breed has been brought back from near extinction, and their wool is once again prominent in traditional Navajo rugs and wares.
The Debouillet is a cross between a Merino and a Rambouillet. This is a moderate-framed, clean-white-faced breed with small, semi-erect ears and small wool cap. The Debouillet was developed by a New Mexico sheep producer in 1920. The breed provides the best combination of the Merino’s wool quality and the Rambouillet’s hardiness.
Haired Sheep Breeds
A “haired” variety of sheep simply means they produce little to no wool; instead they have a hair coat very similar to goats. These sheep can help improve carcass and growth in a flock, but will lack a second source of income from wool. It is important to keep in mind that meat breeds that have a high growth rate often require more feed inputs, which means body condition and overall production must be monitored more closely in sheep grazing arid rangelands.
Figure 4. Dorper breed
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The Dorper breed (Figure 4) is unique in that it has desirable growth and carcass traits while still being suitable for the Southwest. They also exhibit excellent reproductive performance and can be bred year-round.
Figure 5. Katahdin breed
The Katahdin breed (Figure 5) originated in the United States and is a cross of multiple breeds, including the West African haired sheep, St. Croix, Wiltshire Horn, and various English meat breeds, such as Suffolk and Hampshire. Katahdins are growing in popularity for their hardiness, meat production, growth, and fertility.
Figure 6. St. Croix breed
As the name suggests, St. Croix sheep (Figure 6) are a composite breed that originated in the Virgin Islands. Though predominantly white, this breed can also be tan or black, or have spot patches. These highly adaptable sheep are excellent foragers. They can also develop a winter coat in colder climates. Highly fertile, the St. Croix could be used in an accelerated production program.
Figure 7. Royal White breed
Developed in Texas, this haired sheep is a cross between St. Croix, Dorper, and White Dorper breeds. The Royal White (Figure 7) has proven to be very efficient, exhibiting lower maintenance requirements for production. Lambs have also shown to be more thrifty, with greater survivability rates than other breeds.
Wooled Meat Breeds
Wooled meat breeds can serve as dual-purpose; however, most of the breeds that fall into this category either carry black fibers or coarser wool, making them less desirable for wool marketing. The black-hided breeds can be more susceptible to heat stress; therefore, extra shelter may be needed.
Figure 8. Dorset breed
Dorset sheep (Figure 8) originated in England, but the Spanish Merino influenced the development of this breed. Dorsets come either horned or polled. Its desirable carcass traits and wool quality make this breed one of the most popular in the United States. It has a clean white face, but does develop cheek and cap wool.
Figure 9. Hampshire breed
The original Hampshire breed (Figure 9) was established in England and was a derivative of the smaller-framed Southdown breed. Since that time, the modern Hampshire has developed into a larger, heavier-muscled animal with desirable growth and carcass traits. Through breeding, the standard Hampshire now has a more open black face and black points with a wool cap.
Figure 10. Suffolk breed
Like the Hampshire, the Suffolk (Figure 10) has the Southdown breed in its ancestry. The original Suffolk was a cross between the Southdown and the Norfolk Horned. Continued development of the breed has resulted in what we recognize today, with a characteristic clean black face and points.
Dual-Purpose Breeds
As the name suggests, a sheep that is classified as dual-purpose possesses traits that include both good wool production in yield and quality, while also producing rapidly growing lambs.
Figure 11. Columbia breed
The Columbia (Figure 11) is considered the first “American breed.” A cross between a Rambouillet and a Lincoln, the Columbia breed was established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1912. The intent was to develop a breed that provided producers in the Western United States an animal that produced both a good lamb crop and wool yield under harsh range conditions.
Figure 12. Corriedale breed
Developed in New Zealand, the Corriedale (Figure 12) is a cross between a Lincoln and a Merino. The Lincoln provides the growth and carcass traits, while the Merino contributes to the Corriedale’s wool quality and substantial wool yield.
Figure 13. Targhee breed
The Targhee (Figure 13) is another breed developed by the USDA to help diversify the genetic base of the nation’s sheep population. This breed is a combination of Rambouillet, Corriedale, and Lincoln. The ewes are known for their ability to successfully raise twins under rugged conditions and breed out of season, which can result in more pounds of lamb weaned per ewe.
Figure 14. Polypay breed
The Polypay consists of four foundation breeds: Rambouillet, Targhee, Finnsheep, and Dorset. The Polypay provides the best traits from the respective breeds for wool, carcass, and reproduction, including breeding out of season.
Figure 15. Barbado breed
Lambs are early maturing, with a rapid growth rate.
Genetic Defects to Consider
When considering a breed, the history of where the breed was developed can be important. Many breeds are best suited for more temperate climates where feed is abundant. Other breeds that may have difficulty are those with high levels of production in either lambing rates or growth. Finnsheep, Barbados Blackbelly, and Romanov are examples of prolific breeders, bearing three or more lambs at a time.
Most genetic defects are not realized until an animal is born with a specific and heritable problem. Common defects include wool blindness, inverted eyelids, jaw malformations, black or pigmented fibers in wool breeds, cryptorchidism, and rectal prolapse.
Figure 16. Wool Blindness
Quite simply, when facial wool patterns result in growth around the eyes, the sheep are literally blinded (Figure 16), posing great risk for their health and survival. Skin folds, commonly found in breeds such as the Merino, are highly heritable as well.
Figure 17. Inverted Eyelid
This is a fairly common and heritable disorder in sheep. The eyelid turns in on itself (Figure 17), causing swelling and irritation. Though the condition is treatable by clipping and correcting the inversion with proper suturing, it must be recorded and noted that the animal be marked for culling.
Figure 18. Jaw Malformation
Jaw malformation is another common and highly heritable trait. In this case, the animal is born with either a protruding lower jaw or overreaching upper jaw (Figure 18). Depending on the severity, it can affect the animal’s ability to graze and eat normally. An overbite will sometimes self-correct; however, these animals should not be retained in the herd.
Black or pigmented fibers will have a negative impact on wool quality and price of a fleece. Therefore, it is economically important to monitor for signs of pigmentation in rams, ewes, and their offspring. The heritability of pigmentation is approximately 30% (Sanchez et al., 2014). There is less of a correlation between “black” lambs and black fibers, but those lambs should still be closely evaluated at weaning.
In ram lambs, this defect may not be realized until weaning. One (or in rare cases both) testicle fails to descend into the scrotum from the body cavity. This disorder-more common in meat breeds-is typically not realized until after weaning, when lambs are put on higher-grain diets. The rectal tissue is weaker than normal, causing it to protrude outside the body.
If any of these or other genetic irregularities show themselves, immediately mark that animal to be culled from the herd. Then the dam and sire must be evaluated. Through good recordkeeping, it may be possible to trace back to the animal that is the potential carrier of the genetic flaw.
