1. Meat Breeds: Southdown<br />The Southdown, one of the oldest sheep breeds, originated in England and was imported into the U.S. in 1803. The Southdown is small to medium-sized with a light brown face and wool extending down the legs. The breed is very docile and ideally suited for intensive management. They are early maturing, adaptable to diverse climate conditions, produce muscular, light-weight carcasses and possess excellent longevity. The Southdown is also prolific with good milking ability and lamb survival. They produce a medium-wool fleece. <br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 180-230 lbEwe 120-180 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 24-29USDA Wool Grade 54’s-60’s GREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 5-8 lbYIELD40-55%STAPLE LENGTH2-3quot;
<br />Originating in Southern England, the Dorset Horn was imported into the U.S. in 1885. In 1948, a dominant gene for polledness occurred resulting in Polled Dorsets which are now popular in the farm flock states. Dorsets are medium-sized, white-faced, produce medium-wool fleeces free of black fibers and have wool extending down the legs. Dorsets are noted for their aseasonal breeding characteristics and are commonly used in crossbreeding to produce females for out-of-season breeding. Ewes are prolific, heavy milkers, long lived and produce hardy lambs with moderate growth and maturity that yield heavy muscled carcasses.<br /> <br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 225-275 lbEwe 150-200 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 26-32USDA Wool Grade 48’s-58’s GREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 5-8 lbYIELD50-65%STAPLE LENGTH3-4 1/2quot;
<br />Fine Wool Breeds: Debouillet<br />American Cormo<br />Booroola Merino<br />Debouillet<br />Delaine-Merino<br />Rambouillet<br />The Debouillet was developed in New Mexico in 1920 from Delaine Merino x Rambouillet crosses. Well adapted for southwest range sheep production, the Debouillet is medium-sized, white-faced with wool on the legs, hardy and can lamb unassisted under range conditions. They have a well-developed flocking instinct and produce a high-quality, long-stapled, fine-wool fleece. <br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 220-275 lbEwe 125-150 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 18-22USDA Wool Grade 64s-80s GREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 9 1/2 - 14 lbYIELD45-55%STAPLE LENGTH3-5<br />The American Cormo originated in Tasmania, Australia from 1/4 Lincoln x 1/4 Australian Merino x 1/2 Superfine Saxon Merino and was introduced into the U.S. in 1976. They have open faces and are a hardy breed adaptable to harsh climatic conditions. They produce a white, long stapled, high yielding fine-wool fleece with a high degree of fiber uniformity. <br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 160-200 lbEwe 120-160 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 17-23USDA Wool Grade 46s-56s GREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 5-8 lbYIELD50-65%STAPLE LENGTH2 1/2 - 4quot;
<br />Long Wool Breeds: Border Leicester<br />Border Leicester<br />Coopworth<br />Cotswold<br />Long Wool Breeds: Perendale<br />Border Leicester<br />Coopworth<br />Cotswold<br />Lincoln<br />Perendale<br />Romney<br />Wensleydale<br />The Perendale originated in New Zealand from crossing the Border Cheviot with the Romney breed. They are an open-faced, medium-framed breed that produces bright, lofty, long-stapled, medium-wool fleeces. Developed as an easy-care sheep, they are both hardy and highly adapted to marginal forage-producing areas. <br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 220-260 lbEwe 120-150 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 29-35USDA Wool Grade 44’s-54’sGREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 8 lbYIELD60-70%STAPLE LENGTH4-6quot;
<br />Perendale<br />Romney<br />Wensleydale<br />The Border Leicester originated in England from Leicester x Cheviot crosses and is found in the northern U.S. and Canada in high rainfall, good pasture areas. The breed has been used throughout the world to sire crossbred females. They are medium to large with a white face and bare head and legs. They are moderately prolific, good milkers and mothers. Border Leicesters yield a long-stapled, lustrous, coarse wool that is much in demand by handspinners. <br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 225-300 lbEwe 150-225 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 30-38USDA Wool Grade 40’s-50’sGREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 8-12 lbYIELD60-70%STAPLE LENGTH5-10quot;
<br />Dual Purpose Breeds: Columbia<br />American Miniature Brecknock<br />Columbia<br />Corriedale<br />East Friesian<br />Finnsheep<br />Panama<br />Polypay<br />Targhee<br />Columbia was the first breed developed in the U.S. beginning in 1912 from Lincoln x Rambouillet crosses. Columbias are a hardy and gregarious breed and make good mothers. They are one of the larger-sized breeds in the U.S., have white faces with wool extending down the legs and are increasingly used as terminal sires to produce fast-growing, lean market lambs. They yield heavy, medium-wool fleeces with good staple length.<br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 250-350 lbEwe 160-240 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 23-29USDA Wool Grade 54’s-62’s GREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 12-16 lbYIELD45-55%STAPLE LENGTH4-6quot;
<br />Dual Purpose Breeds: Columbia<br />American Miniature Brecknock<br />Columbia<br />Corriedale<br />East Friesian<br />Finnsheep<br />Panama<br />Polypay<br />Targhee<br />Columbia was the first breed developed in the U.S. beginning in 1912 from Lincoln x Rambouillet crosses. Columbias are a hardy and gregarious breed and make good mothers. They are one of the larger-sized breeds in the U.S., have white faces with wool extending down the legs and are increasingly used as terminal sires to produce fast-growing, lean market lambs. They yield heavy, medium-wool fleeces with good staple length.<br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 250-350 lbEwe 160-240 lbAVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 23-29USDA Wool Grade 54’s-62’s GREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 12-16 lbYIELD45-55%STAPLE LENGTH4-6quot;
<br />The Dorper breed was developed in the early 1940's in South Africa from crossing Blackhead Persian and Dorset Horn breeds. Their color is solid white or white with black heads. Dorpers are highly fertile and have an extended breeding season. Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. They are hardy and adaptable to hot, dry, humid and cold climatic conditions. Dorpers have a mixture of hair and wool, but do not require shearing. They are non-selective grazers and perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. Dorper lambs have rapid growth, early maturity and yield muscular, high-quality carcasses.<br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 220-250 lb.Ewe 170-200 lb<br />Romanovs originated in what was previously the Soviet Union in the 18th Century and have been in the United States since about 1986. Considered to be one of the most prolific breeds in the world, they are a hardy and adaptable breed known for their early sexual maturity, out-of-season breeding, multiple births, ease of lambing and mothering abilities. Romanovs are born black and lighten to a soft gray as they grow their secondary fleece coat. The wool color is almost always lost on the first cross with white wool type breeds.<br />MATURE BODY WEIGHTRam 175-240 lb.Ewe 135-160 lb.AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETERMicron 28-33USDA Wool Grade 46’s-54’s GREASE FLEECE WEIGHTEwe 6-13 lb.YIELD65-80%STAPLE LENGTH4-5quot;
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