SHEEP
Sheep are even-toed, hoofed animals. They
are the most widely distributed kind of domestic
animal that can be found in nearly every country
in the world. They are cud-chewing animals or
ruminants with a 4-chambered stomach. Sheep
are grazers which means they would rather eat
under foot than over head.
Sheep typically have long, fairly narrow muzzles
and pointed ears. A mature sheep will reach
about 5 ft. in length and can weigh 150 to 250
lbs. They have hollow horns that are an extension
of their sinus cavity. Adult males can have
massive and spirally curved horns while the
females are short and only slightly curved.
Sheep bred for their fine wool account for
nearly half the world’s sheep population.
One sheep gives approximately 5 to 10 lbs. of
wool per year. In the United States, grease
wool, as it comes from sheep, is sheared March
through July. After the wool is cleaned and
processed, only 45 percent of it is left. Besides
using their pelts and wool for clothing and
carpets, sheep provide meat in the form of lamb
and mutton and milk for drinking and cheese
making. In some countries, they are even used
as pack animals.
RAM = male sheep
WETHER = castrated male
EWE = female sheep
LAMB = baby sheep
GESTATION PERIOD = 5 months
AVERAGE LITTER SIZE = up to 3 lambs at a time
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN = 20 years
Sheep are considered less intelligent and
teachable than goats and are bred to “herd
together.” They are timid and defenseless.
They have a gland between their toes that secretes
an odor that “talks” to other sheep.
Sheep often eat all facing the same direction.
Staying within site of at least 2 other sheep
and keeping the wind in their faces is a natural
preservation instinct for sheep.
There are over 200 breeds of sheep. There
are mutton-type sheep bred primarily for meat,
fine wool breeds, short-tailed and fat-tailed
sheep, haired sheep and wild sheep. Some breeds
common to the United States are:
• Jacobs (meat) are white with black
spots and have 2, 4 and occasionally 6 horns.
• Dorsett (meat and wool) are all white
with a gentle disposition. They breed any time
of the year which is why we use them to get
rare fall lambs.
• Suffolk, Hampshire and Southdown (mutton-type
sheep). The Suffolk has a black face and grows
to 150 lbs. The Hampshire has a gray face and
reaches 130 to 140 lbs. The Southdown has a
poodle-like face and reaches 90 to 100 lbs.
Pigs
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:: Poultry
:: Llamas
:: Goats
:: Sheep
:: Equine
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