Breeds of Sheep - b

The Babydoll Southdown sheep, reminiscent of the early Southdown type, holds a significant place in agricultural history, tracing its lineage back to the 1800s and early 1900s when it was imported into the United States and observed in England. Standing at a modest height of 18" to 24" at the shoulder, these sheep embody the original characteristics and traits of the Southdown breed.

Originating from the picturesque South "Downs" of Su ...

Bagnolese Sheep are an autochthonous breed from Campania, Italy that got its name from the village of Bagnoli Irpino in the province of Avellino. They probably derives from the crossbreeding of the Barbaresca breed and the local breeds of the Apennines. Over time they spread from Irpinia to the entire region up to the provinces of Caserta and Salerno.

They are medium-large white sheep with black spots. There are excellent dairy p ...

Balkhi are medium to large sized sheep originated from Afghanistan and North-western Pakistan. They are a fat-tailed mutton type sheep. They areraised mainly for meat production, but they are also good for producing wool.

Balkhi sheep are hardy and are well adapted to their native climates. They have a low fiber density, and they approximately yield 2 kg of coarse wool with an average 43.5 micrometer diameter. The ewes are pretty go ...

Baluchi are small sheep that originated in southern Afghanistan, eastern Iran, and southwest Pakistan. They are a fat-tailed sheep breed and are raised mainly for wool production. They are also known Araghi, Baluchi Dumda, Farahani, Khorasani, Khurasani, Mengali, Neini, Naeini, Shinwari, Taraki and Yazdi sheep.   They are raised mainly for wool production. Their wool is coarse with modulation. The average annual fleece weight is betwee ...

The Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep, one of the original Welsh breeds, stands out as a versatile and visually striking rare breed. Known for its adaptability across various seasons, it boasts a base color of black, dark brown, or dark grey, accentuated by a distinctive white stripe extending from the pole of the head to the top of the nose. Additionally, it features four white feet and a tail that is half white. On average, mature ewes weigh between ...

Barbados Blackbelly sheep are indigenous to the Caribbean island of Barbados. They descend from sheep brought to the islands from West Africa during the slave era. Blackbellies are antelope like in appearance, brown tan or yellow in color, with black points and under-parts. Both ewes and rams are polled or have only small scurs or diminutive horns.

They may have some visible fuzzy wool undercoat within their hair coat, but it should ...

The Barbaresca Siciliana, a distinct breed hailing from the sun-kissed landscapes of Sicily in southern Italy, emerged through a deliberate breeding program that combined the genetics of the Tunisian Barbary and the indigenous Pinzirita sheep.

Characterized by their coarse to medium wool, Barbaresca Siciliana sheep are prized for their dual-purpose capabilities, serving as reliable sources of both milk and meat in the agricultural prac ...

Bardoka are a multi-purpose sheep found mainly in the Metohia region of Kosovo. Its name is derived from the Albanian word Bardoka which means white. They are mainly found in Kosovo and partially in Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia.

They are medium-sized sheep. They are mainly white with a white face. Their face is generally free of wool, and their skin color is pink. Both rams and ewes are generally horned. Their horns are generally l ...

Basco-bearnaise sheep originated from the Basque country, and also known as Vasca Carranzana, France. They were developed during the 1960s from Basque and Béarnaise sheep.

They mainly are raised as a milk breed, and an ewe on average produces around 120 liters of milk per lactation. And their lactation period is around of 130 days. Their milk is of good quality containing around 5.39 percent protein.

Basco-bearnaise sheep are ...

Bavarian Forest sheep are an old and once wide-spread breed from Bavaria. Unfortunately they are decreasing in popularity. They are a small to medium sized sheep. They are mostly white, though brown and black animals do occur.  

Their fleece contains a mixture of fibers: kemp, hetero type, and wool fibers. Forest sheep are aseasonal: they usually lamb 3 times in 2 years. Their fertility amounts to about 180 percent. They are a ...

Belgium Milk Sheep are strongly influenced by Friesian Milk Sheep. In all probability, the Belgium Milk Sheep descends from Flemish sheep. Since the 19th century, Flemish sheep were selected for milk character. After the Second World War, the other milk sheep breeds were added.

The Belgium Milk Sheep is a finely-built sheep which stands on high legs. The body is wedge-shaped. The head is covered with fine white hair. The abdomen is wo ...

Bellary are medium-sized sheep native to the districts of Bellary and Davanagere and the adjoining areas of Haveri and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka, India.

They are medium-sized with body colors ranging from white through various combinations of white and black to black. Most rams have horns, though ewes are generally polled. Their ears are medium long, flat and drooping, their tail is short and thin, their fleece is extreme ...

The Beltex sheep is characterized by its medium size and elongated body, presenting a distinctive wedge shape from a narrow shoulder to a robust hindquarter that boasts a double-muscled appearance. The head of the Beltex sheep typically displays a predominantly white coloration, although it may feature shadings or patches of black, blue, or brown. With a short and thick fore face, the Beltex sheep exudes a sturdy and robust demeanor.

I ...

Bentheimer Landschaf (A.K.A The Landrace of Bentheim) are medium-sized German sheep. They were developed by a cross between German and Dutch heath sheep and marsh sheep. They have been bred in the northern German Emsland area since 1934, especially in the county of Bentheim.  

They are mainly white and have black around their ears, eyes, and legs. They have a slender body, long head and Roman nose. Their ears are small and the ...

Bergamasca sheep, also known by various names including Bergamasker, Gigante di Bergamo, and Bergamacia (in Brazil), are primarily valued for their coarse white wool and meat production.

Originating from the Lombardy region of northern Italy, Bergamasca sheep are categorized as a fundamental breed within the Lop-eared Alpine group. They are typically polled, meaning they do not have horns, and serve as the foundational breed for other ...

Berrichon du Cher sheep, originating from the Cher region of France, have been selectively bred for meat production since the 18th century. Through generations of careful breeding, this breed has developed into a well-conformed and highly prized sheep known for its early growth and exceptional meat qualities.

One of the standout features of Berrichon du Cher sheep is their natural ability to lamb out-of-season. Approximately 60% of lam ...

Bibrik are medium-sized sheep that originated from Pakistan. They are a fat-tailed breed and are raised mainly for meat production. They are found mainly in the parts of Sibi and Loralai districts in Baluchistan Province of Pakistan.

They are mainly white with a black or brown head. Both rams and ewes are generally horned, and the rams have pretty large and curved horns. The rams generally weight around 2.8 kg at births, and the ...

Biellese sheep, originating from the picturesque Piedmont region of northern Italy, are a distinct breed valued for their polled carpet wool and meat production capabilities. Belonging to the Lop-eared Alpine group of sheep breeds, Biellese sheep are characterized by their unique appearance and adaptability to the mountainous terrain of their native region. These sheep play a significant role in the local agricultural landscape, contributing to b ...

The Bizet sheep, originating in France, is a breed with a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Developed between 1830 and 1900, the Bizet sheep breed was established through a careful breeding program involving the crossbreeding of Caussenards sheep with Southdown and Dishley English sheep. This selective breeding process aimed to enhance desirable traits and establish a unique breed with distinct characteristics.

In 1905, eff ...

Blackheaded Persian sheep originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. They are a fat-rumped breed and both sexes are polled. Blackheaded Persians have a white body and black head and neck with the two colors sharply distinguished.

They found their way to the tropics of the Caribbean region via South Africa many years ago. The Caribbean population has adapted well to the humid tropics. Blackheaded Persian ...

Bleu du Maine are a large grassland sheep with slate blue/grey coloring heads. They originated in Western France in the region of Mayenne. They were developed from crossing Leicester Longwool and Wensleydale sheep. The breed has no wool on its head or legs.

They are similar to Texel sheep but they have a higher litter size and age of sexual maturity. Their average daily gain, carcass leanness, milk yield, and lambing interval are ...

Blue Texel sheep are a color variant of the normally white Texel sheep. Blue Texel sheep come from white Texels who carry the color factor "blue" with them. This factor is a recessive factor. From a mating of two white Texels who both carry the factor for the blue color, there is a 25 percent chance blue lambs will be born while a mating between a Blue Texel and another Blue Texel always gives blue lambs. Texel sheep evolved as a result of ...

The Bluefaced Leicester is the single most significant sheep breed in the UK today, with nearly 50% of the UKs commercial breeding flock being sired by the Bluefaced Leicester. Of the remaining  50%  around half are being mated with  Bluefaced Leicester rams to produce Mule ewes. The great strength of the Blueface, is that no matter what breed of sheep its crossed with, its progeny the Mule proves a better commercial ewe than its mother. Th ...

Bond sheep, which originated in Australia in 1909 through the strategic crossbreeding of Peppin Merinos and imported Lincoln rams, are renowned as a dual-purpose breed. These tall, long-bodied sheep are characterized by their robust constitution, heavy bone structure, and open faces. They are prized for their ability to thrive in various climatic conditions, particularly in the southeast region of Australia.

Bond sheep are valued for t ...

Booroola Merino sheep, originating from the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, stand out for their exceptional fertility and unique breeding characteristics. Setting them apart from conventional Merino breeds, Booroola Merinos exhibit remarkable reproductive traits that have garnered global recognition.

Foremost among their distinctive attributes is their unparalleled fertility, ranking among the most fecund breeds worl ...

Border Cheviot sheep originated as a mountain breed, native to the Cheviot Hills between Scotland and England, where the climate is harsh and the conditions are rugged. Cheviots are extremely hardy and can withstand harsh winters and graze well over hilly pastures. They were bred to look after themselves. Recognized as early as 1372, the breed is reported to have developed from sheep that swam ashore from shipwrecked Spanish ships that fled ...

Border Leicester sheep are one of three distinct breeds of Leicester sheep.

Border Leicester sheep were developed in 1767 by George and Matthew Culley of Fenton, Northumberland, England. They were friends of Robert Bakewell and had access to his improved Leicesters. Some believe that the Culley brothers developed the Border Leicester by crossing Bakewell's improved Leicester rams with Teeswater ewes. Others argue that Cheviot blood wa ...

Borderdale sheep were developed in New Zealand. They are the result of breeding the Border Leicester and Corriedale breeds and interbreeding each generation until the F5 stage. Borderdales are a medium-large, hardy, long-woolled breed, with a comparatively low susceptibility to foot rot. They have a good growth rate.

Ewes are often used for crossbreeding with terminal sires from the meat breeds. Borderdales are found mainly on th ...

Boreray sheep originated on the island of Boreray in the St Kilda archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. And the breed was named from this island. It is also known by some other names such as Hebridean Blackface and Boreray Blackface sheep.

They were developed during the late 19th century from Scottish Blackface and a Hebridean type of Old Scottish Shortwool sheep. They have been largely feral since 1930.

Their fleece ...

Bovska Sheep got their name from the small town Bovec that lies in upper Soflorina valley which is in the Northwest part of Slovenia near the Italian border. In Trenta valley this breed is also called trentarka or pure trentarka if it has the short ears sometimes seen with this breed.

The Bovska sheep breed originated in the white sheep which were once distributed throughout the Alps. Bleiweis (1871) mentioned the Trbiska sheep br ...

The Bragna sheep, adorned in pristine white coats and boasting rosy-hued skin, epitomize rustic charm and versatility in the pastoral landscapes of the province of Verona, nestled within the Veneto region of Italy. These autochthonous sheep, shrouded in a veil of mystery regarding their precise origins, have carved out a niche for themselves as indispensable contributors to the agricultural heritage of the region, particularly in the picturesque ...

Braunes Bergschaf, or Brown Mountain, sheep are from the alpine regions of Bavaria (Germany), Tyrol (Austria), Southern Tyrol (Italy), and the Swiss Canton of Engadine. In recent years, Braunes Bergschaf Sheep have gained popularity beyond their original borders. Brown Mountain Sheep are descended from the Tyrolean Steinschaf (Stone Sheep), which can be of all colors, one color per sheep, and is rarely white.

 Braunes Bergschaf are m ...

The Brecknock Hill Cheviot sheep trace their origins back to the Scottish Cheviot sheep, which were introduced to Wales during the 1850s. Renowned for their remarkable longevity, these sheep have become a distinct breed known for their hardiness and adaptability to rugged terrains.

Characterized by their white faces and legs, Brecknock Hill Cheviot sheep exhibit erect ears without a ruff of wool behind them. They possess a distinctive ...

Brentagana Scelta sheep are a large white breed originating from Italy and belonging to the Alpine group. They are primarily raised for both wool and meat production. One of their notable characteristics is their adaptation to local marginal conditions, indicating their ability to thrive in challenging environments. This adaptability is likely a result of selective breeding over generations to suit the specific geographic and climatic conditions ...

Brianzola sheep are a notable breed originating from the Brianza region of Lombardy, northern Italy. These sheep are renowned for their unique characteristics, which make them well-suited to the local environment and agricultural practices.

Brianzola sheep are medium-sized and have a distinct appearance characterized by their white fleece and compact build. They are known for their hardiness and adaptability to the hilly and mountainou ...

Brigasca sheep are a local breed whose name is linked to the border territory between Liguria, Piedmont and Provence. They are descended from the Frabosana breed and likely crossbred with Langhe sheep. The Brigasca is a rustic animal, perfectly adapted to the traditional rearing system of a minimum of six months in alpine pastures.

Brigasca sheep are used for milk and meat. Their milk is used to produce three different kinds of ...

Brillenschaf sheep are from Carinthia, Austria. They are a member of the Alpine Mountain Sheep Breeds. They are named for their eyeglass marks around their eyes, under the eyes, and on their ears. They are a cross between the Landschaf, Bergamasca, and Paduaner Schaf sheep.

They are hardy and frugal; they can cope with high precipitation and are experts in climbing, therefore they are used for grazing high alpine areas which ...

British Milk sheep are medium to large polled sheep with a predominantly white face and legs. Their head is usually free from wool, the muzzle broad and the ears long. The ewe is naturally prolific and is noted for its quiet temperament which is important in the management of high performance sheep. The conformation of the ewe, particularly the roomy pelvic area, ensures that lambing is easy. The rams have a long body and good hindquarters. ...

Originating as one of the four predominant sheep breeds in Switzerland, the Brown Headed Meat sheep, also known as Braunkopfiges Fleischschaf, occupies a prominent place in the country's rich agricultural heritage. Renowned for their substantial build, they claim the title of the heaviest breed among Swiss sheep varieties.

The lineage of the Brown Headed Meat sheep traces back to a deliberate breeding program that combined the genetic ...

Bundner Oberland (also known as Bunder Oberlanderschaf, Grisons, or Graubunden) sheep are from Switzerland.

They are found in white, brown, or silver-grey. Their head is slender and bare. Rams have substantial horns while ewes have small horns or are polled (hornless). Both sexes display rather primitive behavior. Multiple births are common. When mature, rams weigh on average 72 kg (159 lb) and ewes 50 kg (110 lb). After reaching ...