Breeds of Sheep - m

Manchega sheep, developed from the Entrefino breed, are prized for their dual-purpose use in milk and sheep meat production. Within this breed, two recognized varieties exist: black and white, with the latter comprising over 90% of the population.

These sheep are renowned for their milk production, with an average yield of 100 liters (26.4 gallons) per animal annually. Milk production is notably seasonal, peaking during the months of A ...

Manx Loaghtan sheep, indigenous to the Isle of Man off the coast of Great Britain, belong to the Northern Short-tailed group, sharing similarities with breeds like the Hebridean but slightly larger in size. Their distinctive wool is characterized by a rich chocolate brown hue with paler tips, reflecting their unique heritage and natural coloring. These sheep are direct descendants of primitive breeds once prevalent throughout Scotland and the coa ...

The Marrana sheep, esteemed for their succulent meat and distinctive wool, epitomize the rugged charm of the Ligurian Alps in Italy. Embraced by the rolling hills and pristine landscapes of this picturesque region, Marrana sheep stand as a testament to the rich tapestry of Italian pastoral heritage.

Draped in a resplendent coat of yellow or light brown wool, Marrana sheep exude an aura of rustic elegance, their fleece mirroring the gol ...

Marwari sheep, native to the Marwad region of India, are a distinctive breed known for their unique characteristics and adaptation to the arid climate of Rajasthan. Resembling the black-headed Persian sheep, Marwari sheep exhibit differences in size and fleece quality, distinguishing them as a separate breed. These sheep are primarily found in various districts of Rajasthan, including Jodhpur, Jalore, Nagaur, Pali, and Barmer, and their dist ...

Masham sheep have been bred for over a century on the hill farms in the Northern Counties of England. They are produced by crossing a Teeswater ram onto either a Dalesbred or Swaledale ewe, both hardy hill breeds. It is from these parent breeds that the Masham gains its hardiness, longevity, heavy milking qualities, strong mothering instincts and high prolificacy.  

Masham ewes are medium-sized and hornless. They have a good r ...

Massese sheep, originating from the Versilia region in north-western Toscana, central Italy, are a versatile breed raised for their valuable contributions to carpet wool, milk, and meat production. Belonging to the Apennine group, Massese sheep share similarities with Garfagnina sheep, another breed from the region.

These medium-sized sheep are known for their distinctive characteristics. They typically have grey or brown wool with a d ...

The Matesina sheep, a treasured heritage breed originating from the sun-kissed province of Caserta in Campania, southern Italy, proudly trace their lineage to the esteemed Gentile di Puglia and Appenninica sheep. Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of the region, these indigenous sheep epitomize the enduring agricultural traditions of southern Italy.

Characterized by their medium size, with males standing at 65 cm and females at ...

Meatlinc Sheep, a distinguished British breed falling into the terminal sire category, emerged from a meticulous breeding program initiated by Henry Fell in 1963. The breed's foundation was laid upon a careful selection process, initially comprising individuals from five distinct breeds—two British and three French. Over the years, this program evolved through rigorous performance recording conducted under stringent commercial conditions, resulti ...

The Meatmaster breed of sheep originated in South Africa in the early 1990s through a deliberate crossbreeding program. Farmers aimed to combine the advantages of indigenous fat-tailed hair breeds with those of well-muscled British and European breeds, creating a composite breed with superior meat qualities. Various fat-tailed breeds were crossed with well-muscled breeds to achieve this goal.

Meatmaster sheep are selected based solely ...

Mehraban sheep, originating from the western province of Hamadan in Iran, hold a significant presence in the region as the predominant breed. Primarily raised for meat production, with an estimated population of around 3 million heads, Mehraban sheep are renowned for several key attributes.

One of the notable characteristics of Mehraban sheep is their exceptional reproductive performance. They are known for their high fertility rates a ...

Merinizzata Italiana sheep represent a captivating and recently cultivated breed, arising from a deliberate breeding program that sought to combine the desirable traits of several distinct lineages. The foundation of this breed involved the strategic interbreeding of Italian Merinos, Gentile di Puglia, and Sopravissana with renowned European Merino varieties such as Ile de France, Berichonne du Cher, and Merinolandschaf.

This meticulou ...

Merino Sheep are one of the most popular breeds of sheep worldwide. Merino Sheep are raised predominately for wool production. Their wool is prized for being very soft and comfortable against the skin. Merino Sheep originated in Spain, but the modern Merino was domesticated in Australia.

Merino Sheep are excellent foragers and very adaptable. Merino Sheep need to be shorn at least once a year because their wool does not stop growing ...

A number of sheep breeding nations, including Phoenicia, Italy, and Spain, are believed to have played a part in the development of the Merino sheep. However, it is generally agreed upon that the Moors, who dominated Spain through the eighth to thirteenth centuries, were primarily responsible for selectively breeding the animals to such an extent that the wool they produced became superior to that of all other sheep.

Indeed, the word ...

Merino Landschaf, also referred to as Wurttemberger sheep, represents a prominent German variety within the Merino lineage. Comprising approximately 30% of the overall sheep population in Germany, they hold the distinction of being the predominant commercial breed in the country. Their lineage traces back to the Merino sheep introduced to Saxony in 1765, marking the inception of a breed known for its significant economic contributions to the Germ ...

Mirror Sheep, medium-sized and visually striking, are distinguished by their unique head design. Despite their predominantly white coat, they feature distinctive black markings around the eyes, on the ear points, and at the nostrils, giving them a striking appearance reminiscent of a mirrored pattern.

These sheep trace their lineage back to ancient Bundner sheep breeds such as the Prattigauer sheep, with potential influences from other ...

The Mohaka feral sheep flock is just one of several of Merino type known to have occurred at various times in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. They evolved around the Mohaka River area behind the historic Tutira sheep station.

Mohaka  Sheep are probably of considerable age - feral Merinos were described from this area as early as the 1880s and Merinos were no longer being farmed there to any extent by 1900.

In 1976, scientist T ...

Montadale sheep stand as a testament to the innovative vision of E.H. Mattingly, a prominent figure in the American sheep industry renowned for his foresight in breeding practices. Developed in the United States through a strategic crossing of Cheviot and Columbia sheep, the Montadale breed embodies a fusion of desirable traits from both lineages.

Mattingly's pioneering efforts aimed to amalgamate the robust size and distinctive appear ...

Morada Nova sheep, primarily found in northeast Brazil, likely have African origins and may also have genetic ties to the Portuguese Bordaleiro breed. These sheep are believed to have descended from selected individuals of the Brazilian Woolless breed, contributing to their unique characteristics.

One notable trait of Morada Nova sheep is their polled nature, with both males and females lacking horns. Rams of this breed typically do no ...

The Mouflon is considered one of the two ancestors of all modern sheep breeds. It typically has a red-brown coat with a dark back-stripe, light-colored saddle patch, and underparts. Males of the species are usually horned, while females can be horned or polled.

Though now rare, the Mouflon has been successfully introduced into central Europe, including countries such as Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Romania.