Breeds of Sheep - r

The Rabo Largo sheep, aptly named for their distinctive broad tails, are native to northeastern Brazil. Originating from fat-tailed hair breeds introduced from Africa, they were subsequently crossed with the native Crioulo sheep, resulting in the development of the Rabo Largo breed.

These sheep exhibit a range of colorations, including white, pied, or white with a colored head, adding to the visual diversity within the breed. Notably, ...

Racka sheep are a distinctive breed of Zackel type, originating from Hungary. One of their most striking features is their long, spiral-shaped horns, which are present in both ewes and rams. These unique cork-screw horns protrude almost vertically from the top of the head, with mature males often boasting horns measuring two feet or more, while the minimum standard length is around 50 cm (20 inches) for rams and 30 cm (12-15 inches) for ewes.< ...

The Raglan Romney feral sheep were sourced from a bush- and scrub-covered peninsula jutting into the eastern side of Raglan Harbor in the Waikato, New Zealand.

The first group of two rams and four ewes was mustered in April 1976; eight ewes were added in December of that same year. (The peninsula was subsequently cleared of bush - and sheep - and broken in for farming.)

The descendants of this small flock remained in the ...

Rahmany, or Rahmani, sheep have their origins in northern Syria and northern Turkey, and they were brought into Egypt during the 9th century. The breed derives its name from Rahmania, a village located in the Beheira Governorate of Egypt.

These sheep are noted for their believed resistance to internal parasites and their ability to breed throughout the year, with a relatively high rate of twinning. Among the Egyptian sheep breeds, Rahm ...

Rambouillet are considered the backbone of the American Sheep Industry, forming the foundation of most western range flocks and raised throughout the United States. Rambouillet sheep descend entirely from the Spanish Merino. In fact, they are the French version of the Merino developed when Louis XVI imported 386 Spanish Merinos in 1786 for his estate at Rambouillet.  

Though named for the town in France, the breed owes much o ...

Red Engadine sheep originated in Switzerland in Lower Engadin and in the bordering Tirolian and Bavarian valleys. They originate from local varieties, from the Stone Sheep, and the Bergamask sheep. They are medium to large framed and are distinguished by their ram nose and their long, hanging ears.  

They have a dark-brown body and a red-brown, medium to coarse wool which with increasing age becomes lighter. They are an easy-ca ...

The Red Maasai sheep, also referred to as Red Masai, represent a distinct breed of East African origin, characterized by their unique attributes and well-suited for meat production. These sheep are primarily found across the regions of northern Tanzania, south-central Kenya, and Uganda, where they have adapted to the diverse environmental conditions prevalent in these areas.

Red Masai sheep are easily recognizable by their striking red ...

Rhoen sheep are one of the oldest landrace breeds in Germany. They were mentioned in 1844 in the files of the convent of Fulda: 'The common sheep of the Rhoen farmer is a normal German sheep with peculiar characteristics, which even in foreign countries is known as Rhoenschaf. It is yellow-white with a black hornless head and is clothed in coarse, non-elastic wool, with little crimp. Its body is large, the bones are strong, and it lends its ...

Rideau Arcott, or just Rideau, sheep are one of three Canadian breeds. Their development began in 1968 at Agriculture Canadas Animal Research Centre in Ottawa when the Centre's Suffolk, Shropshire, and Dorset sheep were combined with imported breeds: Finnish Landrace and East Friesian. In 1974, the Rideau was closed to the introduction of new genetic material.

From 1974 to 1977, the numbers within the breed were multiplied with minima ...

Romanov sheep originated in the Volga Valley, northeast of Moscow. The name Romanov comes from the royal family of Russia. These sheep were first noticed in the 18th century, and were later imported into Germany and then France. In 1980, the Canadian government brought in 14 Romanov ewes and 4 rams for testing and put them into quarantine for 5 years. After that, some were brought to the United States.

Romanov ewes tend to lamb by the lit ...

Romney Sheep are a dual purpose breed, used for wool and meat, that originated in the Romney Marshes of Kent England. They are one of the world most successful sheep breeds.

They are large framed and carry a heavy long woolled fleece. They have a broad white face, sometimes with a small woolly top knot. Both sexes are hornless. Rams average 250 lbs., ewes average 175-200 lbs. Their fleece on average their fleece weighs 10-12lbs.< ...

Roslag are an endangered sheep from Sweden. They originated from the remnant populations of Swedish landrace breeds that used to be rather common all over the countryside, but are generally believed to have come from Raggaron in Roslagen, Sweden.  

They are small and generally white or ivory colored (although 10% of the population are black or white-black bi-colored), they are a short-tailed and are usually used in the product ...

Rosset sheep are a transhumant (magratory) breed found in western Aosta Province, mainly in the three tributary valleys of the Dora Baltea: Val Grisanche, Val di Rhemes, and Val Savaranche. A small number of rosset sheep can be found with other breeds in several valleys of rivers flowing south from Mt Fallere, and in the Val Pelline. They are kept in small flocks of five to ten heads. They are stall-fed during the winter at the farmsteads i ...

The Rouge de l'Ouest sheep, a medium-sized breed, derives its name from its distinctive head coloring, which ranges from pink to deep red. Remarkably, these sheep are hornless, and their heads are adorned with fine hair, contributing to their unique appearance. Similarly, their legs mirror the coloration of the head and are coated in fine hair, adding to their distinctive characteristics.

Renowned for their fleece, Rouge de l'Ouest she ...

Rouge du Roussillon are an endangered breed of sheep from southern France. They are primarily raised in the French Mediterranean countryside for lamb meat. They are of Algerian descent, and came to France in the 18th century, and were likely introduced to France via Spain.  

They are a medium fine-wool breed. The males typically weigh 75-100 kg and stand 75-90 cm tall, while the ewes normally weigh around 55-65 kg and stand 65- ...

Rough Fell Sheep are distinctive for their horned appearance, characterized by a black head adorned with impressive horns. A notable feature of this breed is the presence of a distinct white patch on their nose, which contrasts with the dark coloring of their head.

In addition to their striking facial markings, Rough Fell Sheep are recognized for their robust and substantial build. Their body is large and elongated, with a broad loin t ...

Roussin Sheep, characterized by their medium size, boast a distinctive brown face and legs, distinguishing them from other breeds. The absence of wool on their head and legs adds to their unique appearance, giving them a sleek and streamlined look.

A notable feature of Roussin Sheep is their polled nature, with both males and females lacking horns. This trait contributes to their ease of handling and reduces the risk of injuries during ...

The Royal White sheep, a relatively new breed of hair sheep, has been privately funded and developed by William Hoag of Dorpcroix Sheep Farm in Hermeleigh, Texas. This breed is the result of a deliberate crossbreeding program involving Dorper and St. Croix sheep, aimed at combining the favorable traits of both parent breeds.

Distinguished by their pure white coloration, Royal White sheep exhibit a unique characteristic in their seasona ...

Ruda sheep, primarily located in Albania and Croatia, have a rich history intertwined with the cultural and agricultural landscape of the region. These sheep have faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly in Croatia, where they were designated as the most endangered breed in 2009. This classification underscored the urgency of conservation efforts to safeguard the genetic diversity and cultural heritage represented by the Ruda sh ...

Rya sheep are from Sweden, they are also known as Swedish Carpet Wool Sheep or Ryafar sheep. They originated from Norwegian, Swedish, and Norwegian Spaelsau sheep. They were raised to produce long, wavy and shiny wool to produce rya-wool.

Few long wool sheep breeds remained in the province of Dalarna, leading to the restoration of this sheep breed in the early 20th century. And there was a stable population of about 2000 Rya shee ...

Ryeland Sheep are known for their distinct appearance, characterized by faces adorned with ample wool and medium-sized ears that exhibit a slightly dark hue. Notably, Ryelands lack any trace of horns on their heads. Their chests are broad and moderately deep, complemented by a straight, level back that contributes to their sturdy build.

In terms of leg structure, Ryelands boast dull white-colored legs that are generously woolled up to ...

Rygja sheep are originally from Rogaland in south west Norway. In the 18th century the local Norwegian Spael sheep were crossed with several imported breeds, such as Merino, South Down, and Leicester. After 1860 mostly Cheviot and Sutherland sheep were imported and had also an influence. In later years further crossings have been made with Texel, Finnsheep, Dala, and Steigar sheep.

Rygja sheep are now spread throughout Norway and ...