The Shropshire sheep are dual purpose animals. They are raised for both
meat and wool production
.
Where are Shropshire Sheep Found?
The Shropshire breed of sheep originated in
the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire in central western England
.
What does a Shropshire sheep look like?
Descriptors – Resemble
a Hampshire
but are typically smaller and finer boned, white wool over body, with a dark brown to black face, largely free of wool from the eyes down and black-brown legs relatively free of wool from the knees and hocks down, a white wool cap, and polled.
How many sheep are in Shropshire?
In 2016 there were 6,251,333 poultry accounting for 86% of all cattle and livestock,
742,378 sheep
(10%), 42,140 pigs (1%) and 235,174 cattle (3%). Since 2007 there has been an increase in poultry from 4,934,734 to 6,251,333. There has also been a decrease in pigs from 71,133 to 42,140.
What is the purpose of Southdown sheep?
Use. The Southdown was traditionally
reared for meat and wool
. During the day the sheep pastured freely on the downs, and at night they were close-folded in the arable fields of the farmers, where they helped to increase soil fertility. Fleece weights (greasy) are about 2–3.5 kg for ewes, 3.5–5.5 kg for rams.
Where did the Cheviot sheep originated?
The Cheviot originated in
the Cheviot Hills, on the border of England and Scotland
. Recognised as a hardy sheep as early as 1372, Cheviots did well in those bleak, windswept conditions, with their strong constitution, easy lambing, well developed mothering instinct, and fast maturity.
What is the largest of the fine wool breeds?
The Rambouillet
is the largest of fine wool sheep. The breed has a white face and white legs.
What are Oxford sheep used for?
Oxford Down sheep is a meat sheep breed. It is raised mainly for
meat production
.
What color are Southdown sheep?
The sheep are
white with mouse colored faces
. They have wool on their faces, ears, and legs. Both ewes and rams are polled. The wool is fine to medium, with a staple length of 4-6 cm, average fleece weighs 3-5 pounds, and a fiber diameter of 23-29 microns.
What do Dorset sheep look like?
Both horned and polled Dorsets are an all
white sheep
of medium size having good body length and muscle conformation to produce a desirable carcass. The fleece is very white, strong, close and free from dark fiber. Dorset fleeces average five to nine pounds (2.25-4 kg) in the ewes with a yield of between 50% and 70%.
Where did the Southdown sheep originated?
Southdown, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep originating
in the Sussex hills of England
. The oldest of all British breeds of sheep, it has an ideal body conformation for meat production.
How lambs known as the black face cross come from which two breeds?
The Suffolk
is a British breed of domestic sheep. It originated in the late eighteenth century in the area of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, as a result of cross-breeding when Norfolk Horn ewes were put to improved Southdown rams. It is a polled, black-faced breed, and is raised primarily for its meat.
Where are merino sheep found in Australia?
Saxon Merino sheep are found exclusively in the higher rainfall country of
southern Australia
, especially in the highlands of Tasmania, the cooler and wetter regions of Victoria and the tablelands of New South Wales.
What is a teddy bear sheep?
Babydoll Southdown sheep
make perfect companions for young and old because of their diminutive size—ideally 18 to 24 inches at the withers. Also known as the Teddy Bear sheep with a smile, they’re hard to resist once you’ve seen them. They possess high intelligence, with a docile temperament, and train easily.
What are babydoll sheep used for?
Babydoll sheep are popular as
“organic weeders
.” They are often used in vineyards as well as orchards because they don’t hurt the tree trunks or shrubs and they fertilize the soil while they graze.
Which state has the most sheep?
Texas
is the largest sheep producing State, followed by California.
