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California Red ewe and lamb
Image courtesy of Shear
Perfection Ranch
California Red ewes
Image courtesy of Apple Rose
Farm
Cambridge ewe and lambs
Image courtesy of Dorney
Court
Cambridge Ewes
Image courtesy of
EAAP Animal Genetic Bank
Cameroon ewe and lamb
Image courtesy of Frank De Smedt
and Vlaamse hobbyfokkers
van geiten en schapen
Castlemilk Morrit ram
Castlemilk Morrit ewe and lamb
Image courtesy of De Kleine Heide
Charmoise Hill ewe
Images courtesy of
Charmoise Hill Sheep Society
Charmoise Hill Rams
Charollais rams
Images courtesy of Logie
Durno Charollais
Chios ewe
Image by sakız koyunu
Churra ewe
Image courtesy of Universidad
de Córdoba
Clun Forest ewes
Image courtesy of the Damburgh
Flock
Coburg ewe and lambs
Image courtesy of
EAAP Animal Genetic Bank
Coburg ewe and lamb
Image courtesy of Armin
Arend
Columbia ewe
Image courtesy of
South Dakota
State University
Comisana ewe
Image Source: Università
di Palermo
Comisana ewe
Image Source: Progetto di
Miglioramento Genetico Razza Comisana
Coopworths in New Zealand
Image courtesy of Graham Meadows
Ltd.
Coopworth ewe and lambs
Image courtesy of Deer
Run Sheep Farm
Cormo ram
Image courtety of Cedar Wool Farm
Cormo sheep
Image courtesy of Apple Rose
Farm
Corriedale ewe
Image courtesy of
American Corriedale
Association
Cotentin rams
Image courtesy of
Edouard Gendrin
Cotswold ewe
Image courtesy of Smoke Ham
Farm
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Sheep Breeds C
- California Red
The California Red was developed in 1970. It is a cross between
Barbados and Tunis sheep. Considered medium-sized sheep, mature
rams weigh 225 to 250 pounds and ewes range from 130 to 150 pounds.
Both sexes are naturally hornless. Lambs are born a solid rust
or cinnamon red color, a color that is retained as they mature.
At maturity, the fleeces turn a beige or oatmeal color. The legs
and faces are free of wool with long pendulous ears which emphasize
the animal's appearance. The wool is silky in texture and has
found a specialty market with hand spinners and weavers. Year-round
breeding is another charactertistic of the breed.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat
Distribution: United States
Go to California Red Sheep
Registry, Inc. =>
Cambridge
The Cambridge is a dark faced, medium sized sheep with an average
quality white fleece. It was founded in 1964 at Cambridge University.
The female foundation stock consisted of very prolific ewes selected
within native breeds. Most ewes were from the Clun Forest breed,
but the Lleyn, Llanwenog and Kerry Hill breeds also contributed
signficantly, and the Radnor, Ryeland, Border Leicester, and Suffolk
to a lesser extent.
These ewes were crossed with Finn rams and
the resultant F1 males were backcrossed with the foundation stock
to reduce the Finn contribution to 20 percent. The particular
value of the Cambridge is for crossing with other breeds and crossbreeds
to produce a superior halfbred ewe. The breed has a very high
prolificacy, most of which can be attributed to the presence of
a single gene which has a major effect on ovulation.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat, prolific
Distribution:United Kingdom, Europe
Cameroon
The Cameroon sheep is a hair sheep from West Africa. Instead
of wool, they carry a hair coat that in the autumn forms an
additional undercoat, which is shed after winter. Cameroon sheep
do not require shearing. Cameroon sheep are very prolific and
reach puberty very early. They are aseasonal and can produce
two lamb crops per year. They are a resistant, problem-free
sheep. Their most common color is brown with a black belly,
head, and legs.
Breed categories: hair, landrace
Distribution: Europe
Go to Kamerunshafe=>
- Castlemilk Morrit
During the early years of the 20th century, the late Sir Jock
Buchanan-Jardine began a breeding program on his Castlemilk Estate
in Dumfriesshire. Using Manx Loghtan, moorit Shetland, and wild
Mouflon, he developed a breed to beautify his parkland and provide
fine, kemp-free moorit colored wool. On the death of Sir John
Buchanan-Jardine the flock was dispersed in 1970, and six ewes
and a ram were bought by Joe Henson at the Cotswold Farm Park.
All of today’s Castlemilk Moorits are descended from these few
sheep. The Castlemilk Moorit is one of the larger primitive-type
breeds, with mature ewes weighing in the region of 40 kgs. (85
lbs.) and rams 55 kgs. (120 lbs.) The ewes exhibit two uniform
and wide spreading horns which are much heavier and evenly spiralled
in the rams. Light brown or moorit in color, they have definite
mouflon pattern markings to include white underparts around the
eyes, lower jaw, belly, knees and inside lower leg and tail together
with a rump patch.
Breed categories: primitive, rare
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe
Go to Castlemilk
Morrit Sheep Society=>
- Charmoise Hill
The Charmoise sheep originated in the hills of France and has
been used in the production of continental terminal breeds such
as the Charollais and the Rouge. The Charmoise is a genuine hill
breed, the first to be imported to Britain from the Continent.
The breed was formed in France in the late 18th century by the
introduction of Kent rams from England, which were crossed on
the indiginous hill and mountain breeds to give them a better
shape.
The exceptional confirmation of the breed is the principal
reason for the success of the Charmoise ram in commercial crossbreeding
schemes for the production of quality primestock lamb. It is found
in the rougher hill areas of France today where it is bred pure
to produce a high quality small lamb. In France it is the only
top confirmation breed to be classified as "race rustique"
(hardy breed).
Breed categories: medium wool, meat, hill
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe
Go to
Charmoise Hill Sheep Society=>
- Charollais
Charollais sheep are from the same region of France as Charolais
cattle. They originated in the early 1800's from a cross of the
British Dishley Leicester with local landrace breeds. The Charollais
breed is a medium sized, heavy sheep, with a long loin and well
muscled hindquarters. Their clean head is pinkish grey. Their wool is fine to medium and dense.
They are used primarily as a terminal sire
to increase the muscling and growth rate of lambs. They are the second most popular terminal sire breed in the United Kingdom. Carcasses
from Charollais lambs are lean and heavily muscled, especially
in the loin and hindquarters. Dressing percentage is above average.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat
Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom, North America
Go to Canadian
Charollais Sheep Breeders Society=>
Go to Charollais Sheep
Society UK=>
- Chios
Like many breeds, the exact origin of the Chios is unknown.
Some sources suggest it is the result of crossbreeding between
local sheep of the island of Chios (Greece) and breeds from Anatolia
(Turkey). The Chios is typically white with black, occasionally
brown, spots around the eyes, and on the ears, nose, belly and
legs. The entire head is often black.
Female conformation is typically
dairy. The breed is classified as semi-fat-tailed. Milk production
for the breed varies from 265 to 660 pounds (120-300 kg) of milk
per lacation depending on management and husbandry conditions.
The highest production recorded is 1,317 pounds (597.4 kg) during
a 272 day lactation.
Breed cateogories: dairy, semi-fat-tailed
Distribution: Greece, Mediterranean
- (Spanish) Churra
The Churra sheep is an native breed raised in Castile and León
in
northwestern Spain. It is a milk production breed of great hardiness,
well suited to the continental climate of Castile and León,
with long, severe winters, very short springs, and hot dry summers.
Zamorano cheese is a classic Spanish sheep’s milk cheese.
It is made with full cream milk, coming mainly from the Churra
sheep. Navajo Churro sheep descend from the Spanish Churra.
Breed categories: dairy, carpet wool
Distribution: Spain, Europe
- Clun Forest
The Clun Forest originated in the mountainous district of South
West Shropshire in England, adjoining the Welsh Border, and are
the most numerous sheep of the Marshes of Wales. They take their
name from the ancient market town of Clun. Some authors attribute
the breed to a combination of Hill Radnor and Shropshire, with
Kerry Hill breeding also introduced in about 1865.
Cluns are considered
a hardy, moderately prolific, easy care breed of medium size.
They are a relatively new breed in the United States, first imported
in 1959. Clun Forests are darkfaced with no wool on the head and
legs. They produce a medium wool fleece and are known for their
longevity.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe, North America
Go to North American
Clun Forest Association=>
Go to De Clun Forest
Schapenvereniging=>
- Coburg
(Coburger Fuchsschaf, Colberg Fox Sheep)
In the 19th century this landrace sheep populated the European
hilly ranges abundantly. These red fox-colored sheep could be
found under names that indicated their color or living area,
such as Golden Fox, Eisfelder Fox Sheep, Eifeler Sheep, Ardenais
Solognotes, or Rousse Tetes. In the beginning of the 20th century,
60% of the sheep in the German Coburg area were of this landrace
with the red fox-colored heads, but by World War II they were
nearly extinct.
It took Otto Stritzel, a breeder and weaver
from Bavaria to publicize the favorable characteristics of the
Fuchsschaf, which laid the foundation for its continued existence.
The Coburger Fuchsschaf is frugal, hardy, and prolific. Longevity
and non-fussiness of food make it a perfect choice for keeping
on rough hilly ranges. It is possible to breed them three times
in two years. The specialty of the Coburger Fuchsschaf is its
long wool. Lambs are born with a dark red-brown fleece that
lightens at age 6-12 months
Breed categories: rare, long wool
Distribution: Europe
- Columbia
The Columbia is truly an All-American breed, the first to originate
in the United States. Columbias were developed in 1912 from Lincoln and Rambouillet crosses. The object of the cross was to create
a breed that produced more pounds of wool and lamb and could replace
crossbreeding on the range.
Though originally bred for range conditions,
the Columbia has found widespread acceptance throughout the United
States and is used increasingly to sire crossbred market lambs.
Columbias are one of the larger-sized breeds. Rams weigh between 225 and 300 lbs (100-135 kg) and females weigh between 150 and 225 lbs. (68-102 kg).
Columbia sheep produce a heavy,
medium-wool fleece with good staple length and hardy, fast-growing
lambs.
Breed categories: medium wool, dual purpose
Distribution: North America
Go to Columbia Sheep
Breeders' Association of America=>
- Comisana
(Lentinese, Red Head, Testa rossa, Faccia rossa)
The Comisana is one of the most important breeds of Mediterranean
sheep. The breed is valued for its high milk yield, processed
on site to produce a variety of home-made high quality cheeses,
following a tradition lasting thousands of years. The average
production of Comisana ewes is 200 liters per lactation.
In well
managed flocks, many individuals are producing in excess of 2
liters of milk per day, indicative of the breed's high potential.
The Comisana sheep originated in the Southeast region of Sicily
from where it spread throughout Italy, mainly to Toscana, Lazio,
Abruzzo, Basilicata, Puglia and Calabria regions. The breed is
well suited for the entire spectrum of production systems, from
extensive to intensive. The total population is about 700,000
sheep, of which 54% are found in Sicily.
Breed categories: dairy, coarse wool
Distribution: Italy, Mediterranean
Go to Progetto di Miglioramento
Genetico Razza Comisana=>
- Coopworth
The Coopworth is a medium sized, dual-purpose, white faced sheep
with an alert but quiet disposition. It is one of the most dominant
breeds in New Zealand. It originated in New Zealand in the 1960's
from Border Leicester and Romney crosses, and was first imported
into the United States during the late 1970's.
It is a highly
productive sheep, intensively selected for easy care lambing,
prolificacy, and good mothering ability. Coopworth wool is relatively
coarse and long and is popular with hand spinners.
Breed categories: long wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: New Zealand, Australia, North America, Europe
Go to
American Coopworth Registry=>
Go to Coopworth
Sheep Society of North America=>
Go
to Coopworth Sheep Society of New Zealand=>
Go to Coopworth Sheep
Society of Australia=>
- Cormo
Cormo is a system of breeding in which selection is based
on scientific measurement of commercially desirable characteristics.
Selection criteria include clean fleece weight, fiber diameter,
growth or body weight, and fertility. Originating in Tasmania,
Australia, the Cormo derives its name from its two parent breeds:
Corriedale and Superfine Saxon Merino.
Cormo sheep were first
introduced into the United States in 1976. They are not being
promoted as a show sheep, but rather as one of economic value.
Cormos sheep produce a long stapled, high yielding fine-wool fleece
with a high degree of fiber uniformity. They cross well with American
breeds.
Bred category: fine wool
Distribution: Australia, New Zealand, North America
Go to American Cormo Sheep Association=>
Go to THe Cormo Sheep Conservation Sheep Registry, Inc.=>
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Corriedale
The Corriedale is the oldest of all the crossbred wool breeds,
a Merino-Lincoln cross developed in Australia and New Zealand
and first brought to the United States in 1914. Corriedales
are a dual-purpose sheep with good meat and wool.
Their dense
fleece is medium-fine and high yielding, with good length and
softness, somewhat between medium wool and long wool. It is
favored by hand spinners. Corriedale lambs produce good quality
carcasses and have a high pelt value.
Breed categories: medium wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to American
Corriedale Association, Inc.=>
Go to Australian
Corriedale Association=>
- Cotentin
The Cotentin originates from the western French region of Manche (Lower-Normandy), on Cotentin Peninsula. It is of Flemish origin, with influences from the Dishley, Southdown, and Leicester. The breed was commonly found on horse farms. Today, the Cotentin is found in three main regions of Lower-Normandy: Calvados, Orne, and Manche. It is used as a meat breed. Its phenotype was fixed in 1900. A flock book was created in 1925. The Cotentin is a large, sheep charactrized by pink skin, a depressed head and, large eyes. Both sexes are polled. The status of the breed is threatened. It is estimated that there are only about 2000.
Breed categories: meat, rare
Distribution: France
- Cotswold
The Cotswold is an ancient breed of sheep descended from sheep
that grazed the Cotswold Hills at the time of Caesar's conquest
of Britain. In the Middle Ages, Cotswold wool was a major export
of England, contributing greatly to the wealth of the country
as a whole and particularly to the Cotswold region, where the
wool churches and large houses remain as evidence of its importance
at that time.
Cotswolds are a large breed, noted for their long,
coarse fleece of naturally wavy curls and the tuft of wool on
their foreheads. The earliest record of Cotswolds in the United
States is 1832. The Cotswold is classified as a "rare"
breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Breed category: long wool, rare
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe, North America
Go
to Cotswold Breeders Association=>
Go to The Cotswold
Sheep Society=>
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