Sheep Breeds - C
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C
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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
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The Romeldale is a breed of sheep developed by A.T. Spencer, who felt the Romney breed would increase the staple, length, and carcass quality of his Rambouillets. Through many years of selection, the Romeldale breed was developed, with fleece properties of 60-64's, extremely high yield, and uniformity including carcass cutability superior to the other whiteface breeds. During the 1960's, Glen Eidman, a partner of J.K. Sexton, found in his purebred Romeldale flock a multi-colored ewe lamb. Two years later a ram lamb of the same barred pattern was born and when crossed with the ewe, the resulting offspring were of the same color pattern. Through subsequent breeding and further mutants from the Romeldale flock, the C.V.M. Breed was born. These sheep, christened C.V.M.'s or California Variegated Mutants, were kept by Eidman who then placed emphasis on spinability of the fleece, twinning, and lambing ease. The CVM is classified as a "critical" breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Breed categories: medium wool, rare Distribution:
United States
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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
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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
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Photo courtesy of EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
Photo
courtesy of Frank De Smedt and |
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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 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
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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
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Photos courtesy of Charmoise Hill Sheep Society |
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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. They are used primarily as a terminal sire to increase the muscling and growth rate of the lambs. 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 Canada
Charollais Sheep Breeders Society
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Photos
courtesy of Logie
Durno Charollais |
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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
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The
Churra sheep is an native breed raised in Castile and León
in Breed categories: dairy, carpet wool Distribution:
Spain, Europe |
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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
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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
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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. They produce a heavy, medium-wool fleece with good staple length and hardy, fast-growing lambs. Breed categories: medium wool, dual purpose Distribution:
North America |
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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 |
Comisana
Image Source: Università di Palermo
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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
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Photo courtesy of Graham Meadows Ltd.
Photo
courtesy of Deer
Run Sheep Farm |
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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
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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
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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
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