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Sheep
Breeds J - L
- Jacob
The Jacob is a unique breed. Their most striking features are
their four horns, two vertical center horns and two side horns
curling along side of the head, and their spotted black and white
fleece which is prized by hand spinners and weavers. The Jacob
is an old, unimproved breed whose origins are obscure to say the
least. Some say they are the result of the earliest recorded selective
breeding as referenced in the Bible.
Others claim they descend
from Moorish sheep brought from Spain or Africa or from Norse
sheep from Scandinavia and the northern Scottish islands. Jacobs
came to Britain via the Iberian Peninsula and have been raised
there for over 350 years. Until recent times, Jacobs were kept
at only a few large estates in England and thought to be in danger
of extinction, but they are making a comeback. The Jacob is classified
as a "rare" breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Breed category: medium wool, rare
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe, North America
Go to Jacob Sheep Breeders
Association =>
Go to
American Jacob Sheep Registry =>
Go
to Jacob Sheep Conservancy =>
Go to Jacob
Sheep Society of the UK =>
- Jezersko-Solcava
(Jezerskosolflorinavska)
Jezerskosolflorinavska sheep resulted from the crossbreeding
of native white sheep with the Bergamasca sheep and with the
Padova sheep. It resembles the Austrian Bergschaf that has a
similar origin. The breed got its name after the breeding centers
of Jezersko and Solflorinava. Its head has a convex profile
and hanging ears. Its legs are long and strong. This breed is
very convenient for lamb production in the Alpine and Pre-Alpine
region.
Since 1980, Jezersko-Solflorinavska sheep has been crossed
by Romanovska sheep, hence number of pure breed animals has
been decreased quickly. Therefore, a special program on preservation
the pure breed has been started in 1991. An ewe has 1.42 lambs
per lambing. Ewes are non-seasonal breeders and pregnancy usually
occurs during the lactation period.
Breed categories: meat
Distribution: Europe
Go to Jezersko
Sheep Society =>
- Kamieniec
Kamieniec are a Polish breed. They were created in the years 1954-1965
in the Kamieniec farm of the Breeding Center in Susz, near Olsztyn.
The starting point was a flock of primitive ewes of the Pomeranian
type, from individual farms in the regions of Gdansk and Koszalin
or brought from settlers from the East. They were initially crossed
with Leine and Texel rams, and then mated to Romney Marsh rams.
After selection, the progeny was interbred in order to obtain
genetic consolidation of the required traits and a more uniform
type. Sheep of this strain have rather large, deep, and broad
bodies. Their wool covering much of the body is uniform in quality,
with long staples and hgh clean yield. This variety is also highly
resistant to diseases, especially foot rot.
Breed categories: dual-purpose, medium wool
Distribution: Eastern Europe
- Karakul
(Astrakhan, Bukhara, Persian Lamb)
The Karakul may be the oldest breed of domesticated sheep.
Archeological evidence indicates the existence of the Persian
lambskin as early as 1400 B.C. and carvings of a distinct Karakul
type have been found on ancient Babylonian temples. Native to
the plains of Central Asia, Karakuls differ radically in conformation
from most other American breeds. They are of the fat broad tailed
type of sheep. In their large tail is stored fat, a source of
nourishment, similar in function to the camel's hump.
In Central
Asia and South Africa , large flocks of Karakuls are still raised
for pelt production from very young lambs. The skins of baby
lambs with their tightly curled wool are used in the "Persian
lamb" fur trade. Karakuls were introduced to the United
States between 1908 and 1929. They are a specialty breed in
the U.S. Their fleeces, long and colorful, are prized by hand
spinners. Karakul wool is the wool upon which the art of felting
evolved. The Karakul classified as a "rare" breed
by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Breed categories: double-coated, fat-tailed, rare
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to American Karakul
Sheep Registry =>
- Katahdin
The Katahdin is an improved breed of hair sheep, the first hair
breed to meet North American industry standards for carcass quality.
The Katahdin is a cross between British meat breeds, notably the
Suffolk, African Hair sheep, specifically the St. Croix, and later
the Wiltshire Horn. They were developed in the 1950's by amateur
geneticist Michael Piel and take their name from Mt. Katahdin
in Maine where the Piel farm was located.
The Katahdin is an easy-care,
low-maintenance meat-type sheep that is naturally tolerent of
climateic extremes and capable of high performance in a variety
of environments. One of the most outstanding characteristics of
the Katahdin is its natural resistance to internal parasites.
The Katahdin is one of the most popular breeds of registered sheep
in the U.S.
Breed categories: hair (meat)
Distribution: North America, Caribbean, Asia
Go to Katahdin Hair Sheep
International =>
Go to Pacific Coast Katahdin
Hair Sheep Association =>
Go to Southcentral
Katahdin Hair Sheep Associaton =>
Go to Canadian
Katahdin Sheep Association =>
Go to Saskatchewan
Katahdin Sheep =>
- Kelso
The Kelso is one of several composite breeds developed in New
Zealand. Unlike traditional breeds, which are bred for appearance
as well as productivity, composites are bred for productive
traits alone. The Kelso is continually being upgraded and modified
to meet changing market needs.
Kelso uses the best tools available
to ensure genetic progress. Kelso is a sheep genetics company
which has developed two large scale breeding programmes over
the last 50 years. The Kelso (Maternal Sire) and Ranger (Terminal
Sire) breeding flocks are run on five farms from Gisborne to
Southland all genetically linked.
Breed catetories: meat, composite
Distribution: New Zealand
Go to the Kelso
web site ==>
- Kerry Hill
The Kerry Hill breed is from Powys, on the English/Welsh borders,
and it derives its name from the village of Kerry, near Newtown.
There are records of this distinctive breed in this area dating
back to 1809, and the first Flock Book was published in 1899.
Registered Kerry Hill Sheep can be found throughout the British
Isles, Ireland, and Holland.
It is a handsome sheep, with a black
nose and sharply defined black and white markings on the head
and legs. The fleece handles well and is amongst the softest of
British wools. The breed crosses well with Hill and Long wool
breeds to make crossbred ewes.
Breed categories: hill, dual-purpose
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe
Go to Rasvereniging Kerry
Hill =>
- Kivircik
(Western Thrace)
The Kivircik is found in northwestern Turkey, where it is kept
for milk and meat production. Their fleece is of carpet-wool type,
but the wool is of better quality than the wool of all other indigenous
breeds in Turkey. They are white with white or spotted faces,
similar to the Karnobat and the Tsigai. Black and brown varieties
are also found. Rams have horizontal spiral horns extending sideways;
ewes are usually polled. Tails are long and thin, usually reaching
the hocks.
Breed categories: multi-purpose, carpet wool
Distribution: Turkey
- Lacaune
The Lacaune is the most numerous sheep breed in France. It has
been selected in France for increased milk production under a
sophisticated selection program incorporating artificial insemination,
milk recording, and progeny testing of sires for longer than any
other dairy sheep breed in the world.
Annual genetic improvement
for milk yield in the French Lacaune is estimated at 2.4% or 5.7
kg (12.5 lbs). Lacaune ewes produce milk with higher total solids
than the East Friesians, but in slightly less volume.The sheep
of the Lacaune breed produce the milk which is responsible for
the famous Roquefort cheese.
Breed categories: dairy
Distribution: Europe, North America, South America
- Landschaf
(Bentheimer Landschaf)
This member of the heath-sheep landrace is a cross between German
and Dutch heath sheep and a marsh sheep. Since 1934, it has been
bred in the northern German Emsland area, especially in the county
of Bentheim. The highly endangered, frugal Bentheimer Landschaf
is used for landscape preservation. It is the largest of the German
heath and moor sheep with long legs and hard hoofs.
A slender,
long head, Roman nose, small ears, no horns, long and woolly tail,
describe the sheep. The sheep is white, but dark pigmentation
is permitted around the eyes, on the ears and on its legs. Fleece
weight is 3-4 kg (6.6-8.8 lbs), with a fiber diameter of 34-40
microns.
Breed categories: landrace, rare
Distribution: Europe
- Leicester Longwool
(English Leicester, Leicester)
The Leicester Longwool was important to the development of other
long wool breeds and has made a large contribution to the sheep
industries in Australia and New Zealand. The breed originated
in the Leicester region of England and although it is a very old
breed, Robert Bakewell, a pioneer in the field of animal genetics,
is given credit for improving it during the 18th century.
Leicesters
are a big sheep with a heavy fleece of curly, lustrous wool that
is even in length and fiber diameter. The breed was first imported
into the United States during the time of the American Revolution,
and it is believed that George Washington used Leicester sheep
to improve his flock at Mt. Vernon. The Leicester Longwool is
classified as a "rare" breed by the American Livestock
Breeds Conservancy.
Breed categories: long wool, rare
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to Leicester
Longwool Sheep Breeders Association =>
Go to
The English Leicester Association of Australia, Inc. =>
- Leine
(Leineschaf)
The Leine breed comes from the region of Nordheim (Hannover),
in particular from the Leine river valley (hence the name). It
was created through crossbreeding of local breeds with Friesian,
Merino, and Berrichon du Cher rams as well as rams of the English
Leicester, and Cotswold breeds. In effect, a white hornless sheep
of the dual purpose type was obtained. Medium-early maturing with
uniform medium coarse wool, it is a hardy and healthy breed, well
adapted to difficult conditions and to walking over long distances.
In Germany, the breed is nearly extinct.
Breed categories: dual purpose, coarse wool
Distribution: Europe
- Letelle
The Letelle descends from the Spanish Merino. In 1921-1922, the orginal breeder, the late T.P. van der Walt acquired 35, large, plain-bodied ewes carrying fine wool. They were mainly of the Rambouillet type. He acquired 3 rams with the same qualities to serve as a nucleus for his breeding plans. His ideal was to produce a polled Merino sheep capable of yielding the maximum amount of wool and mutton per grazing unit, a balanced Merino adpated to South Africa's harsh climate. After 25 years of selective breeding, the sheep was introduced to the public. The Letelle is a medium-sized sheep with mutton conformation and uniformly Merino-type wool.
Breed categories: fine wool
Distribution: South Africa
Go to Letelle Sheep Breeders Site =>
- Limousine
Limousine sheep orginated in the region of France which gave them
their name. The Limousine sheep breed has great hardiness and
excellent adaptability in very varied regions, notably on non-chalky,
acid soils. It is a breed notable for its female qualities: early
sexual maturity, a sure aptitude for off-season breeding, maternal
instinct, and milk value.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat
Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom
- Lincoln
The Lincoln is one of the world's largest breeds of sheep. Its
fleece is the heaviest, longest-stapled and most lustrous of any
breed in the world. Lincolns originated in a fertile area on the
East Coast of England, bordering the North Sea and the county
of Lincolnshire. They were first brought to the United States
in 1825, where they contributed to the development of several
commercially-important American breeds including the Columbia
and Targhee.
Breed categories: long wool, rare
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to National Lincoln
Sheep Breeders Association =>
- Lleyn
(pronounced kleen)
Lleyn sheep originate from the Lleyn peninsula in Wales and until
recently were a relatively unfamiliar breed of sheep in the UK.
Over the past 10 years the Lleyn breed has caught the eye of many
farmers, and now Lleyn sheep can be found almost all over the
Country.The Lleyn ewe is renowned for her tremendous mothering
ability, ease of lambing, longevity, and prolificacy.
Lleyn rams
are an ideal way to inject maternal traits, fertility, and hybrid
vigour back into breeding ewes. They are also becoming popular
for crossing onto hill and lowland ewes to produce a quality prime
lamb or to produce a Lleyn cross female replacement that carries
the qualities of the Lleyn ewe.
Breed categories: dual-purpose, long wool
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to Lleyn
Sheep Society =>
- Lonk
The Lonk has been bred on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Pennines
from time immemoria. It is an aristocrat by virtue of origins
as ancient as the hills on which it roams. It is one of the largest
native hill breeds in England. The face is pure black and white,
and the legs are speckled black and white. Both sexes are horned.
Lonk ewes are prolific and good mothers. They are often crossed
with Down and Continental tups (rams) to produce a long lean lamb
suitable for the modern consumer. Lonk tups are often put to ewes
of other hill breeds such as Swaledale, Dalesbred, Scottish Blackface,
and Welsh ewes to produce bigger lamb carcasses and improve wool
quality.
Breed categories: carpet wool, hill
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go
to The Sheep Trust =>
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