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Old Norwegian Sheep
Old Norwegian Sheep
Images courtesy of Norsk Villsaulag BA
Ossimi sheep
American Oxford ram
Photo
courtesy of Double
"O" Acres
Oxford ewes in the UK
Photo
courtesy of Oxford
Down Sheep
Breeders Association and Alan Hambley
Painted Desert ram
Photo
courtesy of Cheyenne Farm
Panama ewe and lambs
Photo courtesy of Dave Casebolt
(University of Idaho)
Pelibüey ewe
Pelibüey ewes
Perendale ewe and lamb
Photo
courtesy of
Graham Meadows Ltd.
Perendale sheep
Photo
courtesy of Rangiatea
Homestead Blair and Sara Gallagher
Pitt Island rams
Photo
courtesy of Rare
Breeds
Conservation Society of New Zealand
(Photo by David Tuart)
Polish Merino
Image source: Sheep Breeds in Poland
Polish Mountain sheep
Image source: Sheep Breeds in Poland
Polwarth ewe
Photo Courtesy of Huddersfield
Stud in New Zealand
Polypay ewe and lambs
Polypay ram
Photos
Courtesy of American
Polypay Sheep Association
Pomeranian Coarsewool
Photo
courtesy of
EAAP-Animal Genetic Bank
Pomorska
Image source: Sheep Breeds in Poland
Portland rams
Portland ewe and lambs
Photos
Courtesy of Beer
Mill Farm
Priangan ram
Priangan ram
Photos Courtesy of the Ramfarm
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Sheep Breeds O - P
- Old Norwegian Sheep
(Villsau)
The Old Norwegian Sheep is a small primitive type of sheep which
inhabited Norway and the rest of Scandinavia as well, including
Iceland and Faeroes. Probably only the feral Soay Sheep of St.
Kilda are more primitive. The sheep are small framed, with good
legs and a fleece varying in colour from almost white to greyish,
dark brown, badger-faced, muflon pattern and black.
Adult males
weigh on average 43 kg (95 lbs) and females 32 kg (70 lbs). The
fleece is remarkably fine and in contrast to the mouflon, the
inner fleece is highly developed. The outer coat has long fibers,
up to 30 cm (11.8 in) around the neck on the males. Normally,
the sheep shed their fleece naturally in early July. All the males
of this breed are horned with approximately 10 % of the ewes also
being horned. This breed of sheep has a unique pattern of flight
(escaping an enemy), which makes it suitable for use in grazing
areas with predators.
Breed categories: primitive, rare, Northern European short-tailed,
double-coated
Distribution: Norway
Go to Norsk Villsaulag BA =>
- Ossimi
The Ossimi breed originated in the Ossim village in the Giza
Governorate of Egypt and is the most popular among the Nile
and Delta sheep breeds. It is thought to be expanding its range
at the expense of other breeds. The breed is adapted to variable
conditions and is usually raised under intensive cropping conditions.
They are a medium sized sheep, narrow, with a shallow body and
long legs. They are multi-colored, usually white with a brown
head, neck, and legs. They produce coarse/carpet wool and have
a fat tail. Rams are horned.
Breed categories: fat-tailed, meat, carpet wool
Distribution: Middle East, Africa
- Oxford
(Oxford Down)
The Oxford or "Oxford Down," originated in Oxford County,
England. The breed was the result of crossing Cotswolds and Hampshires.
It has been contented that very early in the development of the
Oxford breed, a small amount of Southdown blood was introduced.
The breed has never become prominent outside of its own native
area in England. Oxfords have been exported to many major sheep
countries.
The Oxford is one of the largest breeds of sheep .
It produces the heaviest fleece of any of the Down breeds. In
the U.K., it is a specialist breed to cross with commerical crossbred
ewes for meat production. The first Oxfords were imported to the
United States in 1846. They are a relatively minor breed in the
U.S.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat, down
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to American
Oxford Sheep Association =>
Go to
Oxford Down Sheep Breeders' Association =>
- Painted Desert
The Painted Desert Sheep is a spotted hair sheep that received
most of its influence from the Mouflon. Before being established
as a separate breed, it was considered by many to be a parti-colored
Corsican. Other early influence came from Merino and Rambouillet,
and a few four-horned individuals stem from Jacob or Churro ancestry.
Long desired by hunters because of the large horns and aesthetic,
flashy looks, the Painted Desert is now popular among exotic and
alternative livestock fanciers.
These sheep shed their short winter
wool naturally each spring, leaving a glossy, slick coat. Colors
can be very wild with mixes of up to four or five colors. They
breed out of season and lamb twice a year, with twins and even
triplets occurring often. They produce a carcass of lean meat
without a muttony taste. Rams must show Mouflon influence by sporting
a luxurious mane in addition to large, heavy horns of homonymous,
supracervical or polycerate types. Some ewes may be horned. [Text
by Anita Garza]
Breed category: hair, exotic
Distribution: United States
Go to Painted
Desert Sheep Society =>
Go to United Horned Hair Sheep Association =>
- Panama
The Panama breed of sheep is one of only two recognized breeds
of sheep which were developed in the United States by private
sheep breeders. Originating in Idaho in the early 1900's, the
Panama began as a cross between Rambouillet rams and Lincoln ewes.
Following approximately five years of crossbreeding, rams and
ewes were mated among themselves to establish the breed.
The Panama
is a hardy breed that is highly adapted to range areas with ample
feed conditions. They are polled, resemble the Columbia breed,
but are more intermediate in size, and produce a heavy, dense
medium-grade fleece with a long staple length.
Breed category: dual-purpose, medium wool
Distribution: United States
- Pelibüey
The Pelibüey is a hair sheep, probably closely related to
the West African, Red African, African or Africana breed of Columbia
and Venezuela. It is descended from the West African Dwarf and
is found in Cuba, coastal areas of Mexico, and other locales in
the Caribbean. It comprises 75 percent of sheep population in
Cuba.
Hair color ranges from beige, brown, dark brown, red, white,
black, and roan, with both solid and a combination of colors found.
Males do carry a throat ruff, but usually do not have horns.
Breed category: hair (meat)
Distribution: Caribbean, Mexico, South America
- Perendale
The Perendale was developed in New Zealand during the 1950's at
Massey University to meet the needs of hill country farmers on
developing country. It is still a very popular breed in New Zealand.
Developed from the Cheviot and Romney, the Perendale is a dual-purpose
sheep producing a 28-32 micron wool with a 125 mm (5 in) staple
length.
The Perendale is characteristically a high fertility animal,
and has great potential to produce a prime lamb dam when crossed
with the Merino. As a purebred, its hardiness makes it ideally
suited to colder, high rainfall areas. The Perendale is easy to
care for; the ewes have little trouble lambing and are good mothers.
Breed category: dual purpose, long wool
Distribution: New Zealand, Australia, North America
Go to Perendale Sheep
Society of New Zealand =>
-
Pitt Island
The Chatham Islands, inhabited by about 50 people, lie about
750 kilometers (469 miles) east of the Mainland of New Zealand.
In 1841, Saxony Merino sheep were introduced to the Island.
They have been untended for about 80 years. Natural selection
has resulted in self-shedding fleeces and natural parasite resistance.
Originally, they were all white. Half were black by 1950.
Since
1997, 90 percent of flock has been pigmented, most being solid
black and about 5% moorit. Almost 97 percent of the rams have
horns. The horns can be massive, forming complete spirals up
to 95 cm (38 in) around the curve. In 1981, 305 of these feral
sheep were placed in a specially created scientific reserve
on Pitt Island. Some have been exported to the mainland of New
Zealand where they are maintained by rare breeds enthusiasts.
Breed category: feral, rare
Distribution: New Zealand
Go to New
Zealand Rare Breeds =>
- Polish Merino
(Merynos polski)
The first Merino sheep were introduced to Poland from Spain
in 1786. In the early 19th centural, Electoral Merinos were
imported. After 1860, Merinos of the Rambouillet and Precoce
types were brought to Poland, and work towards a dual-purpose
type of sheep was begun. In the period between 1918 and 1939,
the breed was improved for meat traits using such breeds as
the Mele and Ile de France, created on the basis of English
Longwool sheep.
After 1945, Fleischmerinos and Landmerinos were
introduced into some of the Merno flocks which survived the
war. The Polish Merino flocks are located mostly in western
Poland. The Polish Merino shows both meat and wool traits.
Breed category: fine wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: Europe
- Polish Mountain Sheep
(Polska owca górska)
Polish Mountain Sheep evolved from the old Carpathian Cakiel,
and especially one of its varieties - the primative Podhale
sheep. The breed can be found in the whole Polish part of the
Carpathian mountains; however, it is most frequently found in
the Podhale region near the town of Nowy Sacz, where the breed
traditionally originates. It has a light build, thin but strong
legs and narrow rump.
Polish Mountain sheep are milked. The milk
yield is 50 to 100 liters per lacation and 40 to 80 liters in
a milking period of 150 days with a fat content of 7 to 8%.
Meat production is rather poor. The wool is white and coarse,
suitable for carpet manufacture. The thatch-like coat consists
of loose locks, with a characteristic parting line along wthe
back.
Breed category: carpet wool, dairy
Distribution: Europe
- Polwarth
The Polwarth is a dual-purpose sheep, developed in Victoria, Australia,
in 1880. It is 75 percent Merino and 25 percent Lincoln. Polwarths
are well suited to areas with improved pastures and are mainly
found in the higher rainfall districts of southern Australia.
The breed has been successfully exported to many countries, particularly
South America where they are know as "Ideals".
The Polwarth
breed contains both polled and horned sheep with the polled types
predominating. It is large framed, robust, and produces a high-yielding,
soft-handling fleece of 22-25 micron fiber diameter. Much of the
emphasis within the breed has been directed towards developing
and improving the wool aspects.
Breed category: dual-purpose, medium wool
Distribution: New Zealand, Australia, South America
Go to Polwarth
Sheep Breeders' Society of Australia =>
- Polypay
The Polypay is a synthetic breed, developed in the 1970's at
the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho, and Nicholas
Farms at Sonoma, California. Targhee x Dorset and Rambouillet
x Finnsheep crosses were mated to form a 4-breed composite that
could produce two lamb crops and one wool crop per year.
Polypays
are a medium-sized, prolific breed with an extended breeding
season. Good mothers and milkers, they produce lambs with acceptable
growth and carcass quality. The name Polypay comes from "poly"
for many or much and "pay" to indicate a return on
investment and labor.
Breed category: medium wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: North America
Go
to American Polypay Sheep Association =>
- Pomeranian Coarsewool
(Rauhwolliges Pommersches Landschaf, Pomorska)
The Pomeranian Coarsewool is a landrace sheep that used to be
kept in small flocks along the Baltic Sea in Pomeranian (Pomerania)
and Mecklenburg for its wool, meat, and milk. The Pomeranian are
highly resistant against parasites. They are not fussy eaters,
thrive on sandy, as well as moory ground and can be kept alone
or in small flocks. They attach themselves to people, are hardy
and not demanding.
They lamb easily by themselves on the pasture
and can be bred three times in two years. It is a dual-coated
breed, with an outer coat of 14-22 cm long wool and a fine downy
undercoat. The Pomeranian turn lighter as they age, therefore
a silver-gray lamb will turn white and should be culled. Handspinners
love the wool with its interesting shades of gray, and they turn
the yarn into rugged, indestructible sweaters and jackets.
Breed category: landrace, double-coated
Distribution: Europe
- Portland
The Portland, once common in Dorset, is now one of England's rarest
breeds. It is most likely that the Portland is all that is left
of the Western Tanfaced horn, common in the Southwest during the
Middle Ages.The Portland was one of the breeds used in the development
of the Dorset breed. Portlands are small. They are free of wool
on the face and lower legs, which are tan.
The lambs are born
fox red in color and lighten to either white or gray during the
first few months of life. Both sexes are horned, with the ram's
horns having a heavy spiral. This breed will sometimes breed out
of season. In fact, it was the first breed of sheep in Britain
able to have lambs at any time of the year.
Breed category: medium wool, rare
Distribution: United Kingdom
Go to
Portland Sheep Breeders Group =>
- Priangan
(Preanger, Garut Sheep)
In the Priangan residency of West Java which includes the five
districts of Bandung, Garut, Sumedang, Ciamis and Tasikmalaya,
there is a breed of sheep which has been developed primarily for
ram fighting (Ketangkasan Seni Domba). The rams are selected for
size, horn size, and for fighting ability. The champion rams are
highly priced and may fetch up to 300,000 rupiah (US$ 1 = 415
rupiah). However, they are not used for breeding during their
fighting career as it is feared that mating would deprive them
of their taste for fighting.
The Priangan is a variety of the
Javanese Thin-tailed. Some indications are that Africander and
Merino breeding were introduced in the 19th century. They are
usually black or pied, occasionally individuals will be gray or
tan. Males are horned and females are polled. Individuals often
lack external ears.
Breed category: meat
Distribution: Indonesia
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