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Sheep Breeds R
- Rabo Largo
Rabo Largo, meaning broad tail, are found in northeastern Brazil.
They originated from fat-tailed hair breeds which were brought
from Africa and crossed with the native Crioulo. They are white,
pied, or white, with a colored head. Both sexes are horned. Individuals
within the breed vary between hair and carpet wool. The breed
is one of the long fat-tailed breeds.
Breed category: hair (meat)
Distribution: South America
Go to Associação
Brasileira de Criadores de Ovinos =>
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Racka
(Zackel)
The Racka is a unique breed with both ewes and rams possessing
long spiral shaped horns. The breed is of the Zackel type and
originated in Hungary. The breed is used for milk, wool and
meat production. Mature males may have horns as long as two
feet or more. The minimum standard length is given as 50 cm
(20 inches) for rams and 30 cm (12-15 inches) for ewes.
The
cork-screw horns protrude almost straight upward from the top
of the head. The Racka has been described as a hardy animal
and is often used in crossbreeding due to its ability to pass
this survivability to its offspring. The breeds unique appearance
and quiet disposition would make it a desirable animal for hobby
situations.
Breed category: long wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: Europe
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Rahmani
The Rahmani originated in northern Syria and northern Turkey
and was introduced into Egypt in the 9th century. The original
stock is the Red Karman from Turkey. The breed is named after
Rahmania, a village in the Beheira Governorate in the North
of the Delta. This breed is believed to have some resistance
to internal parasites. The animals breed all year round. The
twinning rate is relatively high. They are the largest of the
Egyptian sheep breeds. They produce coarse/carpet wool and have
a fat-tail. Their color is brown, which fades with age.
Breed category: fat-tailed
Distribution: Middle East
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Rambouillet
The Rambouillet is the "backbone" of the American
Sheep Industry, forming the foundation of most western range
flocks and raised throughout the United States. The Rambouillet
descends entirely from the Spanish Merino. In fact, it is the
French version of the Merino developed when Louis XVI imported
386 Spanish Merinos in 1786 for his estate at Rambouillet.
Though
named for the town in France, the breed owes much of its development
to Germany and the United States. The Rambouillet is a dual
purpose sheep, producing a desirable carcass and good fine wool.
Rambouillets are large sized, rugged and long-lived with a strong
flocking instinct. Rambouillet ewes possess many desirable traits
which have resulted in their inclusion in crossbreeding programs
to improve lamb production.
Breed category: fine wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: North America, Europe
Go to The American
Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association =>
Go to
the Greater Wisconsin Rambouillet Association =>
- Red Engadine
(Fuchsfarbene Engadiner)
Red Engadine sheep orginated in Switzerland in Lower Engadin and
in the bordering Tirolian and Bavarian valleys. They originate
from local varieties, from the Stone Sheep and the Bergamask sheep.
They are medium to large framed and are distinguished by their
ram nose and their long, hanging ears.
They have a dark-brown
body and a red-brown, medium to coarse wool which with increasing
age becomes lighter. They are an easy-care sheep, well suited
to extensive production situations. In the 1980's, the breed was
almost extinct in Switzerland, but conservation efforts reversed
the trend and in 1992, the Swiss Engadine Sheep Breeders Club
was formed.
Breed category: rare
Distribution: Europe
- Red Masai
Red Masai are an East African fat-tailed type of hair sheep used
for meat production. They are found in northern Tanzania, south
central Kenya, and Uganda. Masai are red-brown, occasionally pied.
Males are horned or polled. Females are usually polled. Red Masai
are known for being resistant to internal parasites.
Breed category: hair (meat), fat-tailed
Distribution: Africa, Europe
- Rhoen
(Rhöenschaf, Rhönschaf, Rhön)
One of the oldest landraces in Germany was mentioned in 1844
in the files of the convent of Fulda: “The common sheep
of the Rhoen farmer is a normal German sheep with peculiar characteristics,
which even in foreign countries is known as Rhöenschaf.
It is yellow-white with a black hornless head and is clothed
in coarse, non-elastic wool, with little crimp. Its body is
large, the bones are strong, and it lends itself to fattening.”
Pictures from 1873 show that the Rhöenschaf then was similar
to the one of today, despite crossbreeding attempts with Cotswold,
Oxfordshire, and Merino rams. Even today it is a medium to large-sized
sheep with long legs and no horns. It is the only breed with
white legs and black head that is free of wool.
This extremely
hardy and frugal landrace is well suited for the wet climates
of rough highlands, where it is useful in landscape preservation.
In the higher regions, the sheep feed on rough grasses and tree
sprouts; in lower areas, they groom the meadows that are dotted
with fruit trees.
Breed category: meat
Distribution: Africa, Europe
Go to Sächsische
Schaf- und Ziegenzuchtverband e.V. =>
- Rideau
Rideau sheep are one of three Canadian breeds. Their development
began in 1968 at Agriculture Canada's Animal Research Centre in
Ottawa when the Centre's Suffolk, Shropshire, and Dorset sheep
were combined with imported breeds: Finnish Landrace and East
Friesian. In 1974, the Rideau was closed to the introduction of
new genetic material.
From 1974 to 1977, the numbers within the
breed were multipled with minimal culling to broaden the genetic
base. From 1977 to 1986, selection emphasis was on high fertility
and the potential for yearround lambing and to a lesser extent
retail cut yield. In 1988 and 1989, the breed was released to
nucleus flockowners.
Since 1989, the breed's popularity has grown
rapidly. Rideau sheep should be used in commercial flocks to improve
the maternal traits within that flock. Approximately 50% of Rideau
ewes carry three lambs or more during pregnancy and another 40%
carry twins.
Breed category: meat, prolific
Distribution: North America
Go to Rideau Association
of Canada =>
- Romanov
The Romanov sheep breed originated in the Volga Valley, northeast
of Moscow. The name “Romanov” comes from the old royal
family of Russia. These sheep were first noticed in the 18th century,
and were later imported into Germany and then France. In 1980,
the Canadian government brought in 14 Romanov ewes and 4 rams
for testing and put them into quarantine for 5 years. After that,
some were brought to the United States
Romanov ewes tend to
lamb by the litter. Most other sheep give birth to singles and
twins, while the Romanov average about 2-5 lambs per lambing.
When the lambs are born they are pure black but when they get
older they turn gray. Romanov wool (a mixture of gray wool and
black guard hair) is used for rugs, mats, and wall hangings.
Breed category: meat, prolific, short-tailed
Distribution: Worldwide
- Romeldale/California Variegated Mutant (CVM)
(American Romeldale)
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
Go to American Romeldale/CVM Association ==>
Go to Calfornia Variegated
Mutant: A Rare American Original=>
- Romney
The Romney is truly a versatile breed, as demonstrated by its
ability to produce quality meat and wool under diverse climate
conditions and management systems. It is so-named for the Romney
Marsh region in Kent, England where it was developed as a dual
purpose sheep. Due to the extreme geographic and climatic conditions
of the region, Romney sheep developed some specific breed characteristics
which include hooves which are resistant to footrot and fleeces
which remain heavy in harsh weather.
Due to similar land topography,
Romneys made an easy transition to the Southern Island of New
Zealand and the Falkland Islands where they quickly established
themselves as the most predominant breed. The first Romneys came
to the United States in 1904. Their long, lustrous fleeces are
sought by hand spinners.
Breed category: long wool, dual-purpose
Distribution: Worldwide
Go to the American
Romney Breeders Association =>
Go to Romney Sheep
Breeders Society =>
Go to
the New Zealand Romney Breeders' Association =>
- Rouge de l'Ouest
The Rouge is a medium sized breed of excellent conformation without
excessive bone. As its name suggests, its head, which is hornless,
can vary from pink to deep red and is covered with fine hair.
The breed is strong and deep through the chest with good length
in back and loin, but it is the exceptional hind quarters and
muscling that are immediately recognized as the powerhouse of
the Rouge.
The Rouge de l'Ouest is of the same origin as the Bleu
du Maine, but with a distinctive pink face and legs. It is used
primarily for market lamb production, though was originally kept
as a dairy sheep to produce Camembert cheese. However; French
breeders concentrated on breeding their animals for superior conformation,
whilst retaining prolificacy and milkiness. The name Rouge de
l'Ouest (usually shorted to Rouge) translates as Red of the West,
describing both the color and origin of the breed.
Breed category: meat, medium wool
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe
Go the British Rouge
Sheep Society =>
- Rough Fell
The Rough Fell is an exceptionally docile sheep that excels
in hardiness and has no equal in its power to exist under adverse
conditions. It is well fitted to endure the hardships of the mountains
and valleys of Northern England including the Lake District and
the Yorkshire Dales. Drafted to lower ground, the Rough Fell is
a dual purpose breed and is found in many counties of the United
Kingdom. They are ideal for crossing. The breed has a horned black
head with a definite white patch on the nose.
Breed category: carpet wool
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe
Go to The Rough
Fell Sheep Breeders' Association =>
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Roussin
(Roussin de la Hague)
Roussin Sheep were developed from, the Brittany Heath Sheep.
Dishley Leicester and the Southdown. In the 1960's the breed
was improved using Suffolk and Avranchin. In 1977, the breed
was closed and the characteristics established. The main areas
in France the Roussin are the Cherbourg peninsular, Normandy,
and Brittany. The French sheep breeds tend to stay in their
local areas. However Roussin Rams have been taken down to the
Carmangue to be used on the feral sheep to produce fat lambs
off the salt marsh.
Roussin sheep are now found throughout Europe
and the UK, able to adapt to any soil or climatic conditions.
Roussin are hardy and prolific, capable of achieving with 200%
lambing average. Ewes have plenty of milk and lamb growth rates
are averaging 340 grams (0.75 lbs.) per day upto 100 days. Lambs
finish at 18 to 21 kg (40-46 lbs.) dead weight. The carcasses
are noted for their exceptional meat to bone ratio.
Breed category: carpet wool
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe
Go to the Roussin Sheep Society =>
- Royal White®
The Royal White® is a new breed of hair sheep privately funded
and developed by William Hoag, of Dorpcroix Sheep Farm in Hermeleigh,
Texas. The breed is a cross between the Dorper and St. Croix.
They are pure white. They grow a longer hair in the winter that
is shed off naturally in the spring. Ewes and rams are naturally
hornless. Texas Tech and Texas A & M University are currently
doing research with the breed with regards to meat production
and scrapie resistance.
Breed category: hair (meat)
Distribution: United States
Go to Royal White® Sheep Association =>
- Ryeland
Ryelands are a white-faced, polled (no horns), small to medium
sized, down-type breed whose antecedents were developed by monks
at Leominster in the rye growing district of Herefordshire, England,
in the 15th Century. It was one of the breeds used to introduce
the poll gene to the Dorset breed in the development of the Poll
Dorset. The Ryeland breed first came to New Zealand in 1903 and
later to Australia.
Initially a dual purpose sheep, the breed
was, in latter years, used mainly as a terminal sire. There has
been a recent upsurge in interest in the Ryeland as a breed ideally
suited for small farmers who want the truly all-purpose type of
sheep; not too big to handle safely, docile, fertile, thrifty,
and capable of providing both fine wool for hand-spinning and
high quality meat for the table.
Breed category: medium wool, meat
Distribution: United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand
Go to the Ryeland Flock
Book Society =
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