Do you want to sell (or spin your own) wool? Cheviot Sheep come in black and white, but most of our babies are solid white. We're also trying to build up our flock so we'll be keeping probably about half of our ewe lambs next year. Rams usually have beautiful spiral horns, whereas the ewes are typically polled. The ears are upright. People are drawn to these little cuties because of the small size, gentle nature and famous “smiling fuzzy faces”. Personal consumption, breeding, etc.? They live 15 to 16 years. Created prior to the 19th century by crossing the meaty and muscular Southdown with the hardy and semi-wild Norfolk Horned sheep, the Suffolk developed qualities taken from both its parent breeds and combined them well. Large and hearty, good mothers, and prolific to boot, it's no wonder the Suffolk is many a farmer's breed of choice for meat sheep. Miniature sheep are bred to be small, typically as pets. Each sheep weighs 80 to 100 kilos and produces about 4 kilos of wool a year. Producers of Suffolk must remember to use a de-wormer for their sheep on a regular schedule, as these animals don't perform well with a high worm load. I understand why huge operations rely on just one or two specific breeds of sheep to turn a profit. Commercial dairy sheep operations generally use a 50% cross of the Friesian, because they are not a very hardy breed and adapt poorly to environments that differ from that which they evolved in. It's conformation is similar to that of the larger dairy goat breeds. It has curved horns and a scurfy mane. BUT, on the other hand, if someone is dedicated to doing a sheep dairy I'm sure all the extra trouble would be worth it. One of the smallest breeds of sheep in the world also called Breton Dwarf. They are cud-chewing animals. If clean, their wool will command a premium price. The west African dwarf sheep is widely distributed in the southern Nigeria, the breed is small compact hardy breed with a wide range of coat-colour which may be all white, black or brown or spotted black or brown on a white coat. The nose is straight. We are very proud of the daily handling and care given to our miniatures here at Tanglewood Farm. Some breeds of wool sheep will shed their own wool, while others will absolutely require a helping hand. You've probably noted that I value genetic diversity in livestock animals, even over production efficiency, so I'm a proud owner of the large-sized, hardy, highly prolific Polypay. Having retained many of their primitive survival instincts, they are easier to care for than many of today’s commercial breeds. This modern South African breed thrives in arid regions and is known for its extremely large, meaty carcass. Rachel worked as a farm manager for 3 years in Pennsylvania. The West African Dwarf or Djallonké is an African breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep. Miniature Babydoll Southdown Sheep For Sale. The registry breed standards are a height of 24 inches or less at the shoulder without wool when fully mature at age two. Although the lambs won't reach standard market rate as quickly as those of other breeds, small-scale operations can certainly afford to forgive this tidbit. The Polypay isn't so much a "breed" of sheep as it is a hybrid type. are highly meat productive sheep breeds. This breed is primarily raised for meat. • Miniature sheep are easier for husbandry duties: foot trimming, shearing, drenching are all easier with smaller sheep. Miniature Cattle Breeds ~ Size of Miniature Cows. In breeds such as the Chinese Banna miniature pig, dwarfism arises due to deliberate selection of dwarf animals for breeding (Deng et al., 2011). Miniature Olde English “Babydoll” Southdown Sheep originated around the late 1700’s in the southdown hills of Sussex County, England. One of the Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds. Nigerian Dwarf, Pygmy, and Dwarf Nubian goats are a few of the breeds of miniature goats. This will be my first winter with her though, so I'll get to see for myself how she does. Cheviot Sheep are one of our smallest breeds, and are known for their clean faces, small build, and hardiness. Liz Davis from Hudson, FL on July 20, 2014: I would love to have sheep, simply because they are so beautiful and have such a calming nature about them. Only after the many exhaustive efforts to form a foundation registry to preserve the original miniature sheep, the numbers of sheep have gained resurgence. Sheep also have a strong flocking instinct. They can breed year-round, throw two lamb crops per year, their wool is good enough to sell, and yearling ewes are able to breed and successfully produce twins or more. MINIATURE AND SMALL SHEEP BREEDS AABMGS recognises and registers breeds that are traditionally small or have been more recently bred to be small: Babydoll Sheep (a small dual purpose sheep breed based on the Southdown) Persian Sheep (an ancient small domestic breed rare in Australia) They are cud-chewing animals. Fleece tests at 19-20 microns which puts it in the class of cashmere. Considering that the Hog Island is one of the most critically endangered sheep in the world, and with only a few thousand specimens in the United States, I can only hope that my efforts will pay off and help to preserve this genetic cache... before it's lost forever. Also called “teddy bear” sheep, they are 19-24” at the shoulder. Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on July 20, 2014: Fascinating, Rachel! Bred during … Oftentimes, the best and most desirable traits of each breed involved in the cross will show up in the offspring. Most respond well to attention and ours all even wag their tails when petted! Rebekah Pierce. By Original: User:Fir0002 Derivative work: Charles Esson at en.wikipedia (Edit of Image:Sheep eating. We prefer weanlings do not leave Tanglewood Farm before they are 2 months of age. Meat Productive Sheep Breeds: Dorset, Suffolk, Cheviot etc. The West African Dwarf is the predominant breed of the humid tropics … Cool stuff, wouldn't you say? Within this wide geographical zone are variation in type. Notable and desirable traits of the Barbados include resistance to disease, tolerance for different climates (especially hot and humid, and including cold climates), ability to tolerate a higher worm load than other types of sheep, and low-maintenance foraging skills. Aside from needing to be shorn (as almost all wool sheep do, no matter the grade), they don't require much special care or considerations. We are very proud of our foundation bloodlines. I'd like to close this article with a shout out to the "mutt sheep," which is a catch-all term I'm going to use to describe any nondescript, non-distinct type of sheep that might be grazing the pastures of small farms across the world. They're easy to obtain, easy to keep healthy, easy to breed, and easy to sell. They don't tolerate a worm load very well either, so a consistent worming routine is needed, which can get costly. Appreciate your comment, as always :) We breed our sheep and sell the lambs. EwigLernender at the German language Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY. They are a calm, docile and easy-to-manage breed. Female sheep are called ewes. However, the demand for larger cuts of meat almost forced the breed into extinction. In breeding for these larger characteristics however, many of the original "miniature" attributes were bred out and nearly lost. This breed referred to as dwarf because it is small and has short legs. When you say they're not hardy, do you mean they're susceptible to illness, or you need to work hard to keep them comfortable in different climates, or all of the above? The Miniature Saanen goat was developed by the crossing of the Standard sized Saanen goat breed with that of the Nigerian Dwarf goat. Male sheep are called rams. So commercial operations consist of a limited gene pool, and must be careful not to breed too closely over too many generations. So, if you're not willing to learn to shear or to spend the money to have someone do it for you, then a breed of hair sheep will be your obvious choice! Suffolk: The Popular Meat Sheep. They need time to grow and play with other weanlings, receive discipline from their mothers, and time to change their diet gradually to eliminate the desire for mother’s milk. Shetland Sheep are a British breed brought to the Shetland Islands of Scotland by Vikings over a thousand years ago. The Hog Island Sheep is a veritable treasure trove of untapped genetic diversity, which, if bred into our more popular, commercial sheep breeds, would create advanced hybrid vigor and simultaneously help to "breed out" some of the health issues we have unintentionally created. Voted up! They aren't easy keepers, but that's okay for us small farmers and homesteaders because we have the time and energy to give individual care to our animals. Miniature Sheep mate from August to December. Female sheep are called ewes. It is great for making garments to be worn next to your skin, and the color range encourages using creative and exciting knitting patterns. Size: Very large. They are fine-boned and agile and their naturally short, fluke-shaped tails do not require docking. The coat colour varies from all white, all black or brown to spotted black or brown on a white … Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on June 03, 2015: Great hub Rachel on the different types of sheep for the farm. These miniature cows can be classified in categories that depend on their height at the hip. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on August 01, 2014: Yep, in two years...and goats...must not forget goats. Thanks, Rachel! The interesting thing is that it's often the case that when breeding hybrids to hybrids, they don't "breed true"—that is, the traits that were present in the parents stop showing up in the offspring, or show up to a lesser degree, at a certain point. While all of these modern traits may seem superior, the fact of the matter is that other aspects of the animal suffer when only one is emphasized in breeding practices. Midsize miniature cows measure from 42 to 48 inches at the hip.. Standard miniature cows range from 36 to 42 inches.. Micro-miniature cows are all less than 36 inches in height at the hip.. Neat, huh? West African Dwarf Sheep: The breed is found in the whole area south of Latitude 14°N. The participating in the experiment found these various traits in the four breeds of sheep mentioned above and set about combining different variations and crosses of these animals to create the "perfect" sheep. Hardiness: Good. Here at Tanglewood, because the mama sheep are so tiny, we supplement feeding the lambs with milk bottles along with the babies naturally drinking from their mamas. Most breeds of wool sheep need to be shorn (their wool cut away) at least once per year, while hair sheep do not require shearing. Do you want to raise lambs that will be grown into ewes for breeding purposes? By Jacquie Wingate from Recovery, usa (Flickr) [CC-BY-SA-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by. Babydoll sheep are a registered breed of miniature sheep. A North European Short Tailed type, the Shetland is related to the Icelandic, Finn Merino sheep are also a popular breed to use in competition sheep showing, and a specific breed standard can be located through a simple Google search. You should answer all of these questions, and then begin your research into sheep breeds. A very important characteristic of Shetland Sheep is their beautiful wool, upon which the world-renowned Shetland wool industry was built. But the flock of mutt sheep has less to worry about. Different types of Sheep Breeds. Miniature Sheep. Just be aware that in order to produce all that extra milk, this breed of sheep requires extra nutrition during lactation. They're bred for wool production and don't reach market weight as quickly as sheep that are bred for meat. A mature ram can weigh up to 390 pounds and a ewe can weigh up to 260 pounds. Miniature Shetland Sheep are one of the smallest of the British sheep. It takes a female sheep five months to have a baby lamb. This breed of sheep is rather large, but very docile. The ancestors of the Hog Island Sheep were brought to the island in the 18th century, and abandoned sometime in the early twentieth century. I'll take my chances with the crossbreeds and mutts, and be sure to let you all know how it goes. Miniature Sheep mate from August to December. Also Know By: Cameroons Dwarf, Djallonké, Forest-type, Fouta Djallon, Futa Jallon, Guinean, Kirdi, Kirdimi, Lakka, Nigerian Dwarf, Pagan, Savannah-type, Southern, West African Maned. This also enables Tanglewood Farm time to deworm the weanlings and give them their first vaccinations. Katahdin sheep were developed in Maine, named after the state’s tallest peak. Neither males nor females have horns. Like many hair sheep, they are disease resistant and though they have more of a wooly hair, they don’t suffer from health issues related to true wooly sheep breeds. The American Blackbelly is closely related to the Barbados Blackbelly – as you … Do you want dairy sheep for the purpose of producing milk, or cheeses such as Feta or Romano? They often have twins and occasionally triplets. Cheviot Sheep come in black and white, but most of our babies are solid white. Miniature Babydolls were imported to the United States in 1803. It is the dominant breed of West and Central Africa. They love weeds, honeysuckle and kudzu. This divergence from the original breed standards was the beginning of what would later become two distinct lines: The Southdown and the miniature (or original) Southdown. Harlequin sheep are a registered breed of miniature sheep. There are an estimated 50 breeds of sheep in the United States alone and more than 1,000 worldwide. Balami is most predominant in the North eastern part of Nigeria. I love the way their ears stick upright, similar to a rabbit’s. Hybrid vigor occurs when different, specialized breeds with different, specialized traits are bred with one another. Animal Actors Traveling Barnyard Traveling Ponies Live Nativity. How does your Barbados do in the winter? Looks great. For the small farmer or homesteader, Merino sheep would be a good choice for home meat production because they are easy keepers. Like I said, I've never kept this particular breed of sheep, so this info is based on research and on talking to the one guy I know who has had them in the past - he said they weren't worth the money for him, that milk goats were much more reasonable. These hair sheep are not seasonal breeders, unlike most types of sheep, meaning that the ewes will have heat cycles throughout the year. That seems kind of confusing, but basically the story behind the Polypay is that some producers got together in the 1970s and decided they wanted to create a new type of sheep that would meet specific demands. I'm going to breed her with my Polypay-mutt ram and see what kind of wild lambs I can get out of her. Highly variable, the Shetland fiber can range very from an incredibly fine 15 microns fiber found around the neck to a coarser wool as great as 36 microns to make rugged, warm fabrics like woven tweeds. With so many animals, the producer doesn't have time to closely monitor each individual of the flock. In comparison, other breeds of sheep tend to grow between 250 and 300 pounds. Do you just want some pet sheep that will help mow the grass. Very useful and informative for farmers to have them as livestock. Because of the nearly-two centuries of isolation, the Hog Island Sheep is genetically unique, especially among American sheep breeds. How did I come by such a rare find? Thus, giving the goat its robust and compact features with added benefits or rich creamier milk with a higher butterfat and protein content. Do you want to raise lambs for market or home-use? The baby lambs are usually weaned between eight to twelve weeks old. These included two lamb crops per year, one good wool crop per year, hardiness, good mothering skills, and a heavy carcass weight. Shetland sheep are considered to be a “primitive” breed (I prefer the term heritage) because they retain characteristics that have not been changed since they were first considered a breed, hundreds of years ago. Lesa Wilke, in her book, “Nigerian Goats 101” has a chart showing the different breeds of goats and the milk yield. Suffolks are easily distinguishable from other breeds of sheep by their white wool, black faces, and long, black legs. It takes a female sheep five months to have a baby lamb. If I were, I would want a Friesian. I am a spinner. Miniature Sheep give birth only one time a year, usually in the spring. My one and only Barbados Blackbelly ewe. Luckily, the small farmer has few enough animals to be able to keep an eye on things, and make sure that less-than-desirable animals aren't kept as breeding stock. Miniature Olde English “Babydoll” Southdown Sheep originated around the late 1700’s in the southdown hills of Sussex County, ... Miniature Shetland Sheep. Midsize miniature cows measure from 42 to 48 inches at the hip.. Standard miniature cows range from 36 to 42 inches.. Micro-miniature cows are all less than 36 inches in height at the hip.. They aren't the only breed of sheep that needs extra care to reach full potential. I'm in favor of the Polypay (in fact, I own three of them) because they represent a wonderful phenomenon known as hybrid vigor. THis includes my house too. One of my new mixed-up crossbreed mutt ewe lambs. Once an animal is sold, it may not be returned or refunded. Miniature Sheep help farmers clean ground in vineyards, high bush fruit fields, and small orchards. Looking like tiny Holsteins, these genetically small sheep are naturally polled. Do you want to show sheep in competition? Fiber type: Medium wool. Being a somewhat obscure hair sheep breed, with small adult body weight, the Barbados hasn't seen much attention from commercial breeders and is therefore in danger of being placed on the threatened livestock species list. Perhaps the first thing to consider when selecting sheep is also the simplest: hair or wool? Lambs will produce about 4 pounds of wool at shearing, while a yearling will produce closer to 7 pounds of wool. It is small and short-legged. In comparison, other breeds of sheep tend to grow between 250 and 300 pounds. I am also in wa. The thin-faced ewe staring at the camera is Friesian. The Barbados grows a thicker coat of hair for the winter, then sheds it naturally as the weather warms. They descend from crosses of African hair sheep and European wool sheep, dating back as far as the 17th century. The Miniature Saanen goat was developed by the crossing of the Standard sized Saanen goat breed with that of the Nigerian Dwarf goat. Fat lambs, that is - which means they're born in the spring and we sell in the fall, when they're heavier and their dams have weaned them. Even her previous owner wasn't sure! The correct name for the " Cameroon sheep" or "West African Dwarf sheep" is "Djallonké" (in the Fulani language). Babydoll sheep are a registered breed of miniature sheep. Babydolls are a rare breed that are protected by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Personally, I wouldn't keep East Friesian sheep on my farm due to there general lack of hardiness; then again, I'm not interested in milk production. One of the smallest breeds of sheep in the world also called Breton Dwarf. What breeds do you reccomend. They are almost always polled, and mature ewes can weigh up to 250 pounds. Male sheep are called rams. They are quiet and gentle. To preserve the dairy quality of the Friesian while side-stepping the animal's lack of hardiness, I would probably cross it with a hardier breed such as the Lacaune or Cheviot. It has more barbs per inch than any other wool types and makes it ideal to blend with mohair, angora, or alpaca to make a stronger yarn without losing softness. In fact, the Friesians didn't come to the U.S. until as late as the 1990s, but have been gaining in popularity and production ever since. Non-seasonal breeding can allow for more than one lamb crop per year, and the ewes are prolific, usually producing twins or even triplets. And probably like me, you'll find it's all so much less than perfect. To other countries, we can arrange air transportation on major airlines. My experience with Hog Island Sheep involved crossing a ram with Dorset ewes (a heavy meat breed). The mutt sheep are less likely to have damaging traits bred into their flock, such as blindness, lameness, a propensity for cancers or cysts, deafness, or a low tolerance for disease or worms. It also felts well. Though I have no personal experience with East Friesian sheep, I wanted to include them on this list because they are the choice for dairy sheep. Their wool is short, stapled and fine. Hahah Anyway, I do love sheep feta cheese, so I'm drawn toward the East Friesian (note to Billybuc: write that one down :) . Ouessant sheep are small-sized breed which is black or brown in color and sometimes white. This breed is certainly useful to the small farmer or homesteader as an easy-keeper and meat producer, and their unique genetics make them valuable both for cross-breeding and breed preservation purposes. Breeds like the Cheviot, Babydoll and Southdown typically weigh 130 to 200 pounds, and produce quality meat and wool. During the colonial era, German and French rulers exported sheep to France and Germany. West African Dwarf. Nubian goats produce more than other commonly raised breeds but the Nigerian Dwarf is a solid performer in milk production. Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on July 21, 2014: Radcliff - Thanks for reading and commenting!