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Sheep have a breeding season (tupping) in the autumn, though some can breed year-round. [1] As a result of the influence of humans on sheep breeding, ewes often produce multiple lambs. This increase in lamb births, both in number and birth weight, may cause problems with delivery and lamb survival, requiring the intervention of shepherds. [2]
Four breeds of sheep, in the illustrated encyclopedia Meyers Konversationslexikon. This is a list of breeds of domestic sheep. Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are partially derived from mouflon (Ovis gmelini) stock, and have diverged sufficiently to be considered a different species. Some sheep breeds have a hair coat and are known as haired sheep.
This is a list of sheep breeds usually considered to originate in Canada and the United States. [1] [2] Some may have complex or obscure histories, so inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively from those countries.
Being from a cold, wet, windy area of the Netherlands, the breed has easily adapted to the UK climate and can thrive at various altitudes. They are increasingly popular with both smallholders and commercial farmers. As of June 2011 there are over 750 Zwartbles flocks registered with the UK breed society plus many unregistered flocks in the UK.
The Roux du Valais is endangered, largely due to lack of interest in the breed in favor of faster growing breeds. [1] It nearly became extinct in the 1980s, [3] but a breeders association formed in 1994, The Swiss Breeding Association for Valais Rural Sheep, along with Pro Specie Rara, has helped improve the breed's genetics and seen its numbers rebound somewhat. [1]
Different farms had different breeding goals. Thus, only a handful of farms kept the breed pure, without crossing them to other sheep breeds. [3] Today the Romeldale/CVM is still a very rare breed, and The Livestock Conservancy lists it as critical. The soft wool and the unusual colors of the CVM are especially prized by handspinners. [1]
At the start of the 20th century, Dalarna had a population of sheep with long wool, which was popular in the area for decorating national costumes. [3] In 1915, breeding was done to obtain sheep that produced this "rya-wool". [3] [7] The rya sheep is a medium-sized sheep with relatively short legs, and has strong and shiny long wool fibers. [3]
A flock of Black Welsh Mountain sheep. The Black Welsh Mountain sheep (Welsh: Defaid Mynydd Duon, pronounced [ˈdevaɪd ˈmənɪð ˈdɪɔn]) is a colour type of the Welsh Mountain sheep, bred for sheep farming in Wales. It occurs occasionally in flocks of other colours, but is now often maintained as a separate strain.