Wool Sheep
Dairy Sheep
If you're looking into getting wool sheep with dairy usage two breeds stand out: the East Friesian sheep and Lacaune sheep. The East Friesian sheep produce the highest quantity of milk and are the number one dairy sheep in the United States. These sheep are considered to be more fragile and take specialized care. East Friesian ewes will produce two lambs a year. Lacaune sheep is the second most popular sheep in America. They produce slightly less milk but have more butterfat than East Friesians. Lacaunes will shed the lower half of their wool, but will need the upper portion of their bodies sheared.
Awassi sheep originate from the Middle East and are hardier sheep than East Friesian and Lacaune. They also have a better conversion rate of feed to milk. Awassis are horned. Another breed developed in the Middle East is the Assaf sheep. This breed is a cross of Awassi and East Friesian. The Assaf breed is dual-purpose for milk and meat.
Other breeds not considered as dairy sheep but can be useful for milk production are the Icelandic,and Finn sheep. Icelandic sheep are sometimes considered a triple-purpose sheep. They are well acclimated to cold climates and are hardy. This breed can survive on pasture alone and are a low-maintanence breed. Finn sheep are also triple-purpose for milk, meat, and wool. These are a small to medium sized breed that are easier to handle. Finn sheep are also known for their prolific nature, producing multiple lambs at once.
Awassi sheep originate from the Middle East and are hardier sheep than East Friesian and Lacaune. They also have a better conversion rate of feed to milk. Awassis are horned. Another breed developed in the Middle East is the Assaf sheep. This breed is a cross of Awassi and East Friesian. The Assaf breed is dual-purpose for milk and meat.
Other breeds not considered as dairy sheep but can be useful for milk production are the Icelandic,and Finn sheep. Icelandic sheep are sometimes considered a triple-purpose sheep. They are well acclimated to cold climates and are hardy. This breed can survive on pasture alone and are a low-maintanence breed. Finn sheep are also triple-purpose for milk, meat, and wool. These are a small to medium sized breed that are easier to handle. Finn sheep are also known for their prolific nature, producing multiple lambs at once.
East Friesian Lacaune Awassi Assaf
Icelandic Finn sheep
Meat Sheep
There are many breeds of sheep to consider when choosing a breed for meat. I will be listing breeds alphabetically, not by preference.
Black Welsh Mountain sheep are small sheep with black wool. The males have curled horns while the females are polled (without horns). These sheep are a dual-purpose breed for their meat and wool. The sheep are comfortable grazing without grain substitute. The breed has resistance to fly-strike and footrot. They are a seasonal breeder.
California Red Sheep are medium sheep used for both meat and wool. Their wool is beige colored while their face and legs retain a red color. The young are born a solid rust or cinnamon color. Neither sex has horns. This breed is a nonseasonal breeder, having up to three lamb crops in two years. Sheep should be fed a balanced pasture and hay diet.
Clun Forest sheep are also bred for meat and wool. They are medium sized with dark faces and white wool. Their fleece is short and fine. They are seasonal breeders and ewes have strong mothering instincts. Sheep can be grazed on pasture.
The Corriedale is a medium sized sheep with fine, long white wool. The completely white sheep is a seasonal breeder that lambs in twins. They do better on a farm environment than range.
The Cotswold is a large breed that is white that is sometimes spotted on its face and legs. Like many above, they are prized for their fleece and meat. They are a seasonal breeder that does well on pasture, but has a poor heat tolerance. It is an old breed with a wide pelvis for easy lambing and good mothering instinct.
A triple-purpose breed is the Dorset Horn. They are good for meat, milk, and wool. It is a medium sized white sheep that can lamb twice a year. Twins and triplets are the most common number of lambs. Lambs grow moderately but have a well-muscled carcass.
A good meat and pelt breed is the Karakul. They are a medium sized sheep with a double-coated fleece. The outer wool is course, while the inner wool is soft. Mature colors are red, tan, brown, and gold. They can breed three times a year, but usually have one lamb at a time. They are one of the world's oldest breeds and show signs of fly-strike and footrot resistance.
Leicester Longwool is a medium to large breed that is usually white but can be silver and black. They have a heavy fleece. Besides their wool, they are also used for meat. They are seasonal breeders and are highly adaptable.
A small sheep that comes in many colors and patterns is the Navajo-Churro. They are used for their lean meat and fleece. They breed year round and have twins and triplets. They adapt to a wide range of environments but do the best in hot, dry climates.
The Oxford is a large breed that has white wool and dark faces. Their coats are heavy and fine. Oxfords are seasonal breeders and lambs grow fast on a good pasture. Ewes are known to produce good quantities of milk.
The Polypay are medium white sheep that have high lambing rates, usually twins and triplets. They are good for meat and fleece and are used to increase productivity in other breeds.
Another large breed for meat and fleece is the Romney. They have long, fine, colorful wool. Romney sheep are seasonal breeders. They are best adapted to cold climates and have resistance to hoof rot and internal parasites. Lambs grow slowly.
The Shetland is small with fine short wool. They are multi-colored with short tails and may have a wild temperament. Their uses are for meat and wool. Rams have curled horns, while ewes are usually polled.
Another medium sized breed is the Shropshire. They have dark faces and legs and white wool. Their wool is medium-grade and heavy and covers the entire body. They are seasonal breeders with a good mothering instinct. They make for a good family flock being gentle. Ewes are long lived and produce plenty of milk. Lambs grow quickly. They are adapted to cold wet weather.
The Southdown is small to medium sized, prized for their meat. They are seasonal breeders producing one or two lambs in a lamb crop. They have poor heat tolerance but otherwise are adaptable.
Black Welsh Mountain sheep are small sheep with black wool. The males have curled horns while the females are polled (without horns). These sheep are a dual-purpose breed for their meat and wool. The sheep are comfortable grazing without grain substitute. The breed has resistance to fly-strike and footrot. They are a seasonal breeder.
California Red Sheep are medium sheep used for both meat and wool. Their wool is beige colored while their face and legs retain a red color. The young are born a solid rust or cinnamon color. Neither sex has horns. This breed is a nonseasonal breeder, having up to three lamb crops in two years. Sheep should be fed a balanced pasture and hay diet.
Clun Forest sheep are also bred for meat and wool. They are medium sized with dark faces and white wool. Their fleece is short and fine. They are seasonal breeders and ewes have strong mothering instincts. Sheep can be grazed on pasture.
The Corriedale is a medium sized sheep with fine, long white wool. The completely white sheep is a seasonal breeder that lambs in twins. They do better on a farm environment than range.
The Cotswold is a large breed that is white that is sometimes spotted on its face and legs. Like many above, they are prized for their fleece and meat. They are a seasonal breeder that does well on pasture, but has a poor heat tolerance. It is an old breed with a wide pelvis for easy lambing and good mothering instinct.
A triple-purpose breed is the Dorset Horn. They are good for meat, milk, and wool. It is a medium sized white sheep that can lamb twice a year. Twins and triplets are the most common number of lambs. Lambs grow moderately but have a well-muscled carcass.
A good meat and pelt breed is the Karakul. They are a medium sized sheep with a double-coated fleece. The outer wool is course, while the inner wool is soft. Mature colors are red, tan, brown, and gold. They can breed three times a year, but usually have one lamb at a time. They are one of the world's oldest breeds and show signs of fly-strike and footrot resistance.
Leicester Longwool is a medium to large breed that is usually white but can be silver and black. They have a heavy fleece. Besides their wool, they are also used for meat. They are seasonal breeders and are highly adaptable.
A small sheep that comes in many colors and patterns is the Navajo-Churro. They are used for their lean meat and fleece. They breed year round and have twins and triplets. They adapt to a wide range of environments but do the best in hot, dry climates.
The Oxford is a large breed that has white wool and dark faces. Their coats are heavy and fine. Oxfords are seasonal breeders and lambs grow fast on a good pasture. Ewes are known to produce good quantities of milk.
The Polypay are medium white sheep that have high lambing rates, usually twins and triplets. They are good for meat and fleece and are used to increase productivity in other breeds.
Another large breed for meat and fleece is the Romney. They have long, fine, colorful wool. Romney sheep are seasonal breeders. They are best adapted to cold climates and have resistance to hoof rot and internal parasites. Lambs grow slowly.
The Shetland is small with fine short wool. They are multi-colored with short tails and may have a wild temperament. Their uses are for meat and wool. Rams have curled horns, while ewes are usually polled.
Another medium sized breed is the Shropshire. They have dark faces and legs and white wool. Their wool is medium-grade and heavy and covers the entire body. They are seasonal breeders with a good mothering instinct. They make for a good family flock being gentle. Ewes are long lived and produce plenty of milk. Lambs grow quickly. They are adapted to cold wet weather.
The Southdown is small to medium sized, prized for their meat. They are seasonal breeders producing one or two lambs in a lamb crop. They have poor heat tolerance but otherwise are adaptable.
Cool Sheep
Jacob sheep are interesting looking sheep because they have two sets of horns. They are black and white spotted and have a medium fine fleece without an outer coat. They are easy keepers and are resistant to foot rot and parasites. Jacob sheep have strong mothering skills and are seasonal breeders. They have good lean carcasses.
Romanov sheep are black and silver with a double-coated fleece. They are medium sized and have multiple births. Ewes have a high milk production. The breed is cold tolerant.
Valais Blacknose sheep are a unique with long curly white wool and black face, knees, and hooves. Both sexes are horned. They are a good dual-purpose animal for meat and wool. They are adapted to extreme conditions in the the mountains and are good grazers. Their wool is good for carpet.
Romanov sheep are black and silver with a double-coated fleece. They are medium sized and have multiple births. Ewes have a high milk production. The breed is cold tolerant.
Valais Blacknose sheep are a unique with long curly white wool and black face, knees, and hooves. Both sexes are horned. They are a good dual-purpose animal for meat and wool. They are adapted to extreme conditions in the the mountains and are good grazers. Their wool is good for carpet.
Jacob Sheep Romanov Valais Blacknose