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Types of Sheep

Amazing Fact:
Did you know that there are hundreds of breeds of sheep spread out all over the world?
This fact surprises most people, who think of sheep in terms of just one single variety of animal. New Zealand and Australia are currently two of the best-known sheep producing nations. The USA is still a large producer of sheep, but has declined in recent years. New Zealand is one of the top three wool-growing nations and is the largest supplier of coarse wool to the worlds markets, whereas Australia is the largest supplier of fine wool to world markets. More than just supplying wool for a variety of uses, many breeds of sheep are raised primarily for their meat. For decades, the crossbreeding of sheep has allowed farmers to develop breeds capable of taking advantage of all types of terrain - from lush grassy lowlands to hard, sparse mountains. The ability to utilize all types of available land for grazing has fostered the development of softer, finer wool and leaner, larger sheep for top choice meat products.

Please note that the sheepskin used to make our products come primarily from sheep that were raised for their food value and not their hides.

Amazing Fact:
Did you know that most rams and even some ewes are horned?

Below are a few of the breeds and the typical uses of their wool.

Fine-Medium Wool Breeds
This type of wool is primarily used in quality woolen and worsted fabrics, knitting yarns, apparels, fine knitwear, medium-weight outer garments and light tweeds.

The Amazing Merino
The Merino sheep is probably the most well known of all fine wool sheep breeds. The Merino breed is both the oldest established AND the most numerous breed in the world. This producer of fine specialty wool originated from Spain or North Africa. Today, it is found primarily in the mountainous high country on the South Island of New Zealand and all over Australia. It is very distinctive with its large round horns. The fineness of the Merino wool stems from a high number of wool fibers (about 50 million per animal, compared to 15 million in the Romney). Merino wool sets the standard for all quality fine wool fabrics and products.

Merino Sheep

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Coarse Wool Breeds
This wool is used in the making of carpet, blankets, coarse dress fabric, heavy weight materials, and furnishings. These breeds are considered dual purpose as they are used both for wool and for meat.

New Zealand Romney
The Romney dominates the New Zealand sheep industry and accounts for almost 50% of the national flock. About 60% of Romney wool is use in carpet blends. Blankets and furnishings are also end uses of Romney wool.

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New Zealand Half-breeds
The New Zealand Half-breeds are triple purpose breeds used for wool, meat and crossbreeding. These breeds were developed from the Merino and the long hair breeds (Leicester, Lincoln, or Romney). Half-breed wool has gained wide recognition overseas and is used in apparels and fine knitwear.

Specialty Breeds
These Specialty Breeds are all medium to long wool producers that are also used for crossbreeding purposes. The heavier, denser Specialty Wool is used primarily in carpet, upholstery, and tweeds. The finer Specialty Wool is used in dress fabrics, linings and hand knitting wool.

Corriedale
The Corriedale is a dual-purpose meat and wool breed. It is New Zealand's first distinct indigenous breed. The good heavy fleece of the Corriedale is used for medium weight outer garments, worsteds, and light tweeds. The Corriedale has provided the foundation for flocks in Australia, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and China.

Cheviot
The Cheviot produces bulky low-luster wool used primarily in carpets, knitwear and tweeds. Cheviot wool is known for its bulk and resilience. This breed is also used for crossbreeding and is common in the USA as well.

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