List of sheep breeds

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.

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Acıpayam		Turkey	Meat, wool^[1]
Adal		Ethiopia^[2]	Meat^[2]
Afghan Arabi^{[note 1]}		Afghanistan^[3]	Meat^[3]
Africana	Camura, Colombian Wooless, Pelona, Red African, Rojo Africana, West African^[4]	Colombia^[4]	Meat, woolly items^[4]
Afrikaner	Cape fattest tail	South Africa	Meat, pelts honed
Afrino		South Africa	Meat, wool, crossbreeding
Alai		Kyrgyzstan^[5]	Meat, wool^[5]
Alcarreña		Spain^[6]	Meat^[6]
Algarve Churro		Portugal^[7]	Meat^[8]
Algerian sheep^{[note 1]}	Ouled Jellal, Western Thin-tailed^[9]	Algeria^[9]	Meat^[10]
Alpines Steinschaf		Germany^[11]	Meat, wool, vegetation management^[11]
Altay		China^[12]	Meat^[13]
American Blackbelly		United States	Trophy hunting
Ancon	Otter sheep^[14]	United States^[14]
Appenninica	Appenninica, Bariscianese, Chietina Varzese, Perugina del piano^[15]	Italy^[15]	Meat^[15]
Arabi		Iran, Iraq^[16]	Meat^[16]
Arapawa		New Zealand^[17]	Wool^[18]
Arkhar-Merino		Kazakhstan	Wool
Armenian Semicoarsewool	Armyanskaya Polugrubosherstnaya^[19]	Armenia^[19]	Meat, milk^[19]
Askanian	Ukrainian: Асканійський, romanized: Askaniysky^[20]	Ukraine^[20]	Wool^[20]
Assaf		Israel^[21]	Meat, milk^[21]
Aussiedown		Australia^[22]	Meat^[22]
Australian White		Australia	Meat
Awassi	Ivesi, Baladi, Deiri, Syrian, Ausi, Nuami, Gezirieh^[23]	South Eastern Anatolia, Syro-Arabian desert^[23]	Milk^[23]

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Balkhi		Afghanistan, North-west Pakistan	Meat
Baluchi	Baluchi dumda, Mengali, Taraki, Shinwari, Araghi, Farahani, Kermani, Khorasani, Khurasani, Naeini, Neini, Yazdi	Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan	Wool
Barbados Blackbelly sheep	Barbados Black Belly, Black Belly, Barbados Barriga Nigra	Barbados	Meat
Bardoka		Kosovo	Milk, meat, wool and research
Basco-Béarnais		Spain, France	Milk
Bellary		Karnataka, India	Wool
Beltex		Belgium, The Netherlands	Meat
Bentheimer Landschaf	Bentheim sheep	Germany	Landscape preservation
Bergamasca		Italy	Meat
Berichon du Cher		France
Beulah Speckled Face		United Kingdom	Meat
Bibrik		Pakistan
Biellese	Razza d'Ivrea, Piemontese Alpina	Italy	Meat, milk
Bizet		France	Meat
Blackhead Persian	Swartkoppersie	South Africa	Meat
Blackheaded Somali	Berbera Blackhead	Somalia
Bleu du Maine	Bazougers, Blauköpfiges Fleischschaf, Bluefaced Maine, Blue-headed Maine, Maine-Anjou, Maine à tête bleue, Mayenne Blue	France	Meat, Wool
Bluefaced Leicester		United Kingdom	Meat
Blue Texel		Netherlands	Meat^[24]^: 765
Bond		Australia	Wool
Border Leicester		United Kingdom	Meat, wool
Boreray sheep		Scotland	Meat, wool
Bovec sheep	Bovška Ovca, Plezzana, Trentarka, Krainer Steinschaf	Italy	Meat, milk
Braunes Bergschaf	Brown Mountain sheep^[25]	Germany^[25]	Meat, vegetation management^[26]
Brazilian Somali		Brazil	Meat^[27]
Brianzola		Italy	Meat
British Milksheep		United Kingdom^[28]	Milk^[28]
Bündner Oberland	Graubünden, Grisons^[29]	Switzerland^[29]	Vegetation management^[29]

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
California Red		United States	Meat, wool
California Variegated Mutant	CVM, Romeldale/CVM^[30]	United States^[30]	Wool^[30]
Cambridge		United Kingdom	meat
Cameroon		West Africa^[31]	Meat^[32]
Campanian Barbary		Italy^[33]	Meat, milk^[33]
Canadian Arcott		Canada^[34]	Meat^[35]
Cărăbaşă	Black-headed Teleorman Tigaie	Romania
Castlemilk Moorit	Castlemilk Shetland, Moorit Shetland^[36]	Scotland^[37]	Hobby^[36]
Charmoise		France^[38]	Meat^[39]
Charollais		France^[40]	Meat^[40]
Cheviot		Scotland^[41]	Meat, wool^[41]
Border Cheviot^{[note 2]}	South Country Cheviot^[42]	United Kingdom^[42]	Meat^[42]
Brecknock Hill Cheviot^{[note 2]}	Brecon Cheviot, Sennybridge Cheviot^[43]	Wales^[43]	Meat^[44]
North Country Cheviot^{[note 2]}		Scotland^[45]	Meat^[45]
Chios		Island of Chios, Greece^[46]	Milk^[47]
Cholistani		Pakistan^[48]	Meat^[49]
Churra	Spanish Churro^[50]	Spain^[51]	Meat, milk^[52]
Cigaja		Croatia	Wool, milk
Cikta		Hungary^[53]	Meat^[53]
Çine Çaparı		Turkey^[54]
Clun Forest		England^[55]	Meat, milk, wool^[35]
Coburger Fuchsschaf	Coburg Fox Sheep^[56]	Germany^[56]	Vegetation management^[56]
Columbia		United States^[35]	Wool^[57]
Comeback		Australia^[58]	Meat, wool^[58]
Comisana	Lentinese, Red Head, Testa rossa, Faccia rossa^[59]	Italy^[59]	Milk^[59]
Coolalee		Australia^[60]	Meat^[60]
Coopworth		New Zealand^[61]	Meat, wool^[61]
Cormo		Australasia^[62]	Wool^[62]
Corriedale		New Zealand^[63]	Meat, wool^[63]
Cotswold		United Kingdom^[64]	Meat, wool^[64]
Criollo	Creole, Chilludo, Colombian, Lucero, Pampa, Tarhumara, Uruguayan, Venezuelan^[65]	Central America^[66]	Meat^[65]

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Dala Fur sheep	Dala pälsfår^[67]	Sweden^[67]
Dalesbred		United Kingdom^[68]	Meat, wool^[69]
Dagliç		Turkey^[70]	Meat, milk^[70]
Damani		Pakistan^[71]	Meat, wool^[71]
Damara		Namibia^[72]	Meat^[72]
Danish Landrace	Landfår, Klitfår^[73]	Denmark^[73]	Wool^[73]
Debouillet		United States^[35]	Wool^[74]
Derbyshire Gritstone		United Kingdom^[75]	Meat^[75]
Deutsches Bergschaf	Weißes Bergschaf, White Mountain, Deutsches Weisses Bergschaf^[76]	Germany^[76]	Meat, wool^[77]
Devon Closewool		United Kingdom^[78]	Meat^[79]
Devon Longwoolled	Devon Longwool^[80]	United Kingdom^[80]	Meat, wool^[80]
Dohne Merino	Dohne, El Dohne Merino^[81]	South Africa^[81]	Meat, wool^[81]
Dorper		South Africa^[82]	Meat^[82]
Dorset	Dorset Horn, Dorset Horned^[83]	United Kingdom	Meat^[83]
Dorset Down		United Kingdom^[84]	Meat^[84]
Drenth Heath Sheep	Drents Heideschaap^[85]	Netherlands^[85]	Vegetation management^[85]
Drysdale		New Zealand^[86]	Wool^[86]
Duben sheep		Bulgaria	wool

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Easycare		United Kingdom^[87]	Meat^[87]
East Friesian	Ostfriesisches Milchschaf^[88]	Germany^[88]	Milk^[88]
Edilbay	Edilbaevskaya, Edilbaev	Kazakhstan^[89]^[90]	Meat, tail fat^[89]^[90]
Elliottdale		Tasmania^[91]	Meat, Wool^[91]
English Leicester	Bakewell Leicester, Dishley Leicester, Improved Leicester, Leicester, Leicester Longwool, New Leicester^[92]	England^[92]	Meat^[92]
Estonian Ruhnu	Ruhnu maalammas^[93]	Estonia^[93]	Meat, wool^[93]
Elinpelin sheep	-	Bulgaria	wool
Exlana sheep^[94]		United Kingdom	meat, wool
Exmoor Horn		Exmoor^[95]	Meat^[95]

List of sheep breeds

Domestic sheep breeds

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Notes

See also

References

Sources

External links

Related Articles

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Fabrianese		Italy	Meat, milk
Faroe	Faroese	Faroe Islands	Meat, wool
Fat-tailed sheep (group of breeds)		Africa, Middle East, Near East, Pakistan, Northern India, Western China, Mongolia	Meat
Finnsheep	Suomenlammas, Finnish Landrace	Finland	Meat, Wool, Milk, Landscape Management
Flanders Milk sheep		Belgium
Forystufé	Leadersheep, Forystukind	Iceland	Genetic conservation, herd management
French Alpine sheep		France
Friesian Milk sheep		Netherlands
Fuglestad		Norway

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Gaddi	Kangra Valley, Bhadarwah	India	Wool
Galician	Ovella galega	Spain	Meat, milk
Galway		Ireland	Meat
Gansu Alpine Fine-wool	Northwestern Chinese Merino, North-West China Merino	China	Wool
Gentile di Puglia	Merinos d'Italia	Italy	Wool
German Whiteheaded Mutton	Weißkopf, Weißköpfiges Fleischschaf	Germany	Meat, wool
Gotland	Gotland Pälsfår, Gotland pelt	Sweden	Meat, wool
Gökçeada		Turkey
Greenlandic sheep	kalaallit savaataat, sava	Greenland	Meat, wool
Greyface Dartmoor		United Kingdom	Meat
Grey Troender	Grå trøndersau	Norway	Wool
Gromark		Australia	Meat, wool
Gulf Coast Native	Louisiana Scrub, Pineywoods Native	Gulf Coast, United States
Guligas		Uzbekistan
Guirra		Mediterranean coast of Spain^[96]	Meat^[96]
Gute	Gutefår	Sweden	Genetic conservation

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Hampshire	Hampshire Down	United Kingdom	Meat
Han		Mongolia, China^[97]
Langzhou Large-tail Han^{[note 3]}		Northern China
Small-tail Han^{[note 3]}		China	Meat
Hanzhong		China
Harnai		Pakistan^[98]
Hasht Nagri		Pakistan^[99]	Meat, wool^[99]
Hazaragie		Afghanistan^[100]	Meat^[100]
Hebridean	St. Kilda sheep	Scotland	Vegetation management
Heidschnucke	Family of sheep including the three breeds below	Germany	Meat, wool, vegetation management
Graue gehörnte Heidschnucke^{[note 4]}	Grey Horned Heath	Germany	Meat, wool, vegetation management
Moorschnucke^{[note 4]}	White Polled Heath	Germany	Meat, wool, vegetation management
Weiße gehörnte Heidschnucke^{[note 4]}	White Horned Heath	Germany	Meat, wool, vegetation management
Herdwick		England	Meat
Herik		Turkey
Hill Radnor		Wales	Meat
Hog Island		United States	Wool
Hu

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Icelandic sheep	íslenska sauðkindin	Iceland	Meat, milk, wool
Inner Mongolian wool		China
Île-de-France	Dishley Merino	France	Meat
Istrian milk	Istrian Pramenka	Croatia, Slovenia	Meat, milk

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Jacob		United Kingdom	Meat, wool, hide, pet
Jezersko–Solčava sheep	Brillenschaf, Carinthian sheep, Seelaenderschaf, Spectacles Sheep^[101]	Slovenia^[101]	Meat^[102]
Juraschaf

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Karacabey Merino		Turkey
Kachhi		Pakistan
Kajli		Pakistan	Meat, milk, wool
Kamakuyruk		Turkey
Karakul		Central Asia	Meat, milk, wool, hide
Karayaka		Turkey	Meat, milk, wool
Kärntner Brillenschaf	Spectacled Alpine Sheep	Austria	Meat, wool, hide
Katahdin		United States	Meat
Kempen Heath		Netherlands
Kerry Hill		Wales	Meat
Kihnu Native	Kihnu maalammas	Estonia	Wool
Kıvırcık		Turkey
Kooka		Pakistan	Milk
Kashmir Merino		Kashmir	Wool
Karagouniko		Greece

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Lacaune		France	Milk
Ladoum		Senegal
Landais
Langhe
Lati
Latxa	Lacha	Spain	Milk
Leccese	Moscia Leccese	Italy	Wool, milk
Leineschaf		Germany	Meat, wool
Lincoln	Lincoln Longwool	England	Wool
Lithuanian Black-headed	Lietuvos vietines siurksciavilnês	Lithuania	Meat, wool
Llanwenog		Wales	Meat
Lleyn	Dafad Llŷn	Wales	Meat
Lohi		Pakistan	Wool
Lonk	Improved Haslingden	England	Meat, wool
Luzein sheep

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Magra sheep	Bikaneri Chokhla, Chakri, Bikaneri	Rajasthan, India	Wool
Maltese		Malta
Manchega		Spain	Meat, milk
Manech
Marwari		India	Meat, wool
Manx Loaghtan	Loaghtyn, Loghtan	Isle of Man	Wool
Masai		Kenya
Masham		England	Meat, wool
Massese sheep		Italy	Milk
Meatmaster		South Africa	Meat
Mehraban		Iran	Meat
Merinizzata Italiana		Italy	Meat, wool
Merino		Spain, Turkey	Meat, wool
Argentine Merino^{[note 5]}		Argentina	Meat, wool
Arles Merino^{[note 5]}		France	Meat, wool
Booroola Merino^{[note 5]}		Australia	Wool, research
Delaine Merino^{[note 5]}		United States	Wool
East Merino sheep^{[note 5]}		France	Meat, wool
Karacabey Merino^{[note 5]}		Turkey
Medium-wool Merino^{[note 5]}
Merinofleischschaf^{[note 5]}
Merinolandschaf^{[note 5]}		Germany	Meat, wool
Merino Longwool^{[note 5]}
Poll Merino^{[note 5]}		Australia	Meat, wool
South African Merino^{[note 5]}		South Africa	Meat, wool
South African Meat Merino^{[note 5]}	SAMM	South Africa	Meat, wool
Strong Wool Merino^{[note 5]}
Transylvanian Merino^{[note 5]}		Romania
Ming Black
Moghani
Montadale		United States	Meat, wool
Morada Nova	Brazilian Woolless	Brazil	Meat
Moles

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Najdi	Nejdi	Saudi Arabia	Meat, milk, wool
Namaqua Afrikaner		South Africa	Meat, pelts
Nali	Western India	India	Wool
Navajo-Churro sheep		United States	Wool
Nederlandse Bonte Schaap^[103]	Dutch Spotted Sheep^[104]	Netherlands	meat, wool
Nellore	palia, jodipi, dora	India	Meat
Newfoundland	Newfoundland Local	Canada
Nilgiri		India
Noire du Velay		France	Meat
Nolana sheep
Norfolk Horn	Blackface Norfolk Horned, Norfolk Horned, Old Norfolk, Old Norfolk Horned	United Kingdom	Meat
North Ronaldsay	Orkney	Scotland	Wool
Northern European short-tailed sheep (group of breeds)		Baltic states, British Isles, Scandinavia, Germany, Russia	Meat, milk, wool
Norwegian Fur

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Orkhon		Mongolia	Wool
Ossimi
Ouessant	Ushant, Breton Island Dwarf	France^[105]	Wool, hobby
Oula
Oxford	Oxford Down	United Kingdom	Meat

Name	Origin	Purpose
Yankasa	Nigeria	Meat
Yellow sheep	Yorkshire
Yemen White	Yemen
Yiecheng
Yoroo
Yunnan Semifinewool	China

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Zackel		Hungary
Zaghawa
Zaian
Zaïre Long-Legged
Zakynthos
Zeeland Milk
Zel
Zelazna	Zeleznienska	Poland	Meat
Zemmour
Zeta Yellow
Zlatusha
Zoulay
Zwartbles		Netherlands	Meat, milk, cheese
Zulu sheep	Nguni	South Africa	Meat

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Pag Island	Paška ovca	Croatia	Meat, milk
Pagliarola
Panama		United States	Meat
Pedi sheep	Bapedi	South Africa	Meat
Pelibüey	Cubano Rojo	Caribbean, Mexico, South America	Meat
Perendale		New Zealand	Meat
Pinzirita		Sicily	Milk
Pitt Island		Chatham Islands, New Zealand	Wool
Polwarth		Australia	Meat, wool
Polypay		United States	Meat, wool
Portland		England	Meat
Pramenka	Lička, Istarska, Kupreška or Dubska pramenka	Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia	Meat, milk, wool
Priangan	Garut	Indonesia	Meat, ram fighting
Polish Heath		Poland
Poll Dorset		Australia	Meat
Polled Dorset		United States	Meat
Pomeranian Coarsewool Sheep	Pomeranian Sheep, Rauhwolliges Pommersches Landschaf	Germany	Meat, vegetation management

Name	Picture	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Qashqai			China
Qiaoke			China
Qinghai Black Tibetan			China
Qinghai Semifinewool			China
Quadrella			Italy
Quanglin Large-Tail			China

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Rabo Largo
Racka	Ovce cápová, Cápovice	Hungary	Meat, milk, wool
Rahmany sheep	El-rahmani	Egypt	Meat, milk, wool
Rambouillet	Rambouillet Merino, French Merino	France	Meat, wool
Rasa Aragonesa		Aragón	Meat
Red Engadine	Engadine	Switzerland
Red Karaman		Turkey
Red Maasai		East Africa	Meat
Rhoen sheep			vegetation management
Rideau Arcott		Canada
Romanov		Russia	Meat
Romney sheep	Romney Marsh	United Kingdom	Meat, wool
Roslag	Roslagsfår	Sweden	Meat, wool
Rouge de l'Ouest	Tête rouge du Maine	France	Meat
Rouge du Roussillon	Roussillion Red	France	Meat, wool
Rough Fell		United Kingdom	Meat
Roux du Valais	Walliser Landschaf, Roux du Pays	Switzerland	Meat, wool
Ruda		Albania, Croatia	Wool
Rya	Ryafår, Swedish Carpet Wool Sheep	Sweden	Wool
Ryeland		United Kingdom	Meat
Rygja

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Sahel-type
Sakiz	Çesme	Turkey	Wool
Saraja^[106]		Turkmenistan	Wool, meat
Santa Cruz		Santa Cruz Island, United States	Wool
Santa Inês		Brazil	Meat
Sardinian	Brabei Sarda, Pecora Sarda	Italy	Milk
Sardi (Moroccan sheep)		Morocco	Meat, milk, wool
Schoonebeker
Schwarzköpfiges Fleischschaf
Schwarzes Bergschaf
Scottish Blackface	Blackfaced Highland, Kerry, Linton, Scotch Blackface, Scotch Horn, Scottish Highland, Scottish Mountain	Scotland	Meat
Scottish Dunface	Scottish Tanface, Old Scottish Short-wool	Scotland (extinct)^[107]	Meat, wool
Serrai	Serraika, Serron	Greece, Serres	Meat, milk, wool ^[108]
Shetland		Shetland Islands	Meat, wool
Shropshire		United Kingdom	Meat
Sicilian Barbary		Sicily
Skudde	skudden	Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Switzerland ^[109]	Meat, vegetation management, felting
Soay		Scotland	Meat
Somali Arab		Somalia
Sopravissana		Italy	Milk
South Devon		United Kingdom
South Dorset		United Kingdom
South Hampshire		United Kingdom
Southdown		United Kingdom	Meat
South Wales Mountain		Wales
Spælsau	Old Norwegian Short Tail Landrace	Norway	Meat
Spiegel
St. Croix	Virgin Island white	Virgin Islands	Meat
Steigar
Steinschaf
Suffolk		United Kingdom	Meat
Sumavska		Czech Republic	Meat, milk, wool
Swaledale		United Kingdom	Meat, wool
Swedish Fur		Sweden
Swifter
Schweizer Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf
Schweizer Alpenschaf
Såne		Denmark	Meat, pelt

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Taleshi		Iran	Meat
Tan [zh]		China	Hides, meat
Targhee		United States	Wool
Tautra
Teeswater		United Kingdom	Meat
TEFRom		New Zealand	Meat, wool
Texel		Netherlands	Meat
Thalli
Ţigaie		Romania	Meat, milk, wool
Tiroler Steinschaf	Pecora della Roccia Tirolese	Austria	Meat, wool
Touabire
Ţsurcană		Romania	Meat, milk, wool
Tukidale		Tuki Tuki in New Zealand, then Australia	Meat, specialty carpet wool^[110]
Tunis	Tunisian Barbary	Tunisia	Meat
Tuj		Turkey
Türkgeldi		Turkey

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Valachian sheep	Native Wallachian sheep	Czech Republic	Meat, milk, wool
Valachian Improved sheep		Czech Republic	Meat, milk, wool
Valais Blacknose	Wallis Blacknose, Walliser Schwarznasenschaf, Blacknosed Swiss, Visp, Visperschaf	Switzerland	Meat, wool
Van Rooy	Van Rooy White Persian	South Africa	Meat
Vendéen		France	Meat

Name	Alternative name	Origin	Purpose
Waldschaf
Waziri		Pakistan	Meat, wool
Weißes Bergschaf
Welsh Hill Speckled Face		Wales
Welsh Mountain sheep	Defaid Mynydd Cymreig	Wales	Meat
Badger Face Welsh Mountain^{[note 6]}	Defaid Idloes, Badger Faced Welsh Mountain, Welsh Badger-faced	Wales	Meat
Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep^{[note 6]}		Wales	Meat
Black Welsh Mountain sheep^{[note 6]}	Defaid Mynydd Duon	Wales	Meat
South Wales Mountain^{[note 6]}		Wales
Wensleydale		England	Meat
West African Dwarf	Djallonke, Fouta Djallon sheep^[111]	West Africa and Central Africa^[111]	Meat
White Horned Heath
White Karaman	Akkaraman^[112]	Located in Central Anatolia, provinces adjacent to Eastern Anatolia and Southern Anatolia, the Black Sea region, and the Mediterranean regions close to Central Anatolia.^[112]
White Suffolk		Australia	Meat
Whiteface Dartmoor		United Kingdom	Meat
Whitefaced Woodland	Penistone sheep	England	Meat
White Maritza sheep		Bulgaria
Wiltipoll		Australia	Meat
Wiltshire Horn		United Kingdom	Meat

Name	Origin	Purpose
Xalda	Spain	Meat^[113]
Xaxi Ardia	Spain^[114]
Xinjiang Finewool	China	Meat, wool ^[115]