Organizations and Resources
Sheep, along with goats, were the first animals to be domesticated by humans--probably about 5,000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean area. Since then, they have been raised by cultures all over the world and adapted to extremes of climate and geographic setting. As a result, there are a large number of distinct breeds, many existing in very localized areas, and many surviving only in few numbers.
Here are some of the most useful sites for learning about historic and rare breeds as well as those being raised in greater numbers for commercial wool and meat.
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
New England Heritage Breeds Conservancy
Rare Breeds Survival Trust based in Stonleigh Park, UK
Sheep: Ovis Aries
Oklahoma State University's Breeds of Livestock Project. This site lists and discusses the history and particular characteristics of 150 breeds of sheep from all over the world. A color photograph accompanies the text on the page for each breed.
Sheep Resources
A very comprehensive list of links on sheep.
A Altay Africana Apennine Arabi Arapawa Island Awassi B Balkhi Baluchi Balwen Welsh Mountain Barbado Barbados Blackbelly Bavarian Forest Bentheimer Landschaf Bergamasca Beulah Speckled-Face Bibrik Biellese Blackhead Persian Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Bleu du Maine Bluefaced Leicester Bond Booroola Merino Border Leicester Boreray Bovska Braunes Bergschaf Brazilian Somali Brecknock Hill Cheviot Brillenschaf British Milk Sheep Bündner Oberland C California Red California Variegated Mutant Campanian Barbary Castlemilk Moorit Charollais Cheviot Chios Cholistani Clun Forest Coburger Fuchsschaf Columbia Comeback Comisana Coopworth Cormo Corriedale Cotswold Criollo D Dala Dalesbred Damani Damara Danish Landrace Dartmoor Debouillet Delaine Merino Deutsches Blaukoepfiges Fleischschaf Dorper Derbyshire Gritstone Devon Closewool Devon Longwool Dorset Dorset Down Dorset Horn Drysdale E Elliottdale Exmoor Horn F Fabrianese Faeroes Finnsheep Fonthill Merino Friesian Milk Sheep G Galway Gansu Alpine Fine-wool Gentile di Puglia German Blackheaded Mutton German Mountain German Mutton Merino German Whiteheaded Mutton Graue Gehoernte Heidschnucke Gromark Gulf Coast Native Gute H Hampshire Han Harnai Hasht Nagri Hazaragie Hebridean Herdwick Hill Radnor Hog Island Sheep Hu I Icelandic Ile-de-France Istrian Pramenka J Jacob Jezerskosolcavska K Kachhi Kajli Karakul Katahdin Kerry Hill Kooka L Langhe Lati Leicester Longwool Leineschaf Lincoln Llanwenog Lleyn Lohi Lonk Luzein M Manx Loaghtan Masai Massese Medium-Wool Merino Merinizzata italiana Merinolandschaf Moghani Montadale Morada Nova Mouflon N Navajo-Churro Norfolk Horn North Country Cheviot North Ronaldsay Norwegian Fur O Old Norwegian Orkney Ossimi Oxford P Pagliarola Pelibüey Perendale Pinzirita Pitt Island Poll Merino Polwarth Polypay Pomeranian Coarsewool Portland Priangan Q Qashqai Qinghai Black Tibetan Qinghai Semifinewool Quadrella Quanglin Large-tail R Rabo Largo Racka Rambouillet Rasa Aragonesa Red Engadine Rhoenschaf Rideau Arcott Romanov Romney Marsh Romney Rouge de l'Quest Rough Fell Rya Ryeland Rygja S Sahel-type Santa Cruz Santa Inês Sardinian Sar Planina Scottish Blackface Shetland Shropshire Sicilian Barbary Skudde Soay Somali Sopravissana South African Merino South African Mutton Merino South Devon South Suffolk Southdown South Wales Mountain Spælsau Spiegel St. Croix (Virgin Island White) Steigar Steinschaf Strong Wool Merino Suffolk Sumavska Swaledale Swedish Fur Sheep T Targhee Teeswater Texel Thalli Tong Touabire Tsurcana Tunis Tyrol Mountain U Uda Ujumqin Ushant V Vendéen W Walachenschaf Wallis Country Sheep Waziri Weisse Hornlose Heidschnucke Welsh Hill Speckled Face Welsh Mountain Welsh Mountain Badger Faced Wensleydale West African Dwarf White Suffolk Whiteface Dartmoor Whiteface Woodland Wiltshire Horn X Xinjiang Finewool Y Yankasa Yemeni Yemen White Yiecheng Yoroo Yunnan Semifinewool Z Zaghawa Zagoria Zaian Zaïre Long-legged Zakynthos Zeeland Milk Zel Zelazna Zemmour Zeta Yellow Zlatusha Zoulay NAMES IN BOLD ARE BREEDS ALREADY RARE OR AT RISK OF BEING LOST. THE ABOVE LIST IS NOT COMPLETE AND INCLUDES SOME BREEDS THAT ARE ALREADY EXTINCT.
Reducing the Gene Pool
under construction
Preventing Extinction
under construction