5 Sheep Breeds You May Not Be Familiar With
Some people look at sheep and see the same thing regardless of the breed: an adorable bundle of soft wool on four legs. But did you know there are approximately 1,000 distinct sheep breeds around the world? You’d be hard-pressed to know them all, but that can’t stop you from learning more about these five uncommon varieties.
Babydoll Sheep
Topping out at approximately 24 inches at the shoulder, you could say the babydoll sheep is very appropriately named. These cute little backyard animals were established in Sussex County, England, where they have long been known for their hardiness, small stature and gentle personality. Their size makes them much easier to manage than other sheep breeds, which is probably one of the reasons why they’re growing in popularity among organizations like 4-H.
You don’t need much space to keep a flock of babydoll sheep. They aren’t keen on jumping or busting through fences. But you do need a safe and secure place for them to stay at night to avoid predators, and they do best when they have access to shaded shelter in the summer and rainy seasons.
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Valais Blacknose
It’s hard not to fall head over heels for these sheep, which are sometimes nicknamed “the cutest sheep in the world.” With floppy ears and adorable faces, they look more like stuffed animals than livestock. But believe it or not, they are in fact dual purpose sheep, bred for both their meat and wool.
They originally come from the Valais region of Switzerland, hence their name, and are some of the more expensive sheep on the market. Depending on what bloodline you want, you can pay anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 for one of these animals. And Valais Blacknose do best with companions, so be ready to shell out some serious cash if you want a couple of these guys.
See more: 5 Goat Breeds You May Not Be Familiar With
Racka Sheep
Also known as the Hortobágy Racka, this breed is quick to identify by its unique, spiraled horns. They look more like wild sheep than the domesticated ones you usually find on family farms, but they are raised for milk, wool and sheep production. But if you decide to dive into this breed, watch out for those horns – they can grow up to 2 feet long on mature males.
While there are always exceptions, Racka sheep usually come in two color patterns. The most popular and commonly spotted is brown on the head and legs with various hues of dark brown, light brown and white around the rest of the body. But you may also see some boasting pure black wool, which has a tendency to turn a rusty red with lots of exposure to the sun and gray as they age.
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Manx Loaghtan
Have you ever heard of this sheep variety? The Manx Loaghthan (pronounced loch-tan) hails from the Isle of Man in Scotland and is one of the rarest breeds you may ever encounter. They are captivating in appearance, thanks in large part to the fact that they usually have four to six horns, but they are far from being a popular or easy-to-find breed.
In fact, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) characterizes them as at-risk. There were only 43 of these majestic animals on record in the 1950s until the Manx National Heritage began breeding preservation flocks. They are now raised in commercial flocks in Europe, but the numbers are still small with less than 1,500 registered females.
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Border Leicester
If you were to cross a sheep with a rabbit, you would probably end up with something resembling the Border Leicester. These quirky looking sheep are another European breed, developed in the 1760s in Northumberland, England, near the border of Leicester (hence their name). But today you can find them in a number of sheep producing areas of the world, including the United States and Australia. They stand out with prominent, rabbitlike ears, which are upright and alert.
Border Leicesters are one of the larger sheep breeds. Females can weigh between 200 and 260 pounds and males between 300 and 390 pounds. Their wool coats are a creamy white color and prized for medium- and heavy-weight clothes. And when it comes to personality, breeders are happy to report they have docile temperaments and good mothering instincts along with their reliable milk production.