Type C- Unlike other Merino sheep breeds the Delaine Merino is smooth and wrinkle free. Type B – They are bigger sheep and a bit more robust adapting to various ordinary farming type conditions and produce a lot of fleece around 25 pounds a year. Thus, this breed needs to be bred by a skillful sheep breeder and is not suited for commercial lamb and wool production. Type A – are often more angular and have little carcass value with the sheep being a small sheep, they need more attention and care. With the flocks grazing in the northern highlands in the summer and the southern plains of Spain in the winter. Most of these flocks were documented to have been owned by either the church or nobility. It was Spanish breeders that introduced English sheep breeds that were then bred with local sheep breeds to produce the Merino sheep in the 13th and 14th centuries. Introduced by the Marinids who were a tribe of Berbers in Spain around the 12th century. These flocks were probably the foundation flocks of the Merino. Sheep are believed to have been introduced from by Phoenicians that came from Asia Minor into Africa. The first Merino sheep were domesticated in New Zealand and Australia. The Merino sheep is probably one of the most popular and important sheep breeds in the world. There is not other wool that can compare to that of the Merino sheep. This makes them a very versatile and thus valuable breed as it enables them to be bred and maintained near all over the world. They are extremely adaptable to most any climates and are excellent foragers making them able to survive in various different environments. The Merino sheep have excellent herd instincts. Refer to the American & Delaine Merino Record Association for information on registered breeders and suppliers of this breed. They are excellent foragers and good herd sheep. They are a docile breed, but they are still livestock which no child should be left unattended with. The Merino Sheep is not bred for its meat but rather it prized woolĪ few more interesting facts to know about the breed Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days Usually, around 150 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days The ewes can be bred throughout the year with around 8 to 9 months intervals. If they have horns, they are curled tight against their head Small earls that stick out to the side of the head Soft, fine, strong, dense and uniform in length They usually have smooth clear faces with very bright and alert eyes. The Merino sheep have a heavy fleece with some wrinkling in their skin. ** LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy Refer to the American & Delaine Merino Record Association members info. Intermediate to experienced sheep farmer/keeper depending on the breed categoryĪmerican & Delaine Merino Record Association and the Merino World Federation The Merino sheep have thick skins with a lot of deep wrinkles in their heavy dense coats. The Merino sheep is also the most popular sheep breed to be found the world over as it is highly adaptable making it easy to breed in most any climate and or environment. Having been around and prized for its extremely fine wool for centuries the Merino sheep is a founding breed for many of the modern breeds found all around the world today. The Merino Sheep is a medium sized sheep breed and a very significant one in the sheep industry.

Flocks of sheep facts