Selecting the specific sheep breed to suit your needs is crucial for successful sheep farming. The choice of your sheep breed depends on various factors including your location, climate, market demand and intended use for the sheep.
Meet sheep breeds
Dorper. these are known for their excellent meat quality and adaptability. They are hardy and well suited to various climates. Their meat is lean, flavorful and have a good meat to bone ratio.
Suffolk. These are known for their muscular body and efficient growth rate. They produce high quality meat with excellent taste and tenderness.
Texel. These originate of the Netherlands and are known for their meaty caucuses. They have a high meat yield and are often crossed with other breeds to improve on the meat quality.
Wool breeds
Merino. These are famous for their fine, soft, and highly priced wool. These produce high quality wool that is appreciated by textile industries worldwide.
Rambouillet. These are a derivative of the merino sheep and produce fine wool well suitable for textiles. They have a strong constitution and are well suited to diverse climates.
Cormo. These are relatively a newer breed that produces fine and dense wool. They are popular particularly among breeders looking for dual purpose breeds.
Dual purpose breeds
Corriedale. These are known for their combination of good meat and wool production. they have a dense wool and produce good meat making them a good choice for farmers looking to diversify their income streams.
Targhee. These are dual purpose sheep with fine to medium wool and excellent meat quality. They are adapted to a wide range of climates and are often favored by farming aiming for sustainability.