Hair Sheep
By Susan Schoenian
sheep101.info
History of Hair Sheep
The wild ancestors of today's domestic sheep
breeds had long, coarse hair and a short,
downy undercoat, which under domestication
gradually became wool, while the long hair
disappeared. Wild sheep, such as the Mouflon,
still do not have wooly coats.
Wool
Some breeds of sheep remain true to their
ancestors and do not have long, wooly coats.
This is because wool is a disadvantage in
many environments and not profitable to
produce in many circumstances.
Barbados Blackbelly
Photo courtesy of Virginia State University
Found in the Tropics
It is estimated that approximately 10 percent
of the world's sheep population are hair sheep,
which an estimated 90 percent are found in
Africa, 10 percent in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Native hair sheep in Brazil
Popular in United States
Though estimated to be only 3% of the U.S.
sheep population, hair sheep are gaining
rapidly in popularity in the U.S. and other
temperate climates because wool is not as
profitable as it used to be and meat (lamb)
is the primary source of income in the
majority of sheep operations. Hair sheep are
also valued for their production efficiency
and "easy-care" nature.
Katahdin Ewe with Twins
Hair vs. Wool Sheep
Hair sheep are not a cross between goats and
sheep. They have the same number of
chromosomes as wooled sheep. The primary
difference between hair sheep and wooled
sheep is the ratio of hair to wool fibers. All
sheep have both types of fibers. Hair sheep
have more hair fibers and wool sheep have
more wool fibers. Wooled sheep need sheared.
Hair sheep do not. Hair sheep also do not need
their tails docked (removed). Most wool sheep
have their tails dock for reasons of health and
sanitation.
Santa Inês Ram in Brazil
Not All Hair Sheep are the
Same
Like wooled breeds, there is considerable
diversity in hair sheep breeds, depending
upon their origins. Some breeds and animals
have short, slick hair coats absent of wool,
while others have thicker coats containing a
mixture of hair and wool fibers that shed
naturally every year. Hair sheep tend to
grow more wool fibers in cold climates, thus
making them adaptable to different climate
extremes.
Katahdin Ewe with Her Triplet Lambs
Shedding Sheep
Some of the newer breeds of hair sheep are
crosses between "pure" hair sheep and meattype wooled breeds. They grow more wool
than traditional hair sheep, but shed their
coats annually and still do not require
shearing. They may be more accurately
identified as "shedding" sheep.
Dorper Ewes in North Carolina
Hardy, Productive Sheep
Besides shedding their "fleeces," hair sheep
have many outstanding qualities including a
high level of reproduction, natural
resistance to internal parasites and other
pests, and greater tolerance for heat and
humidity.
St. Croix (Virgin Island White) Ewes
Photo courtesy of Virginia State University
Hair Sheep Lambs
Hair sheep lambs have excellent vigor. Their
growth rates depend upon their breed,
genetics (for growth), and diet. Many of the
hair sheep breeds "fatten" more like goats,
meaning they deposit fat around their internal
organs before they deposit external fat. As a
result, they should probably not be full-fed in a
feed lot. It is probably better to grow them out
more slowly on a lower-energy, higherroughage diet.
Katahdin x Dorper Lambs
. . New Words . .
Ancestor - Any organism, population, or species from which some other organism,
population, or species is descended by reproduction.
Domestication - the process of taming something wild.
Chromosome - Components in a cell that contain genetic information. Each chromosome
contains numerous genes. Chromosomes occur in pairs: one obtained from the mother; the
other from the father.
Resistance - the condition in which an organism can resist disease.
Tolerance - the ability to experience exposure to potentially harmful amounts of a
substance without showing an adverse effect.
Vigor - healthy growth in any living organism.
Fatten - to feed for slaughter. To make fleshy or plump.
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