Hair Sheep

By Susan Schoeniansheep101.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

Native hair sheep in Brazil / 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.
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

Santa Inês Ram in Brazil / 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.
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

Dorper Ewes in North Carolina / Shedding Sheep
Some of the newer breeds of hair sheep are crosses between "pure" hair sheep and meat-type 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.
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

Katahdin x Dorper Lambs / 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, higher-roughage diet.
. . 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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