Belgium Milk Sheep
(Belgisch Melk schapp)
The Belgium Milk Sheep is strongly influenced by Friesian Milk Sheep. In all probability, the Belgium Milk Sheep descends from Flemish sheep. Since the 19th century, Flemish sheep were selected for milk character. After the Second World War, the other milk sheep breeds were added. The Belgium Milk Sheep is a finely-built sheep which stands on high legs. The body is wedge-shaped. The head is covered with fine white hair. The abdomen is wooly, but slightly hairy. A typical characteristic of Belgium Milk Sheep is the so-called "rat-tail." The fertility of the breed is high. The udder is well-developed and the animals give much milk with a creamy taste. Breed categories: dairy, rat-tail Distribution: Europe
Beltex sheep were first introduced to Britain from Belgium in 1989. They originate from hybrid sheep bred in Belgium.
The breed's main characteristics are double-muscled high quarters, coupled with fine bones which ensures maximum killing-out percentage of the finished lamb. The Beltex is primarily a terminal sire to cross with British sheep and half-bred continental sheep. Beltex-sired lambs are born with ease and are thrifty. Conformation is the breed's main attribute in producing prime lamb. Finished lambs yield a high killing-out percentage and a carcass with well-fleshed legs, good eye muscle, and a long loin.Breed categories: meat, medium wool Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom, North American
The Bergamasca originated in the North of Italy, possibly from Sudanese sheep.
They are a multi-purpose animal, raised for meat, milk, and wool. They are prolific and produce and average of 250 kg of milk with 6 percent fat over a 6 month lactation period. The Bergamasca is a basic breed of the Lop-eared Alpine group and is polled. They are the foundation of the other Lop-eared Alpine breeds of Fabrianese, Pavullese, Perugian Lowland, and Zakynthos. Breed categories: multi-purpose (meat, milk, and wool), coarse wool Distribution: Europe, South America
The Berrichon du Cher was established in the Berry region of France. The original breed was crossed with a Merino in the mid-1780's. Further improvements were made in the 1800's with the introduction of the Dishely Leicester. The Berrichon due Cher is a polled, white-faced sheep with a medium fleece of high quality. Their body is compact, well-muscled, and medium to large in status. They are used primarily as a terminal sire. Breed categories: meat, medium wool Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom
The Blue du Maine originated in Western France in the region of Mayenne.
The breed was developed from crossing Leicester Longwool and Wensleydale which were imported during a period from 1855 to 1880 with the now extinct Choletais breed. The Blue du Maine is a large breed. The breed has no wool on its head or legs. The face is dark gray or blue color. Both sexes are polled. In comparing the Blue du Maine with the Texel breed, they show a higher litter size and age of sexual maturity. Their average daily gain, carcass leanness, milk yield, and lambing interval are similar to the Texel, but the Blue du Maine are lighter muscled. Breed categories: meat, medium wool Distribution: Europe, United Kingdom
The Blue Texel is a color variant of the normal white Texel sheep.
It came from white Texels who carry the color factor "blue" with them. This factor is a recessive factor. From a mating of two white Texels who both carry the factor for the blue colour, there is a 25 percent chance blue lambs will be born while a mating between a Blue Texel and another Blue Texel always gives blue lambs. Texel sheep evolved as a result of crossbreeding the Dutch polder sheep with several English breeds, such as Leicester, Wensleydale, and Lincoln at the beginning of the 20th century.
Today, as a result of efficient selection, the Texel breed has developed into a meat-type sheep of outstanding lean meat quality that has become popular throughout the world as a sire of crossbred slaughter lambs. When Texel lambs with a different color were orginally born, most breeders were very ashamed of this. It was not until the late 70's that some breeders started with the breeding of this rare colored sheep: the Blue Texel. Breed categories: meat, medium wool
Distribution: Netherlands, Europe
The Booroola Merino was developed on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia.
It differs from the normal Merino in two ways. First, its fertility is as high as any breed in the world. The number of lambs born per ewe lambing is 2.4, with a range of 1 to 6. Half-Booroola ewes on average wean 20 percent more lambs than comparable Merinos under the same conditions. Secondly, Booroolas have the ability to breed at most times of the year, thus extending the breeding season.
The high prolifacy of the Booroola Merino is due to the action of a single gene. Booroola actually refers to a gene called the B gene (also called F for fecundity). The B gene can be transferred into any breed sheep and does not appear to be influenced by nutrition. Breed categories: fine wool, prolific
Distribution: worldwide
