Sheep are timid creatures that tend to graze in flocks. They have almost no protection from predators. Male sheep are called rams, the female sheep ewes, and the young ones lambs. They follow a leader, usually an old ram. Where sheep liveSheep are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are both wild and domesticated types. Domesticated animals have been tamed for use by humans. All sheep like to graze over wide areas of pasture. Sheep are hill animals by nature. They prefer high and dry regions. They can, however, be raised on any land that is not wet and swampy. Almost every mountain range in Asia has one or more kinds of wild sheep. Europe, Africa, and North America each have one kind. However, South America and Australia have none. Sheep were first domesticated in about 5000 BC. Their remains have been found at various sites of ancient civilizations in the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia. The major sheep-raising nations are Australia, New Zealand, China, India, the United States, South Africa, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Spain, and Turkey. There were estimated to be more than 1 billion sheep in the world in the late 20th century. Physical featuresSheep are closely related to goats, though sheep are usually stockier than goats. Sheep usually have short tails and scent glands on their face and hind feet. When sheep have horns, the horns curl in flat loops to the sides of the head. Mature sheep weigh from about 80 to 400 pounds (35 to 180 kilograms). In all wild species of sheep, the outer coat takes the form of hair. Beneath this is a short undercoat of fine wool. It is this undercoat that has been developed into the fleece of domesticated sheep. BehaviorA sheep regurgitates its food (brings it back up from the stomach) and chews the cud. This helps its four separate stomach compartments to fully digest the food. Sheep feed on grass and plants. Domestic sheep depend on humans for protection. A sheet of paper blown by the wind can frighten them. A thunderstorm may throw them into a panic. They may drown without a struggle if they are scared while crossing a stream. Life cycleSheep mature at about one year of age. Most births are single, though sheep do have twins on occasion. The lambs, or baby sheep, begin to graze at about four or five months of age. Sheep breedsSeveral hundred different breeds of sheep have been developed from wild sheep. They are raised for their fleece (wool), for milk, and for meat. Sheep raised for wool - Fine-wool Fleece Rambouillet ram
The two best-known breeds of wool-producing sheep in America are the Merinos and the Rambouillets. The Merino originated in Spain in the 15th century. The Rambouillet originated in France. The fleece of these sheep is usually shaved each spring. Sheep raised for meatThe flesh of mature sheep is called mutton, and the flesh of immature animals is called lamb. Mutton sheep with medium-length wool include the Southdowns, Shropshires, Hampshires, Suffolks, Dorsets, Oxfords, Cheviots, and Corriedales. Wild sheepThe bighorn, or Rocky Mountain sheep, of North America is one of the largest varieties of wild sheep. Some species related to the bighorn are found in Asia. The argali of Mongolia and the Marco Polo sheep of Central Asia are the largest members of the sheep family. The argali has unusually long, massive horns. Marco Polo, the sheep named after the famous traveler who first described it, has wide-spreading horns. |