Name: Best Sheep Breeds for Beginners (your breed selection options, explained)
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Best Sheep Breeds for Beginners (your breed selection options, explained)

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Skip to contentAll sheep are not alike and deciding on the type of sheep you want to raise is a big choice. There are literally dozens of&nbsp;breeds of sheep&nbsp;to choose from when choosing a breed for your farm. In this article I’ll share some of the best sheep breeds for beginners. I’ll also provide an overview of the different types of sheep that are available, so you can make an informed choice.But, first thing’s first. As you decide which breed is right for your operation, there is one question you should ask. This is: Why am I Raising Sheep?That may seem like a strange question, but every type of sheep can serve a different purpose on your farm. Some breeds produce excellent wool, some are big, rapid-gainers that are great for meat production. Each breed is different, so exploring why you want to have sheep will help guide you to the right breed.We have an expansive breed directory which can be a great place to start your research. But in case you’d like someone who has raised sheep for years to give you a nudge in the right direction, I’ve put together the following list.The breeds below are what I consider to be the best breeds to own for different types of farmers getting started with sheep. These are the breeds I’d recommend to friends and family based on the type of sheep they want.Let’s dig a little deeper and explore the different breed types available to you. Each of these sheep “categories” is filled with a variety of breeds that excel at their given production role.We’ll cover most of them here:Breeds with long wool, such as the&nbsp;Romney,&nbsp;Border Leicester,&nbsp;Lincoln, and&nbsp;others&nbsp;are popular with beginners interested in hand-spinning and fiber arts.These breeds produce long, lustrous fibers which are highly valued by craftsmen and craftswomen. Hand-spinners and those interested in knitting and felting custom items adore these breeds.Many of these breeds are known for their hardiness, for being prolific and for their strong maternal instinct. In my experience, they tend to be slightly more docile than larger breeds as well.Sheep breeds raised for meat production are valued for their rapid weight gain, hardiness, and the lean, well-muscled carcass they produce.Some meat breeds such as the&nbsp;Southdown,&nbsp;Suffolk&nbsp;and&nbsp;Hampshire&nbsp;produce wool as well. But their wool isn’t as highly valued as those produced by wool breeds. They also don’t produce as much wool each year.I think these breeds are an excellent choice for beginners with youngsters interested in showing sheep at their local fair. The Southdown in particular is a great breed for young children, as they’re small, cute, and easy to prepare for show.Other sheep commonly raised for meat are hair sheep – so named because they shed what woolly fibers they have (if any); fibers that are of no value. The value in these breeds, is in their carcass. These sheep breeds are less fatty, milder tasting and have higher protein/lower cholesterol meat than wool sheep breeds.The&nbsp;Katahdin,&nbsp;St. Croix,&nbsp;Barbados&nbsp;and&nbsp;Dorper&nbsp;are the most popular breeds of hair sheep raised for meat. The&nbsp;Katahdin&nbsp;is a hardy, easy-lambing animal that produces a quality carcass. The&nbsp;Dorper, though a bit fattier if not processed early, is also a good&nbsp;meat breed&nbsp;choice. The&nbsp;Barbados Blackbelly, however, are thinner and not nearly as docile.Breeds raised for their dense, fine-crimp wool such as the&nbsp;Merino,&nbsp;Rambouillet, and&nbsp;Debouillet&nbsp;are renowned for their ability to produce high quality wool which is sought after for the&nbsp;construction of high-end clothing. This is in large part due to the softness of the fibers thanks to a tight, high crimp (waviness) fleece.These sheep tend to look dirty on the farm because their superior wool is packed with lanolin (the natural grease in wool) which attracts dirt and dust like a magnet.Sheep breeds like the&nbsp;Columbia,&nbsp;Corriedale&nbsp;or the&nbsp;Polypay&nbsp;offer sheep breeders the opportunity to raise sheep with valuable wool and valuable meat production abilities.In my opinion, these breeds are some of the best sheep breeds for beginners because they allow you to do a little bit of everything and discover what you like most. They’re typically hardy, resilient, and easy to manage if you choose a smaller breed in this category.Breeds in this category, such as the&nbsp;Icelandic,&nbsp;Jacob&nbsp;and&nbsp;others&nbsp;are more rare and they are often raised for their appearance as much as anything else. Many people who don’t care about the show ring, and may not be looking to own sheep for wool or meat production (preferring beautiful sheep to populate their farm) will be attracted to these unique and wonderful breeds.These sheep tend to be more docile than many larger breeds.These days most people who raise sheep commercially in the US do so to sell lambs for meat. The rise in popularity of eating lamb is due to the increased ethnic populations in the United States. There has also been improved awareness of the health benefits and tastiness of lamb.The production of wool remains a strong industry, although it is not nearly as strong as it was during WWII. It often takes several years for wool production to be even slightly profitable for sheep producers as it generally will take more time to establish a market for your&nbsp;wool and wool products&nbsp;and because it takes a year to produce a fleece whereas lambs can be ready for market within a few months. For most smaller hobby wool farmers it often costs more to get the sheep shorn than they can charge for the wool their sheep produce.The other reasons you might find to raise sheep include…So…do your homework. Know which&nbsp;sheep breeds&nbsp;are best suited for your farm, family and your intended purpose. Our&nbsp;list of sheep breeds&nbsp;is a great resource as you research and will offer facts and insight as you make your decision.Sheep Books: The Best Books about Sheep &amp; WoolHow to Create a Business Plan for Sheep FarmingKeeping Sheep (how to prepare your farm &amp; yourself)How to Be a Good Neighbor While Raising SheepHi, and welcome to my website. My name is Joe and I’m the owner of RaisingSheep.net – a site where I share information and tips about raising sheep for fun, for show, and for profit. I grew up on a 100-acre sheep farm in Maine, was an active member in 4H, and I showed my flock across New England and at the national show in Louisville, Kentucky. Learn More

Skip to contentAll sheep are not alike and deciding on the type of sheep you want to raise is a big choice. There are literally dozens of&nbsp;breeds of sheep&nbsp;to choose from when choosing a breed for your farm. In this article I’ll share some of the best sheep breeds for beginners. I’ll also provide an overview of the different types of sheep that are available, so you can make an informed choice.But, first thing’s first. As you decide which breed is right for your operation, there is one question you should ask. This is: Why am I Raising Sheep?That may seem like a strange question,...

Best Sheep Breeds for Beginners (your breed selection options, explained)

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