Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Targhee
The Targhee is a hardy American breed, developed by mating outstanding
Rambouillet rams to either ewes of Corriedale and Lincoln Rambouillet stock
or ewes of only Lincoln Rambouillet stock, followed by interbreeding the
resulting lambs. This work was done in 1926 at the Sheep Experiment Station
in Dubois, Idaho, to meet the demand for a breed of sheep that had thick mus-
cles; was prolifi c; produced high-quality, apparel-type wool; and was adapted
to both farm and range conditions. These sheep are named after the Targhee
National Forest in Idaho, where the station fl ock grazes in summer.
An association was started in 1951, but its book closed in 1966, mean-
ing that all Targhee today trace back to animals registered at that time. The
breed's numbers fell over the years, but the association has become more
active in recent years, so the breed is seeing renewed interest with shepherds
around the country.
Targhees are large-framed, dual-purpose sheep that produce good meat
and heavy fl eece (11 to 16 pounds [5 to 7 kg]) of good, medium wool.
Teeswater
A very old breed from the northeast of England, the Teeswater is a long-
wool breed that is threatened in its home country. There are no purebred
Teeswaters in North America, but some conservation breeders and fi ber afi -
cionados are using an “up-breeding program” to develop an American strain
of the breed. In up-breeding, breeders use imported semen from purebred ani-
mals to artifi cially inseminate ewes of another breed. The crossbred offspring
of this breeding are again artifi cially inseminated with purebred semen. Their
offspring are artifi cially inseminated yet again, and again, and again. After
eight to ten generations of such breeding, the animals are close to the true
characteristics of the desired breed.
Teeswaters are hardy. Ewes are prolifi c and rarely require assistance, and
the lambs grow quickly. Their fl eece is long and lustrous in locks that are free
of kemp and dark fi bers.
