Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Delaine Merino
The Merino sheep, so famous for their fi ne wool, originated in Spain. They are
descended from a strain of sheep developed during the reign of Claudius (
AD
14-37). Spaniards crossed the Tarentine sheep of Rome with the Laodicean
sheep of Asia Minor, which produced one of the world's most popular sheep
breeds; most modern wool breeds have some Merino in their background.
Merinos were fi rst imported to North America during the late 1700s.
Since the lambs are small and mature slowly, the main income is from the
sale of fl eece and breeding stock. The Merino fl eece is heavy in oil and, like
the Rambouillet (see page 78), loses much of its weight in washing.
Not too long ago the Merinos were classifi ed into types A, B, and C,
depending on the amount of wrinkling in their skin. Type A had excessive
wrinkling and is now considered extinct, type B has fewer folds, and type C
has the fewest folds. Delaines are a type C Merino, which were bred in North
America starting in the nineteenth century and are the most common type
of Merinos in North America today.
Delaines have good herding instincts and can travel far for feed and water,
so they work well on open range. They are medium sized and hardy. They
breed year-round and are excellent mothers, but twinning is not the norm.
Dorper
The Dorper is a hair sheep that was bred in South Africa by crossing
Blackhead Persian sheep with Dorset Horns (see page 60). Their solid-
white bodies are usually accompanied by a solid-black head, giving them an
unusual appearance, but there are also pure white strains, and strains with
a solid-red head.
Whatever their color, Dorpers are stout, highly fertile animals that have a
long breeding season, and they are quite docile. They are adaptable to a wide
range of climates, from hot and dry to humid and cold. Although they put on
wool in cold climates, they shed in warm weather and don't require shear-
ing, which can be a great advantage for shepherds who are focusing on meat
production and don't have the time or inclination to deal with shearing.
