|
The
Barbado breed originated in Texas. The
breed originated from Barbados
Blackbelly sheep which were crossed with
Rambouillet and mouflon. One of the uses
of the Barbado is as a trophy animal on
game ranches due to its large curled
horns. It is typically tan, tan with a
pale or black belly or pied. The coat
varies from short hair to coarse wool
with a large amount of kemp fibers.
Males show the horns for which the breed
was selected and the females are polled.
The Barbado
should not be confused with the Barbados
Blackbelly although the two are related.
Barbados Blackbelly exhibit the
distinctive color pattern of the breed,
tan with black belly and face, which is
often times absent in the Barbado. In
addition, both sexes of the Barbados
Blackbelly are polled while the males of
the Barbado are horned. Also the
fecundity level in the Barbados
Blackbelly is very high with the average
litter size being between 1.5 and 2.2. |
|
|
Sheep
are even-toed, hoofed animals. They are
cud-chewing animals with the upper
incisor teeth missing and with a
four-compartmented stomach (see Artiodactyl).
They have paired, hollow, unbranched
horns that are not shed. The horns of
the adult male, or ram, are massive and
spirally curved. The horns of the adult
female, or ewe, are short and only
slightly curved.
Sheep
typically have a long, fairly narrow
muzzle and pointed ears. The length of
the head and body averages about 1.5 m
(about 5 ft), with a short tail, and an
adult may weigh 75 to 200 kg (165 to 440
lb). In the wild, the animals are nimble
runners and climbers. The female bears
up to three young after a gestation
period of about 150 days. Sheep live as
long as 20 years.
Besides
providing pelts and wool
for clothing and carpets, meat in the
form of lamb and mutton, and milk for
drinking and cheesemaking, sheep are
used to a limited extent as pack
animals, and the wild species are hunted
as game. Several distinct types and more
than 800 breeds of domesticated sheep
have been developed. The breeds are
adapted to environments that range from
desert to tropical conditions. |
|
