What are Montadale sheep used for?
Wool. The Montadale breed is considered a dual purpose breed noted for producing both high-quality carcasses as well excellent wool. As in any breed of sheep, the wool grades will vary from different parts of the country depending on the climatic conditions of the area from where they originate.
Where did the Polypay sheep originate?
The Polypay was developed at the experimental station in Dubois, Idaho starting in the late 1960’s. Researchers drew from four breeds, Finnsheep, Rambouillet, Targhee, and Dorset, to produce a prolific sheep that would lamb out of season and produce a fast growing lamb with a high yielding carcass.
Where are Rambouillet sheep from?
Northern France
The Rambouillet sheep gets its name from the Rambouillet Estate in Northern France. In 1786, King Louis XVI imported around 360 Spanish Merinos after the relaxation of the export of sheep. Through modifications of breeding, the distinct Rambouillet sheep began to appear through crossing with English Long wool breeds.
What breeds make up a Polypay sheep?
The Polypay is a four breed composite of Targhee, Rambouillet, Dorset and Finnish Landrace breeds. It is a medium-sized wool sheep (average mature ewe weight of 72 kg) with a smooth body free of excessive skin wrinkles on the neck and body and a poll head.
What is the purpose of Polypay sheep?
Polypay sheep were developed in the United States with the goal of developing a breed of sheep known for its maternal characteristics including early fertility, prolificacy, aseasonal breeding, and milk production. These qualities make them an excellent foundation for many production systems.
Are Rambouillet sheep used for meat or wool?
Rambouillet ewes are crossbred extensively with medium-wool and long-coarse-wool rams to produce choice market lambs and rugged breeding ewes with heavy, attractive medium wool.
How many lambs do Rambouillet sheep have?
Mature ewes weigh about 200-275 lbs. Lifespan can be upwards of 10-12 years*. The average ewe will have 1-2 lambs per birth* The average ewe may lamb more than once per year* Mature ewe fleece will weigh 8 to 18 lbs. with a yield of 35-55% .
How do you identify a Rambouillet sheep?
The Rambouillet is the largest of fine wool sheep. The breed has a white face and white legs. The face covering of wool is rather heavy, even to the extent of causing wool blindness in some specimens, but selective mating has alleviated this problem. Fleeces of Rambouillet sheep are relatively heavy.
What does a Polypay sheep look like?
How many lambs do Polypay sheep have?
2.4 lambs
Comparative studies with other US domestic breeds have shown the Polypay to have earlier sexual maturity higher fertility and prolificacy rates. Mature ewes give birth to an average of 2.4 lambs and wean an average total litter weight of 63.8 kg per ewe at 120 days post partum.
Are Rambouillet sheep good for meat?
Intermediate to large in size, Rambouillets are the largest and strongest of the fine-wool sheep; the rams are horned, the ewes hornless. Besides being valued for their high-quality wool, Rambouillets are also good meat animals.
Can you milk Rambouillet sheep?
Rambouillet ewes have an adequate lactation length with milk components of good quality, which can be utilized in the cheese- and yoghurt-making industries. An increase in the economic return of the current sheep production systems may be achieved by milking ewes.
What is a Polypay sheep used for?
The Polypay sheep breed is a white, medium-sized (65 kg), polled sheep which was developed in the 1960s at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho. In general, Polypay sheep are noted for being a highly prolific maternal dual-purpose (meat and wool) breed.
What is the easiest sheep to lamb?
The Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados and Dorper are the most popular breeds of hair sheep raised for meat. The Katahdin is a hardy, easy-lambing animal that produces a quality carcass. The Dorper, though a bit fattier if not processed early, is also a good meat breed choice.
What is the history of The Montadale breed of sheep?
The history of the Montadale breed of sheep dates back to over half a century and is one of the most amazing success stories in modern sheep-breeding history. Much of the credit for the development of the Montadale goes to E. H. Mattingly, a well-known commercial lamb buyer who was obsessed with the idea of producing the ideal sheep.
Are Montadale sheep good for wool?
The Montadale breed is considered a dual purpose breed noted for producing both high-quality carcasses as well excellent wool. As in any breed of sheep, the wool grades will vary from different parts of the country depending on the climatic conditions of the area from where they originate.
How much does a Montadale ram weigh?
Mature Montadale rams will normals weigh between 200 and 275 pounds (90-124 kg) and females will weigh in between 150 to 200 pounds (68-90 kg). The early results gained the attention of sheep producers as Montadales made their mark in lambing contests, ram testing experiments, and fat stock shows.
Where do Montadales live?
Montadales have proven themselves in the cold upper reaches of New England, in the hot climate of the South, on the farms in the Midwest, on the ranges of the Great Plains and in the rainy climate of the Far West. The Montadale breed is considered a dual purpose breed noted for producing both high-quality carcasses as well excellent wool.