DOMESTIC SHEEP

Ovis aries

STATUS: 

Not threatened.

DESCRIPTION: 

Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, typically with horns forming a lateral spiral and crimped hair called wool. They differ from their wild relatives and ancestors in several respects, having become uniquely neotenic as a result of man's influence. A few primitive breeds of sheep retain some of the characteristics of their wild cousins, such as short tails. Depending on breed, domestic sheep may have no horns at all (polled), or horns in both sexes (as in wild sheep), or in males only. Most horned breeds have a single pair.  Another trait unique to sheep are their wide variation in color. Wild sheep are largely variations of brown hues. Colors of domestic sheep range from pure white to dark chocolate brown and even spotted or piebald. Selection for easily dyeable white fleeces began early in sheep domestication, and as white wool is a dominant trait it spread quickly. However, colored sheep do appear in many modern breeds, and may even appear as a recessive trait in white flocks. While white wool is desirable for large commercial markets, there is a niche market for colored fleeces, mostly for handspinning.  One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep are primarily valued for their fleece and meat. A sheep's wool is the most widely used of any animal, and is typically harvested by shearing. Ovine meat is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones. They continue to be important for wool and meat today, and are also occasionally raised for pelts, as dairy animals, or as model organisms for science.

SIZE: 

Depending on breed, sheep show a range of heights and weights. Their rate of growth and mature weight is a heritable trait that is often selected for in breeding. Ewes typically weigh between 100 and 225 pounds (45–100 kg), with the larger rams between 100 and 350 pounds (45–160 kg).

POPULATION:

Domestic sheep are the most numerous species in their genus, and are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia. 
 

LIFESPAN: 

Domestic sheep on normal pasture begin to slowly decline from four years on, and the average life expectancy of a sheep is 10 to 12 years, though some sheep may live as long as 20 years.

RANGE: 

In the modern era, Australia, New Zealand, Patagonian nations, and the United Kingdom are most closely associated with sheep production.

HABITAT: 

Ideal pasture for sheep is not lawn-like grass, but an array of grasses, legumes and forbs. Types of land where sheep are raised vary widely, from pastures that are seeded and improved intentionally to rough, native lands. Common plants toxic to sheep are present in most of the world, and include (but are not limited to) oak and acorns, tomato, yew, rhubarb, potato, and rhododendron.

FOOD: 

Sheep are exclusively herbivorous mammals. Like all ruminants, sheep have a complex digestive system composed of four chambers, allowing them to break down cellulose from stems, leaves, and seed hulls into simpler carbohydrates.  Sheep are largely grazing herbivores, unlike browsing animals such as goats and deer that prefer taller foliage.  Naturally, a constant source of potable water is also a fundamental requirement for sheep. The amount of water needed by sheep fluctuates with the season and the type and quality of the food they consume.

BEHAVIOR: 

Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise when being handled.  They follow a diurnal pattern of activity, feeding from dawn to dusk, stopping sporadically to rest and chew their cud. Sheep are prey animals with a strong gregarious instinct, and a majority of sheep behaviors can be defined in these terms. The dominance hierarchy of Ovis aries and its natural inclination to follow a leader to new pastures were the pivotal factors in it being one of the first domesticated livestock species. All sheep have a tendency to congregate close to other members of a flock, although this behavior varies with breed.  They become highly stressed when separated from their flock members.[9] Sheep can recognize individual human and ovine faces, and remember them for years

OFFSPRING: 

After the birth, ewes ideally break the amniotic sac (if it is not broken during labor), and begin licking clean the lamb. Most lambs will begin standing within an hour of birth. In normal situations, lambs nurse after standing, receiving vital colostrum milk. Lambs that either fail to nurse or that are rejected by the ewe require aid to live, such as bottle-feeding or grafting on to another ewe

THREATS: 

Sheep may fall victim to poisons, infectious diseases, and physical injuries.  Other than parasites and disease, predation is a threat to sheep and the profitability of sheep raising.