Hybrid Sheep - South America | Online Record Book Preview

Ovis aries

These are domestic sheep living in the wild, either from escapes or releases from confinement. Sheep were domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean region about 10,000 - 11,000 years ago from a mouflon like animal, and have been breed selectively ever since. There are now more than 800 breeds and over 800 million domestic sheep. They have been transported throughout the world by humans, and have become feral in many areas.

DESCRIPTION (male) shoulder height 27 - 31inches (68-78cm). Weight 100 - 175 pounds (45-79kg). Females are smaller. Chromosome number is 54, the same as in mouflons.

The coloration varies with the population and may be white, brown, and black and in some cases is multicolored in a variety of patterns. The coat is course hair or wool. Over time the feral hybrid sheep has been breed to remove the wool and have a sheep with hair.

Horns are grown by the males and some females. The male's horns are massive, with a broad frontal surface, and grow in outward spiral for one or two complete curls. Female horns, if present, are short, slim and goat like.

HABITAT Rough pasture and scrub vegetation from sea level to over 6,500 feet.

DISTRIBUTION Huntable populations throughout South America