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#REDIRECT [[Sheep (game)|Sheep]]
{{Redirect|Sheep}}
{{Redirect|Lamb}}
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Sheep
| status = {{StatusDomesticated}}
| image = Flock of sheep.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = [[Romney sheep]] ([[Images of sheep|More]])
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[mammal|Mammalia]]
| ordo = [[Artiodactyla]]
| familia = [[Bovidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Caprinae]]
| genus = ''[[Ovis]]''
| species = '''''O. aries'''''
| binomial = ''Ovis aries''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]]
}}The '''domestic sheep''' (''Ovis aries''), the most common species of the '''sheep''' genus ([[Ovis]]), is a woolly [[ruminant]] [[quadruped]] which probably descends from the wild [[European Mouflon|mouflon]] of south-central and south-west [[Asia]]. Sheep breeders refer to female sheep as '''''ewes''''', intact males as '''''rams''''', [[Castration|castrated]] males as '''''wethers''''', yearlings as '''''hoggets''''', and younger sheep as '''''lambs'''''. In sheep husbandry, a group of sheep is called a ''[[Herd|flock]]'' or ''[[mob]]''.

There are many [[List of sheep breeds|breeds of sheep]], but these are generally sub-classable as: [[wool]] class, hair class and [[Lamb (food)|sheep meat]] breeds.

Farmers develop wool breeds for superior wool quantity and quality (fineness of fibers), wool [[Staple (textiles)|staple]] length and degree of [[crimp (wool)|crimp]] in the fiber. Major wool breeds include [[Merino]], [[Rambouillet (sheep)|Rambouillet]], [[Romney Marsh|Romney]] and [[Lincoln (sheep)|Lincoln]].

Breeders of dual purpose wool class sheep concentrate on fast growth, multiple births, ease of lambing and hardiness. [[Drysdale]] is a sheep bred specifically for [[carpet]] wool. An easy-care sheep is the [[Coopworth]] that has long wool and good lamb meat production qualities.

Breeds of meat sheep include [[Suffolk (sheep)|Suffolk]], [[Hampshire (sheep)|Hampshire]], [[Dorset (sheep)|Dorset]], [[Columbia (sheep)|Columbia]], and [[Texel (sheep)|Texel]].

One dual-use breed is the [[Corriedale (sheep)|Corriedale]]. Sometimes sheep are used for both purposes equally and cross-breeding is practiced to maximise both outputs. For example, Merino ewes providing wool may be crossed with Suffolk rams to produce lambs which are robust and suitable for the meat market. The [[Finnish Landrace]] sheep has a reputation for multiple births.

Hair class sheep are the original class of sheep in the world, developed for meat and leather. They are prolific and highly resistant to disease and parasites. Dorpers and Kahtahdins are composite breeds of wool and hair crosses with different degrees of wool/hair mixes within the hair class. True hair sheep, are those breeds such as St. Croix, Barbados Blackbelly, Mouflon, Santa Inez and Royal White eg. that shed their protective down fiber to an all hair coat in the Spring/Summer. Hair class sheep are becoming more popular for their no-shear aspects.

==Cultural significance==
Sheep have had associations with many cultures, especially in the [[Mediterranean]] area and [[Wales]], where they form the most common type of [[livestock]] in [[pastoralism]]. [[Selective breeding]] of sheep has frequently occurred and in [[Egyptian Mythology]] Rams was the symbol of [[Heryshaf]].
[[Image:Sheep eating grass edit02.jpg|thumb|250px|Australian Sheep]]

A wide symbology relates to sheep in ancient art, traditions and culture. [[Judaism]] uses many sheep references including the [[Passover]] lamb. [[Christianity]] uses sheep-related images, such as: [[Christ]] as the good shepherd, or as the [[Sacrificial lamb|sacrificed]] Lamb of God ([[Agnus Dei]]); the [[bishop]]'s ''Pastoral''; the lion lying down with the lamb. Greek Easter celebrations traditionally feature a meal of Paschal lamb. Sheep also have considerable importance in [[Arab]] culture, with [[Eid ul-Adha]] being a major festival in [[Islam]] where a sheep is sacrificed yearly.
[[Image:Yorkshire dales sheep.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Swaledale (sheep)|Swaledale]] sheep on a [[limestone pavement]] in the [[Yorkshire Dales]], UK.]]

Herding sheep plays an important historico-symbolic part in the [[Jew]]ish and [[Christianity|Christian]] [[faith]]s, since [[Abraham]], [[Jacob]], [[Moses]], and [[King David]] all worked as [[shepherd]]s.

The ram is the first sign of the Western [[zodiac]], in which it is known as ''[[Aries]]''. The sheep (or [[goat]]) also forms one of the animals associated with the 12-year cycle of in the [[Chinese zodiac]], related to the [[Chinese calendar]]. Chinese tradition associates each animal with certain personality traits. See: [[Sheep (Zodiac)]].

The growing of sheep for wool and meat became a major industry in post-colonial [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] which has remained to this day. As a result, sheep and [[sheep shearing]] have become an important part of the folklore and cultural tradition of these two countries.
[[Image:Sheep in mountain pasture.jpg|thumb|Grazing sheep]]
In [[George Orwell]]'s satirical novel ''[[Animal Farm]]'', sheep are used to represent the ignorant and uneducated masses of revolutionary [[Russia]]. The sheep are unable to be taught the subtleties of revolutionary ideology and can only be taught repetitive slogans such as "Four legs good, two legs bad" which they bleat in unison at rallies. This is due to the widespread perception that sheep lack [[intelligence (trait)|intelligence]] and also their undoubted [[herd mentality]].

==Economic importance==
{| class="wikitable" align=left style="clear:left"
! colspan=2|Global Sheep & Lamb stocks - 2005<br>(million head)
|-
| {{PRC}} || align="right" | 170.8
|-
| {{AUS}} || align="right" | 106
|-
| [[Image:European flag.svg|25px]] [[European Union]] (15 nation)|| align="right" | 98.7
|-
| {{IND}} || align="right" | 62.5
|-
| [[Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg|25px]] former [[Soviet Union]] || align="right" | 64.0
|-
| [[Image:Flag of Iran.svg|25px]] [[Iran]]|| align="right" | 54
|-
| {{SUD}} || align="right" | 48
|-
| {{NZL}} || align="right" | 40
|-
| {{GBR}} || align="right" | 35.2
|-
|[[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|25px]] [[South Africa]]|| align="right" | 25.3
|-
| {{TUR}} || align="right" | 25.2
|-
| {{PAK}} || align="right" | 24.9
|-
| {{NGA}} || align="right" | 23
|-
|{{ESP}} || align="right" | 22.5
|-
|All Other || align="right" | 337.3
|-
|'''Total''' || align="right" | '''1,079.7'''
|-
|colspan=2|''Source: <br>[[UN Food & Agriculture Organisation]] (FAO)''<ref>{{cite web| url=http://faostat.fao.org/faostat/form?collection=Production.Livestock.Stocks&Domain=Production&servlet=1&hasbulk=0&version=ext&language=EN| title=FAOSTAT Database Query| accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref>
|}

Raising sheep occupied many farmers in ancient economies, given that this animal can give [[milk]] (and all its derivative products, such as [[cheese]]), [[wool]], [[Sheepskin (material)|sheepskin]] (used for making [[footwear]], rugs and other coverings) and [[meat]]. In the 21st century, sheep retain considerable importance in the economies of several countries. After [[China]], the largest producers of sheep are in the southern hemisphere: [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and the [[Patagonia|Patagonian]] regions of [[Argentina]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Chile]]. In the UK, the importance of the wool trade was so significant that in the upper chamber of parliament (the House of Lords), the Lord Chancellor sits on a bench known as the Woolsack. The Woolsack is, as its name suggests, a sack of wool and confers the importance of the wool trade to the English economy at the time of its installation.

In some places, like [[Sardinia]], sheep-breeding has become the principal and characteristic activity.

The economic importance of sheep in much of the United States has declined as it has become, in some cases, economically unviable to ranch sheep for wool<ref>{{cite web| url=http://208.33.45.21/archive/story.cfm?path=2006/q2/May/22/20060522-NEWS_LOCAL-7369204.htm&criteria=sheep%20industry| publisher=San Angelo Standard-Times| year=22 May, 2004| title=Shear Artisans}}</ref>. Texas has by far the most sheep of any state <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.usda.gov/nass/aggraphs/sheep4.htm| publisher=[[National Agricultural Statistics Service]]| year=28 January, 2005| title=Top Five Sheep & Lamb Producing States}}</ref>, but now has only about one-tenth<ref>{{cite web| url=http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/pgg-bb/shep0106.txt| publisher=[[National Agricultural Statistics Service]]| year=27 January, 2006| title=Sheep and Goats}}</ref> of the almost 11 million sheep it had in the 1940s<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/SS/aus1.html| publisher=[[Handbook of Texas|Handbook of Texas Online]]| year=26 February, 2004| title=Sheep Herding}}</ref>.

Even in the 21st century, in some situations, sheep can provide a return on investment of up to 400% of their cost annually (including reproduction gains). Sheep breeding has played a role in several historic conflicts, such as the Scottish [[Highland Clearances]], the American [[range war]]s, and the English "[[Enclosure|enclosing]] of the commons".

==Domestication==
Domestic sheep are descended from the [[Urial|mouflon]] (''Ovis orientalis'') that is found from the mountains of [[Turkey]] to southern [[Iran]]. Evidence for domestication dates to [[9th millennium BC|9000 BCE]] in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Krebs, Robert E. & Krebs, Carolyn A | title=Groundbreaking Scientific Experiments, Inventions & Discoveries of the Ancient World | location=Westport, CT | publisher=Greenwood Press | year=2003 | id=ISBN 0-313-31342-3}}</ref> It has been found by [[DNA]] analysis to be one of two ancestors of domestic sheep. Although the second ancestor has not been identified, both the [[urial]] and [[argali]] have been ruled out. The [[urial]] (''O. vignei'') is found from northeastern Iran to northwestern India. It has a higher number of [[chromosome]]s (58) than domestic sheep (54) which makes it an unlikely ancestor of the latter, but it interbreeds with the mouflon. The [[argali]] sheep (''O. ammon'') of inner Asia (Tibet, Himalayas, [[Altay Mountains]], [[Tien-Shan]] and [[Pamir Mountains|Pamir]]) has 56 chromosomes and the Siberian [[snow sheep]] (Ovis nivicola) has 52 chromosomes.

The European mouflon (''O. musimon'') found on [[Corsica]] and [[Sardinia]] as well as the Cretan and the extinct Cypriot wild sheep are probably descended from early domestic sheep that turned feral. Evidence of early domesticated sheep have been found in [[PPNB]] [[Jericho]] and [[Zawi Chemi Shanidar]]. The fleece-bearing sheep is only found since the [[Bronze Age]]. Primitive breeds, like the Scottish [[Soay sheep]] have to be plucked (a process called rooing), instead of sheared, as the kemps are still longer than the soft fleece, or the fleece must be collected from the field after it falls out.

==Cuisine==
{{seealso|lamb (food)}}
Chefs and diners commonly know sheep [[meat]] prepared for food as [[Lamb (food)|'''lamb''' or '''mutton''']] (compare the [[French language|French]] word for "sheep": ''mouton'').

Ewes' milk is used in the production of [[cheese]] and [[yogurt]] in many upland parts of the world. Well known sheepmilk cheeses include the [[Roquefort (cheese)|roquefort]] and [[brocciu]] of [[Corsica]], the [[Pecorino Romano cheese|pecorino]] of [[Italy]] and the [[feta (cheese)|feta]] cheese of [[Greece]].

Sheep [[testicles]] are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.

== Behaviour ==
[[Image:Two Sheep in Chile.jpg|thumb|Two sheep in [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]], [[Chile]]]]
[[Image:Happy_Sheep.jpg|thumb|left|222px|Sheep graze on green pasture lands at the edge of [[Giants Causeway]] in [[Northern Ireland]].]]
Some breeds of sheep exhibit a strong [[flocking]] behaviour. This was used as an example to Israelites in the [[Christian]] bible to instruct them to obey their [[shepherd]], or [[Slaveholder|master]]. Flocking behaviour is advantageous to non-predatory animals; the strongest animals fight their way to the center of the flock which offers them great protection from predators. It can be disadvantageous when food sources are limited and sheep are almost as prone to overgrazing a pasture as goats. In [[Iceland]], where sheep have no natural predators, and grasses grow slowly, none of the various breeds of sheep exhibit a strong flocking behaviour.

Sheep flocking behaviour is so prevalent in some [[England|English]] breeds that special names apply to the different roles sheep play in a flock. One calls a sheep that roams furthest away from the others an ''outlier'', a term originally used to refer to someone who lives far from where they work. This sheep ventures further away from the safety of the flock to graze, due to a larger [[flight zone]] or a weakness that prevents it from obtaining enough [[forage]] when with the herd. Another sheep, the [[bellwether]], leads the others. Traditionally this was a castrated Ram (or ''wether'') with a ''bell'' hung off a string around its neck. The tendency to act as an outlier, bellwether or to fight for the middle of the flock stays with sheep throughout their adulthood; that is unless they have a scary experience which causes them to increase their [[flight zone]].

[[Homosexuality|Homosexual behaviour]] in male sheep (found in 6&ndash;10% of rams) is associated with variations in cerebral mass distribution and chemical activity. A study reported in [[Endocrinology (journal)|Endocrinology]] concluded that biological factors are in play; this study replicated similar findings in humans. It shows that approximately 10% of males exhibit male sexual preference, and that the brains of these males are different.<ref>{{cite journal| url=http://endo.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/145/2/478| journal=Endocrinology| volume=145| issue=2| pages=478-483| title=The Volume of a Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus in the Ovine Medial Preoptic Area/Anterior Hypothalamus Varies with Sexual Partner Preference| first=Charles E.| last=Roselli| coauthors=Kay Larkin, John A. Resko, John N. Stellflug and Fred Stormshak| accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref>

[[Image:Sheep_in_Serbia.jpeg|thumb|A flock of sheep in Serbia]]
According to a spokesperson of the British National Sheep Association, "Sheep are quite intelligent creatures and have more brainpower than people are willing to give them credit for."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3938591.stm| publisher=BBC News| year=30 July, 2004| title=Crafty sheep conquer cattle grids| accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref> For example, sheep in [[Yorkshire]], [[England]] found a way to get over [[cattle grid]]s by rolling on their backs. A study published in ''National Geographic'' (December 8) showed a sheep can remember the faces of fifty other sheep for over two years.

Sheep can become ''hefted'' to one particular pasture so they do not roam far from home. Since the outbreak of [[foot and mouth disease]] in the [[United Kingdom]], transplanted sheep have had to be trained to stay in their grazing area.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1634526.stm| publisher=BBC News| year=3 November, 2001| title=Sheep taught to stay put| accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref>

==Glossary==
This is a glossary of terms that relate to ''sheep'' and ''domestic sheep''. Note that some terms have localised meanings which may be used only in one geographical region, or may mean slightly different things in different areas.
*'''Chevon''' &mdash; [[goat]] meat. A term used mainly in [[Eastern countries]].
*'''Ewe''' &mdash; a female sheep, capable of producing lambs.
*'''Hoggett''' (or '''Hoggatt''') &mdash; a sheep which by virtue of its age and development is no longer a lamb, but not yet '''mutton'''. esp. in relation to meat breeds.
*'''Lamb''' &mdash; a young sheep, generally unweaned. In many Eastern countries, there is a less strict definition of lamb which may include older hoggetts. Also used to refer specifically to the [[Lamb (food)|meat]] of such a sheep.
*'''Mutton''' &mdash; an older female sheep to be used for meat. Also used to refer specifically to the [[Mutton|meat]] of such a sheep. May refer to [[goat]] meat in eastern countries. Derived from the French word '''Mouton''' (sheep).
*'''Ram''' (also called a '''tup''') &mdash; a male sheep.
*'''Old-season lamb''' &mdash; a lamb a year old or more.
*'''Ovine''' &mdash; member of the [[genus]] '''''Ovis'''''.
*'''Slink''' &mdash; a very young lamb.
*'''Sucker''' &mdash; an unweaned lamb.
*'''Wether''' &mdash; a castrated male sheep.

==See also==
*[[Blue tongue disease]]
*[[Dolly the sheep]]
*[[Fat-tailed sheep]]
*[[Icelandic sheep]]
*[[Guard Llama]], used as livestock guardians
*[[Lamb (food)]]
*[[List of sheep breeds]]
*[[Ovis]] (sheep genus)
*[[Scrapie]]
*[[Sheep husbandry]]
*[[Sheep shearing]]
*[[Sheepskin (material)|Sheepskin]]
*[[Shepherd]]
*[[Wool]]

==References==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
<references/>

== External links ==
{{Commons|Ovis aries}}
* [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/ Livestock]
* {{dmoz|Business/Agriculture_and_Forestry/Livestock/Sheep/|Sheep}}
* [http://www.biol.lu.se/cellorgbiol/phylogeny/AxelJanke/PAPER/sheep2.pdf Genetic origins of domestic sheep]
* [http://www.sheep101.info A resource for students and teachers to learn about sheep]
* [http://www.ovine.net A website creating games of a sheep flavour]

==Further reading==
*Juliet Clutton-Brock. ''A natural history of domesticated animals'' (London 1987).
* Journal of Heredity. 1998 Mar-Apr;89(2):113-20. ''Analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicates that domestic sheep are derived from two different ancestral maternal sources: no evidence for contributions from urial and argali sheep.'' Hiendleder S, Mainz K, Plante Y, Lewalski H.

[[Category:Sheep]]
[[Category:Livestock]]

{{Link FA|he}}

[[ang:Scéap]]
[[ast:Oveya]]
[[bg:Овце]]
[[bo:ལུག]]
[[ca:Ovella]]
[[cs:Ovce domácí]]
[[cy:Dafad]]
[[da:Får]]
[[de:Schafe]]
[[eo:Ŝafo]]
[[es:Oveja]]
[[fa:گوسفند]]
[[fi:Lammas]]
[[fr:Mouton]]
[[he:כבש]]
[[id:Domba]]
[[io:Mutono]]
[[is:Sauðfé]]
[[it:Pecora]]
[[ja:ヒツジ]]
[[ko:양]]
[[kw:Davas]]
[[nds:Schaap]]
[[nl:Schaap]]
[[no:Sau]]
[[pl:Owca domowa]]
[[pt:Ovelha]]
[[ru:Овца]]
[[simple:Sheep]]
[[sl:Ovca]]
[[sr:Овца]]
[[sv:Får]]
[[tl:Tupa]]
[[zh:绵羊]]

Revision as of 09:56, 30 July 2006

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