retrieve of put up sheep ? If so , you might want to consider the Rambouillet .
The Rambouillet is a breed of sheep that originated in France . It was initially bred for its meat and wool , but today it ’s also often raised as a show animal . This breed has many distinctive features that make it abide out from other breeds such as its slow coating of wool .
When you ’re comparing the many character of sheep breeds that are out there , you ’ll have no famine of options to consider . Is the Rambouillet one you should include on your list ? Here ’s what you require to know .
What is the Rambouillet Sheep Breed?
The Rambouillet sheep is a stock of sheep spring up from France . The stock is known for its hunky-dory woollen , which can be used to make gamey - caliber yarns and fabric .
RAM of this breed are modal in sizing , typically tipping the scales at around 250 - 300lbs , with Ewe weighing around 150 - 200lbs .
What is in truth remarkable is the woolen . ewe can make a fleece weighing up to 17lbs with yields of up to 55 % . The staple length is broadly speaking around 2 - 4 - column inch and has a fibre diameter of around 20 - 24.5 microns .
When you opt to raise Rambouillets , you do n’t have to take woolen over meat . It ’s not only a great woollen manufacturer , but it is also the largest of all fine wool sheep – therefore , this is a breed that can also be raised for meat .
History of the Breed
This stock is one of the oldest in the record books , with its lineage dating back over 200 years . It is derived from Spain ’s famousMerino sheep , which were some of the world ’s first and best - producing wool bearers . Of course , Merinos are still prized as wool breeds today .
At the fourth dimension , the Spanish government knew exactly what they had – and they did n’t want to lose it ! Therefore , any exporting of these sheep was strictly forbid .
In the late 1700s , that policy changed when the King of Spain agreed to send more than 350 Merino RAM and Ewe to his cousin Louis XVI in France to help better their farm animal . The French government start an active sheep bringing up program on the Rambouillet farm , a raising program that continues to this 24-hour interval .
later on , other Merinos were enclose to Germany , with breeders make use of goods and services of Gallic Rambouillet sire . Because of this , there are several genic lines of Rambouillet that you might find , with some trackable to France and others to Germany .
You might get word of this strain referred to synonymously as the Rambouillet Merino or the Gallic Merino as well .
In 1889 , the Rambouillet Association was form in the US to preserve the breed . As a resultant , more than 50 % of all sheep in the westerly American rangers are of Rambouillet descent .
Reasons to Raise Rambouillet Sheep
Here are some of the good reasons to consider Rambouillets for your flock .
1. Availability
The Rambouillet sheep breed is a hardy and intelligent animal that produces quality fleece . This particular breed of sheep rise in France and was bred for its orotund size , blockheaded fleece , and eminent fertility rate charge per unit .
The Gallic government began to improve the lambing percentage with this breed because they want it to be more productive than the other breeds at the time . Today , you may find Rambouillet sheep all over Europe as well as in North America . Because of this far-flung handiness , it is not unmanageable to find lambs , ewes , or rams to jump your own fold .
2. Heavy Fleeces
Rambouillets are some of the good woollen producers you will find . They produce heavy fleeces and can be crossbred with intermediate and long vulgar wool sheep to bring on tough ewes with heavy , attractive wool of a medium weight .
3. Great Market Lambs
If you need to bring up sheep for meat , Rambouillet sheep are a good choice for that , too . These sheep are heavy , with lambs growing rapidly with proper feed . They ’ll produce acceptable weights at just 6 - 9 months of age .
Rambouillets can also be raised for mouton if you want to grow them out a bit longer .
4. Hardiness
Rambouillet sheep are strong , dauntless animals that can do well in most climate . They execute well on sub - par pastures , though proper pasture rotation and secure feedstuffs are still essential . They also have strong flocking inherent aptitude , a major welfare if you choose to raise these sheep on a large range .
5. Temperament
Rambouillets , even the rams , are very calm and unassuming . They are not aggressive and do not fight . They do well with human interaction , mostly minding their own job and run about in a restrained , zippy mode .
6. Cross Breeding
Rambouillet sheep are often used in the development of new breeds . It was used to create the American Blackbelly sheep , which is then cross with the Mouflon and Barbados Blackbelly to create impressive horns that were sought after at western hunting ranches .
Special Considerations When Raising Rambouillet Sheep
Here are some things to keep in mind if you resolve to raise Rambouillet sheep .
1. Wool Blindness
Rambouillet sheep are known for their excellent wool production – but there is a trade wind - off here . Although Rambouillets produce lots of wool , it can be problematic in that this heavy program continue up and into the grimace . In some severe example , it has do wool cecity , with the wool obstructing a sheep ’s vision almost entirely .
The good news is that selective coupling has made this condition much less coarse , with sheep not prone to this issue found in most flock . It ’s worth vet your likely flock carefully to check that this does not happen .
2. Meat Conformation
Although Rambouillet sheep and Charles Lamb produce a meat quality that most multitude reckon as satisfactory , some critic argue that these sheep are not the practiced tasting . Even though Rambouillets have meaty bodies than their predecessors , Merinos , the meat has wretched conformation with humble yields of edible or salable meat overall .
Therefore , many breeder foil their Rambouillet with sheep who provide better configuration and flavor .
3. High Yolk Factor in the Wool
When raising Rambouillets for woollen , keep in idea that it has a eminent yolk factor . If you are n’t familiar with fleece harvesting , just recognize this – a higher yolk gene means that the wool is much more likely to shrink . Although this is definitely not a pile - breaker for most people , it ’s something to keep in idea .
4. Aesthetics
This spot is purely one of opinion – I personally find out Rambouillet sheep to be attractive individual , both shear and fully embrace in wool .
However , some husbandman will complain that the sheep are n’t super attractive when shear . That ’s because Rambouillet have large , saggy wrinkle that are unmistakable when they are n’t fully covered in wool .
How to Raise Rambouillet Sheep
Rambouillet sheep can be raise just as you might care for any other character of sheep .
you may accompany these tips forraising your Rambouilletsandthese tips for nutritionandthese tips for feeding .
It ’s important to take down that Rambouillet sheep experience long breeding seasons . Although they are n’t necessarily considered year - round stock breeder , they are less seasonal than other breed , likeIcelandics . Because of this , you might keep separate housing for rams and ewes of breeding age . That way , you ’ll know whenlambingis likely to hap .
Be sure to fleece your Rambouillets at least twice a twelvemonth – and that ’s a bare lower limit . These sheep uprise wool rapidly and the more often you shear , the gamey caliber the wool will be . Shearingcan also aid prevent issue likeflystrike , a disease to which heavy wool bearers like Rambouillet are prone .
Are Rambouillet Sheep Right For Me?
The Rambouillet sheep is a very democratic breed and for upright reason . These sheep have many grand quality that make them with child farm animals .
Great for meat and woollen , Rambouillets are also quite favorable and gentle , making them respectable as pets or for expo design , too .
Of of course , there are disadvantages that come with evoke this breed of sheep , but that ’s true of just about any option you might take . count the pros with the cons to adjudicate if Rambouillet sheep are right-hand for you , and get your lot started today !
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