In Ancient Egyptian religion, the ram was the symbol of several gods: Khnum, Heryshaf and Amun. Religious symbolism and ritual involving sheep began with some of the first known faiths: Skulls of rams (along with bulls) occupied central placement in shrines at the Çatalhöyük settlement in 8,000 BC. The major national producers are China, Australia, New Zealand, India, U.S., Sudan, Nigeria, Argentina, Turkey and Pakistan. Today, there are little over one billion sheep on the planet. One or two lambs, which are able to stand and suckle within a few minutes of birth, are born to each ewe. After mating, sheep have a gestation period of about five months most lambs born in mid spring. A group of ewes is generally mated by a single ram, who has either been chosen by a breeder or has established dominance through physical contest with other rams. Sheep follow a similar reproductive strategy to other herd animals. Sheep establish a dominance hierarchy through fighting, threats and competitiveness. The dominance hierarchy of sheep and their natural inclination to follow a leader to new pastures were the pivotal factors in sheep being one of the first domesticated livestock species.

In fact, they are “flock” animals, meaning that they prefer to be with other sheep. Cud is a food bolus that is regurgitated, rechewed, and reswallowed. Ruminants are characterized by their four-chambered stomach and “cud-chewing” behavior. Sheep belong to the ruminant classification of animals. Other than forage, the other staple feed for sheep is hay, often during the winter months. As compared to cattle, sheep eat a greater variety of plants and select a more nutritious diet. A forb is a broad-leaf plant other than grass. In fact, it is usually their first choice of food in a pasture. They mostly eat grass, clover, forbs, and other pasture plants. Sheep are exclusively herbivorous mammals. Sheep follow a diurnal pattern of activity, feeding from dawn to dusk. Sheep also have an excellent sense of smell. Sheep have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, with excellent peripheral vision with visual fields of about 270° to 320°, sheep can see behind themselves without turning their heads. Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise when being handled. In some breeds, only the rams have horns. In some sheep breeds, both sexes are horned. While originally all rams had horns, sheep can have horns or not, depending upon their breed, sex, and genetics. Female sheep tend to be three quarters to two thirds the size of males.Ĭolors of domestic sheep range from pure white to dark chocolate brown, and even spotted or piebald. They weigh between 45 and 100 kilograms (100 and 350 lb). Head and body length is 120-180 centimeters and shoulder height is 65-127 cm. The physical details of domestic sheep vary greatly among breeds. A young sheep between newborn and 14 months old is called a lamb. The average lifespan of a sheep is 10 to 12 years, though some sheep may live as long as 20 years.Īn adult female sheep is known as a ewe and an adult male sheep is known as a ram. They are extremly versitile and exist in a wide variety of habitats worldwide ranging from temperate mountain forests to desert conditions. It is estimated that there are more than 200 distinct sheep breeds some sources give a count of a 1000 or more breeds, but these numbers cannot be verified, according to some sources. Today, sheep live worldwide in association with humans. They were then imported to Africa and Europe via trading. Woolly sheep began to be developed around 6000 BC in Iran, and cultures such as the Persians relied on sheep’s wool for trading. The most common hypothesis states that domestic sheep aries is descended from the Asiatic ( O. The exact line of descent between domestic sheep and their wild ancestors is unclear. Sheep may be the first domesticated ruminant, tamed by nomadic people in the Middle East and Asia 11,000 years ago, perhaps even before agriculture gave rise to civilization. Sheep are raised for their wool, hair or pelts as well as milk and meat. Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock.Īlthough the name “sheep” applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to domestic sheep ( Ovis aries).

Dark sheep head art