Sheep
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Sheep
Flock of sheep
A flock of sheep.
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Ovis
Species: O. aries
Binomial name
Ovis aries
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
Ovis guineensis Linnaeus, 1758
Ovis strepsiceros Linnaeus, 1758
Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as
livestock. Like most ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the
even-toed ungulates. Although the name sheep applies to many species in the
genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries. Numbering a
little over one billion, domestic sheep are also the most numerous species of
sheep. An adult female sheep is referred to as a ewe (/juː/), an intact male as
a ram or occasionally a tup, a castrated male as a wether, and a younger sheep
as a lamb.
Sheep are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia. One of
the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep are
raised for fleece, meat (lamb, hogget or mutton) and milk. A sheep's wool is the
most widely used animal fiber, and is usually harvested by shearing. Ovine meat
is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones. Sheep
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.
Sheep husbandry is practised throughout the majority of the inhabited world, and
has been fundamental to many civilizations. In the modern era, Australia, New
Zealand, the southern and central South American nations, and the British Isles
are most closely associated with sheep production.
Sheepraising has a large lexicon of unique terms which vary considerably by
region and dialect. Use of the word sheep began in Middle English as a
derivation of the Old English word scēap; it is both the singular and plural
name for the animal. A group of sheep is called a flock, herd or mob. Many other
specific terms for the various life stages of sheep exist, generally related to
lambing, shearing, and age.
Being a key animal in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched
place in human culture, and find representation in much modern language and
symbology. As livestock, sheep are most often associated with pastoral, Arcadian
imagery. Sheep figure in many mythologies—such as the Golden Fleece—and major
religions, especially the Abrahamic traditions. In both ancient and modern
religious ritual, sheep are used as sacrificial animals.
Contents
1 History
2 Characteristics
2.1 Comparison with goats
2.2 Breeds
3 Diet
3.1 Grazing behavior
4 Behavior
4.1 Flock behavior
4.2 Dominance hierarchy
4.3 Intelligence and learning ability
4.4 Vocalisations
4.5 Senses
5 Reproduction
6 Health
6.1 Predators
7 Economic importance
8 As food
9 In science
10 Cultural impact
10.1 Religion and folklore
11 Gallery
12 See also
13 References
14 Sources
15 External links
History
Main article: History of the domestic sheep
The exact line of descent between domestic sheep and their wild ancestors is
unclear. sheep 1 sheep The most common hypothesis states that Ovis aries is
descended from the Asiatic (O. orientalis) species of mouflon. sheep 2 sheep :5
Sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated by humankind (although the
domestication of dogs may be over 20,000 years earlier); the domestication date
is estimated to fall between 11,000 and 9,000 B.C in Mesopotamia. sheep 2 sheep
:4 sheep 3 sheep :11–14 sheep 4 sheep :2 sheep 5 sheep The rearing of sheep for
secondary products, and the resulting breed development, began in either
southwest Asia or western Europe. sheep 6 sheep Initially, sheep were kept
solely for meat, milk and skins. Archaeological evidence from statuary found at
sites in Iran suggests that selection for woolly sheep may have begun around
6000 BC, sheep 2 sheep :5 sheep 3 sheep :11 and the earliest woven wool garments
have been dated to two to three thousand years later. sheep 7 sheep :8
Sheep husbandry spread quickly in Europe. Excavations show that in about 6000
BC, during the Neolithic period of prehistory, the Castelnovien people, living
around Châteauneuf-les-Martigues near present-day Marseille in the south of
France, were among the first in Europe to keep domestic sheep. sheep 8 sheep
Practically from its inception, ancient Greek civilization relied on sheep as
primary livestock, and were even said to name individual animals. sheep 3 sheep
:13 Ancient Romans kept sheep on a wide scale, and were an important agent in
the spread of sheep raising. Pliny the Elder, in his Natural History (Naturalis
Historia), speaks at length about sheep and wool. sheep 9 sheep European
colonists spread the practice to the New World from 1493 onwards. sheep 2 sheep
sheep 3 sheep :12
Characteristics
Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, usually with a crimped hair
called wool and often with horns forming a lateral spiral. Domestic sheep differ
from their wild relatives and ancestors in several respects, having become
uniquely neotenic as a result of selective breeding by humans. sheep 10 sheep
sheep 11 sheep 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 (i.e. polled), or horns in both sexes,
or in males only. Most horned breeds have a single pair, but a few breeds may
have several. sheep 2 sheep
Another trait unique to domestic sheep as compared to wild ovines is their wide
variation in color. Wild sheep are largely variations of brown hues, and
variation within species is extremely limited. Colors of domestic sheep range
from pure white to dark chocolate brown, and even spotted or piebald. sheep 12
sheep sheep 13 sheep 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. sheep 12 sheep sheep 13 sheep While white wool
is desirable for large commercial markets, there is a niche market for colored
fleeces, mostly for handspinning. sheep 3 sheep The nature of the fleece varies
widely among the breeds, from dense and highly crimped, to long and hairlike.
There is variation of wool type and quality even among members of the same
flock, so wool classing is a step in the commercial processing of the fibre.
Suffolks are a medium wool, black-faced breed of meat sheep that make up 60% of
the sheep population in the U.S. sheep 4 sheep
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. sheep 4 sheep Ewes typically weigh between 45 and 100 kilograms (100
and 220 lb), and rams between 45 and 160 kilograms (100 and 350 lb). sheep 14
sheep When all deciduous teeth have erupted, the sheep has 20 teeth. sheep 15
sheep Mature sheep have 32 teeth. As with other ruminants, the front teeth in
the lower jaw bite against a hard, toothless pad in the upper jaw. These are
used to pick off vegetation, then the rear teeth grind it before it is
swallowed. There are eight lower front teeth in ruminants, but there is some
disagreement as to whether these are eight incisors, or six incisors and two
incisor-shaped canines. This means that the dental formula for sheep is either
0.0.3.3
4.0.3.3
or
0.0.3.3
3.1.3.3
sheep 16 sheep There is a large diastema between the incisors and the molars. In
the first few years of life one can calculate the age of sheep from their front
teeth, as a pair of milk teeth is replaced by larger adult teeth each year, the
full set of eight adult front teeth being complete at about four years of age.
The front teeth are then gradually lost as sheep age, making it harder for them
to feed and hindering the health and productivity of the animal. For this
reason, domestic sheep on normal pasture begin to slowly decline from four years
on, and the life expectancy of a sheep is 10 to 12 years, though some sheep may
live as long as 20 years. sheep 2 sheep sheep 17 sheep sheep 7 sheep
Skull
Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise when being handled. sheep 18
sheep 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 3 sheep sheep 19 sheep Many breeds
have only short hair on the face, and some have facial wool (if any) confined to
the poll and or the area of the mandibular angle; the wide angles of peripheral
vision apply to these breeds. A few breeds tend to have considerable wool on the
face; for some individuals of these breeds, peripheral vision may be greatly
reduced by "wool blindness", unless recently shorn about the face. sheep 20
sheep Sheep have poor depth perception; shadows and dips in the ground may cause
sheep to baulk. In general, sheep have a tendency to move out of the dark and
into well-lit areas, sheep 21 sheep and prefer to move uphill when disturbed.
Sheep also have an excellent sense of smell, and, like all species of their
genus, have scent glands just in front of the eyes, and interdigitally on the
feet. The purpose of these glands is uncertain, sheep 22 sheep but those on the
face may be used in breeding behaviors. sheep 4 sheep The foot glands might also
be related to reproduction, sheep 4 sheep but alternative reasons, such as
secretion of a waste product or a scent marker to help lost sheep find their
flock, have also been proposed. sheep 22 sheep
Comparison with goats
Sheep and goats are closely related: both are in the subfamily Caprinae.
However, they are separate species, so hybrids rarely occur, and are always
infertile. A hybrid of a ewe and a buck (a male goat) is called a sheep-goat
hybrid (only a single such animal has been confirmed), and is not to be confused
with the sheep-goat chimera, though both are known as geep. Visual differences
between sheep and goats include the beard of goats and divided upper lip of
sheep. Sheep tails also hang down, even when short or docked, while the short
tails of goats are held upwards. Also, sheep breeds are often naturally polled
(either in both sexes or just in the female), while naturally polled goats are
rare (though many are polled artificially). Males of the two species differ in
that buck goats acquire a unique and strong odor during the rut, whereas rams do
not. sheep 7 sheep
Breeds
Sheep being judged for adherence to their breed standard, and being held by the
most common method of restraint
See also: List of sheep breeds
The domestic sheep is a multi-purpose animal, and the more than 200 breeds now
in existence were created to serve these diverse purposes. sheep 2 sheep sheep
23 sheep Some sources give a count of a thousand or more breeds, sheep 24 sheep
sheep 25 sheep but these numbers cannot be verified, according to some sources.
sheep 3 sheep sheep 7 sheep However, several hundred breeds of sheep have been
identified by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN), with the
estimated number varying somewhat from time to time: e.g. 863 breeds as of 1993,
sheep 26 sheep 1314 breeds as of 1995 sheep 27 sheep and 1229 breeds as of 2006.
sheep 28 sheep (These numbers exclude extinct breeds, which are also tallied by
the FAO.) For the purpose of such tallies, the FAO definition of a breed is
"either a subspecific group of domestic livestock with definable and
identifiable external characteristics that enable it to be separated by visual
appraisal from other similarly defined groups within the same species or a group
for which geographical and/or cultural separation from phenotypically similar
groups has led to acceptance of its separate identity." sheep 28 sheep Almost
all sheep are classified as being best suited to furnishing a certain product:
wool, meat, milk, hides, or a combination in a dual-purpose breed. Other
features used when classifying sheep include face color (generally white or
black), tail length, presence or lack of horns, and the topography for which the
breed has been developed. This last point is especially stressed in the UK,
where breeds are described as either upland (hill or mountain) or lowland
breeds. sheep 21 sheep A sheep may also be of a fat-tailed type, which is a
dual-purpose sheep common in Africa and Asia with larger deposits of fat within
and around its tail.
The Barbados Blackbelly is a hair sheep breed of Caribbean origin.
Breeds are often categorized by the type of their wool. Fine wool breeds are
those that have wool of great crimp and density, which are preferred for
textiles. Most of these were derived from Merino sheep, and the breed continues
to dominate the world sheep industry. Downs breeds have wool between the
extremes, and are typically fast-growing meat and ram breeds with dark faces.
sheep 29 sheep Some major medium wool breeds, such as the Corriedale, are
dual-purpose crosses of long and fine-wooled breeds and were created for
high-production commercial flocks. Long wool breeds are the largest of sheep,
with long wool and a slow rate of growth. Long wool sheep are most valued for
crossbreeding to improve the attributes of other sheep types. For example: the
American Columbia breed was developed by crossing Lincoln rams (a long wool
breed) with fine-wooled Rambouillet ewes.
Coarse or carpet wool sheep are those with a medium to long length wool of
characteristic coarseness. Breeds traditionally used for carpet wool show great
variability, but the chief requirement is a wool that will not break down under
heavy use (as would that of the finer breeds). As the demand for carpet-quality
wool declines, some breeders of this type of sheep are attempting to use a few
of these traditional breeds for alternative purposes. Others have always been
primarily meat-class sheep. sheep 30 sheep
A minor class of sheep are the dairy breeds. Dual-purpose breeds that may
primarily be meat or wool sheep are often used secondarily as milking animals,
but there are a few breeds that are predominantly used for milking. These sheep
produce a higher quantity of milk and have slightly longer lactation curves.
sheep 31 sheep In the quality of their milk, the fat and protein content
percentages of dairy sheep vary from non-dairy breeds, but lactose content does
not. sheep 32 sheep
The Lička pramenka is a sheep breed of Croatian origin
A last group of sheep breeds is that of fur or hair sheep, which do not grow
wool at all. Hair sheep are similar to the early domesticated sheep kept before
woolly breeds were developed, and are raised for meat and pelts. Some modern
breeds of hair sheep, such as the Dorper, result from crosses between wool and
hair breeds. For meat and hide producers, hair sheep are cheaper to keep, as
they do not need shearing. sheep 30 sheep Hair sheep are also more resistant to
parasites and hot weather. sheep 7 sheep
With the modern rise of corporate agribusiness and the decline of localized
family farms, many breeds of sheep are in danger of extinction. The Rare Breeds
Survival Trust of the UK lists 22 native breeds as having only 3,000 registered
animals (each), and The Livestock Conservancy lists 14 as either "critical" or
"threatened". sheep 33 sheep sheep 34 sheep sheep 35 sheep Preferences for
breeds with uniform characteristics and fast growth have pushed heritage (or
heirloom) breeds to the margins of the sheep industry. sheep 30 sheep Those that
remain are maintained through the efforts of conservation organizations, breed
registries, and individual farmers dedicated to their preservation.
Diet
Sheep are exclusively herbivorous mammals. Most breeds prefer to graze on grass
and other short roughage, avoiding the taller woody parts of plants that goats
readily consume. sheep 36 sheep Both sheep and goats use their lips and tongues
to select parts of the plant that are easier to digest or higher in nutrition.
sheep 36 sheep Sheep, however, graze well in monoculture pastures where most
goats fare poorly. sheep 36 sheep
Ruminant system of a sheep
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. When sheep graze, vegetation is chewed into a
mass called a bolus, which is then passed into the rumen, via the reticulum. The
rumen is a 19- to 38-liter (5 to 10 gallon) organ in which feed is fermented.
sheep 37 sheep The fermenting organisms include bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
sheep 38 sheep (Other important rumen organisms include some archaea, which
produce methane from carbon dioxide. sheep 39 sheep ) The bolus is periodically
regurgitated back to the mouth as cud for additional chewing and salivation.
sheep 37 sheep After fermentation in the rumen, feed passes into the reticulum
and the omasum; special feeds such as grains may bypass the rumen altogether.
After the first three chambers, food moves into the abomasum for final digestion
before processing by the intestines. The abomasum is the only one of the four
chambers analogous to the human stomach, and is sometimes called the "true
stomach". sheep 40 sheep
Other than forage, the other staple feed for sheep is hay, often during the
winter months. The ability to thrive solely on pasture (even without hay) varies
with breed, but all sheep can survive on this diet. sheep 30 sheep Also included
in some sheep's diets are minerals, either in a trace mix or in licks. Feed
provided to sheep must be specially formulated, as most cattle, poultry, pig,
and even some goat feeds contain levels of copper that are lethal to sheep.
sheep 3 sheep The same danger applies to mineral supplements such as salt licks.
sheep 41 sheep
Grazing behavior
Sheep follow a diurnal pattern of activity, feeding from dawn to dusk, stopping
sporadically to rest and chew their cud. Ideal pasture for sheep is not lawnlike
grass, but an array of grasses, legumes and forbs. sheep 42 sheep 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) cherry, some oaks and
acorns, tomato, yew, rhubarb, potato, and rhododendron. sheep 43 sheep
Sheep grazing on public land (Utah, 2009)
Effects on pasture
Sheep are largely grazing herbivores, unlike browsing animals such as goats and
deer that prefer taller foliage. With a much narrower face, sheep crop plants
very close to the ground and can overgraze a pasture much faster than cattle.
sheep 7 sheep For this reason, many shepherds use managed intensive rotational
grazing, where a flock is rotated through multiple pastures, giving plants time
to recover. sheep 7 sheep sheep 21 sheep Paradoxically, sheep can both cause and
solve the spread of invasive plant species. By disturbing the natural state of
pasture, sheep and other livestock can pave the way for invasive plants.
However, sheep also prefer to eat invasives such as cheatgrass, leafy spurge,
kudzu and spotted knapweed over native species such as sagebrush, making grazing
sheep effective for conservation grazing. sheep 44 sheep Research conducted in
Imperial County, California compared lamb grazing with herbicides for weed
control in seedling alfalfa fields. Three trials demonstrated that grazing lambs
were just as effective as herbicides in controlling winter weeds. Entomologists
also compared grazing lambs to insecticides for insect control in winter
alfalfa. In this trial, lambs provided insect control as effectively as
insecticides. sheep 45 sheep
Behavior
Sheep showing flocking behavior during a sheepdog trial
Flock of sheep in South Africa (2015)
Flock behavior
Sheep are flock animals and strongly gregarious; much sheep behavior can be
understood on the basis of these tendencies. 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.
sheep 46 sheep Furthermore, in contrast to the red deer and gazelle (two other
ungulates of primary importance to meat production in prehistoric times), sheep
do not defend territories although they do form home ranges. sheep 47 sheep All
sheep have a tendency to congregate close to other members of a flock, although
this behavior varies with breed, sheep 18 sheep and sheep can become stressed
when separated from their flock members. sheep 4 sheep During flocking, sheep
have a strong tendency to follow and a leader may simply be the first individual
to move. Relationships in flocks tend to be closest among related sheep: in
mixed-breed flocks, subgroups of the same breed tend to form, and a ewe and her
direct descendants often move as a unit within large flocks. sheep 3 sheep Sheep
can become hefted to one particular local pasture (heft) so they do not roam
freely in unfenced landscapes. Lambs learn the heft from ewes and if whole
flocks are culled it must be retaught to the replacement animals. sheep 4 sheep
sheep 48 sheep
Flock behaviour in sheep is generally only exhibited in groups of four or more
sheep; fewer sheep may not react as expected when alone or with few other sheep.
sheep 3 sheep Being a prey species, the primary defense mechanism of sheep is to
flee from danger when their flight zone is entered. Cornered sheep may charge
and butt, or threaten by hoof stamping and adopting an aggressive posture. This
is particularly true for ewes with newborn lambs. sheep 3 sheep
In regions where sheep have no natural predators, none of the native breeds of
sheep exhibit a strong flocking behavior. sheep 7 sheep
Herding
Escaped sheep being led back to pasture with the enticement of food. This method
of moving sheep works best with smaller flocks.
Farmers exploit flocking behavior to keep sheep together on unfenced pastures
such as hill farming, and to move them more easily. For this purpose shepherds
may use herding dogs in this effort, with a highly bred herding ability. Sheep
are food-oriented, and association of humans with regular feeding often results
in sheep soliciting people for food. sheep 49 sheep Those who are moving sheep
may exploit this behavior by leading sheep with buckets of feed. sheep 50 sheep
sheep 51 sheep
Dominance hierarchy
Sheep establish a dominance hierarchy through fighting, threats and
competitiveness. Dominant animals are inclined to be more aggressive with other
sheep, and usually feed first at troughs. sheep 52 sheep Primarily among rams,
horn size is a factor in the flock hierarchy. sheep 53 sheep Rams with different
size horns may be less inclined to fight to establish the dominance order, while
rams with similarly sized horns are more so. sheep 53 sheep Merinos have an
almost linear hierarchy whereas there is a less rigid structure in Border
Leicesters when a competitive feeding situation arises. sheep 54 sheep
In sheep, position in a moving flock is highly correlated with social dominance,
but there is no definitive study to show consistent voluntary leadership by an
individual sheep. sheep 54 sheep
Intelligence and learning ability
Sheep are frequently thought of as unintelligent animals. sheep 55 sheep Their
flocking behavior and quickness to flee and panic can make shepherding a
difficult endeavor for the uninitiated. Despite these perceptions, a University
of Illinois monograph on sheep reported their intelligence to be just below that
of pigs, and on par with that of cattle. sheep 3 sheep Sheep can recognize
individual human and ovine faces, and remember them for years. sheep 56 sheep
sheep 57 sheep In addition to long-term facial recognition of individuals, sheep
can also differentiate emotional states through facial characteristics. sheep 56
sheep sheep 57 sheep If worked with patiently, sheep may learn their names and
many sheep are trained to be led by halter for showing and other purposes. sheep
3 sheep Sheep have also responded well to clicker training. sheep 3 sheep Sheep
have been used as pack animals; Tibetan nomads distribute baggage equally
throughout a flock as it is herded between living sites. sheep 3 sheep
It has been reported that some sheep have apparently shown problem-solving
abilities; a flock in West Yorkshire, England allegedly found a way to get over
cattle grids by rolling on their backs, although documentation of this has
relied on anecdotal accounts. sheep 58 sheep
Vocalisations
A sheep baa
MENU0:00
A sheep bleat
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Sounds made by domestic sheep include bleats, grunts, rumbles and snorts.
Bleating ("baaing") is used mostly for contact communication, especially between
dam and lambs, but also at times between other flock members. sheep 59 sheep The
bleats of individual sheep are distinctive, enabling the ewe and her lambs to
recognize each other's vocalizations. sheep 60 sheep Vocal communication between
lambs and their dam declines to a very low level within several weeks after
parturition. sheep 59 sheep A variety of bleats may be heard, depending on sheep
age and circumstances. Apart from contact communication, bleating may signal
distress, frustration or impatience; however, sheep are usually silent when in
pain. Isolation commonly prompts bleating by sheep. sheep 61 sheep Pregnant ewes
may grunt when in labor. sheep 62 sheep Rumbling sounds are made by the ram
during courting; somewhat similar rumbling sounds may be made by the ewe, sheep
59 sheep especially when with her neonate lambs. A snort (explosive exhalation
through the nostrils) may signal aggression or a warning, sheep 59 sheep sheep
63 sheep and is often elicited from startled sheep. sheep 64 sheep
Senses
Lamb
In sheep breeds lacking facial wool, the visual field is wide. In 10 sheep
(Cambridge, Lleyn and Welsh Mountain breeds, which lack facial wool), the visual
field ranged from 298° to 325°, averaging 313.1°, with binocular overlap ranging
from 44.5° to 74°, averaging 61.7°. sheep 65 sheep In some breeds, unshorn
facial wool can limit the visual field; in some individuals, this may be enough
to cause "wool blindness". In 60 Merinos, visual fields ranged from 219.1° to
303.0°, averaging 269.9°, and the binocular field ranged from 8.9° to 77.7°,
averaging 47.5°; 36% of the measurements were limited by wool, sheep 66 sheep
although photographs of the experiments indicate that only limited facial wool
regrowth had occurred since shearing. In addition to facial wool (in some
breeds), visual field limitations can include ears and (in some breeds) horns,
sheep 66 sheep so the visual field can be extended by tilting the head. Sheep
eyes exhibit very low hyperopia and little astigmatism. Such visual
characteristics are likely to produce a well-focused retinal image of objects in
both the middle and long distance. sheep 65 sheep Because sheep eyes have no
accommodation, one might expect the image of very near objects to be blurred,
but a rather clear near image could be provided by the tapetum and large retinal
image of the sheep's eye, and adequate close vision may occur at muzzle length.
sheep 65 sheep Good depth perception, inferred from the sheep's sure-footedness,
was confirmed in "visual cliff" experiments; sheep 66 sheep sheep 67 sheep
behavioral responses indicating depth perception are seen in lambs at one day
old. sheep 68 sheep Sheep are thought to have colour vision, and can distinguish
between a variety of colours: black, red, brown, green, yellow and white. sheep
69 sheep Sight is a vital part of sheep communication, and when grazing, they
maintain visual contact with each other. sheep 70 sheep Each sheep lifts its
head upwards to check the position of other sheep in the flock. This constant
monitoring is probably what keeps the sheep in a flock as they move along
grazing. Sheep become stressed when isolated; this stress is reduced if they are
provided with a mirror, indicating that the sight of other sheep reduces stress.
sheep 71 sheep
Taste is the most important sense in sheep, establishing forage preferences,
with sweet and sour plants being preferred and bitter plants being more commonly
rejected. Touch and sight are also important in relation to specific plant
characteristics, such as succulence and growth form. sheep 72 sheep
The ram uses his vomeronasal organ (sometimes called the Jacobson's organ) to
sense the pheromones of ewes and detect when they are in estrus. sheep 73 sheep
The ewe uses her vomeronasal organ for early recognition of her neonate lamb.
sheep 74 sheep
Reproduction
Main article: Domestic sheep reproduction
The second of twins being born.
Sheep follow a similar reproductive strategy to other herd animals. A group of
ewes is generally mated by a single ram, who has either been chosen by a breeder
or (in feral populations) has established dominance through physical contest
with other rams. sheep 30 sheep Most sheep are seasonal breeders, although some
are able to breed year-round. sheep 30 sheep Ewes generally reach sexual
maturity at six to eight months old, and rams generally at four to six months.
sheep 30 sheep However, there are exceptions. For example, Finnsheep ewe lambs
may reach puberty as early as 3 to 4 months, and Merino ewes sometimes reach
puberty at 18 to 20 months. sheep 75 sheep Ewes have estrus cycles about every
17 days, sheep 76 sheep during which they emit a scent and indicate readiness
through physical displays towards rams. A minority of rams (8% on average)
display a preference for homosexuality sheep 77 sheep and a small number of the
females that were accompanied by a male fetus in utero are freemartins (female
animals that are behaviorally masculine and lack functioning ovaries). sheep 78
sheep sheep 79 sheep sheep 80 sheep sheep 81 sheep
In feral sheep, rams may fight during the rut to determine which individuals may
mate with ewes. Rams, especially unfamiliar ones, will also fight outside the
breeding period to establish dominance; rams can kill one another if allowed to
mix freely. sheep 30 sheep During the rut, even usually friendly rams may become
aggressive towards humans due to increases in their hormone levels. sheep 4
sheep
After mating, sheep have a gestation period of about five months, sheep 82 sheep
and normal labor takes one to three hours. sheep 83 sheep Although some breeds
regularly throw larger litters of lambs, most produce single or twin lambs.
sheep 4 sheep sheep 84 sheep During or soon after labor, ewes and lambs may be
confined to small lambing jugs, sheep 85 sheep small pens designed to aid both
careful observation of ewes and to cement the bond between them and their lambs.
sheep 21 sheep sheep 30 sheep
A lamb's first steps
Ovine obstetrics can be problematic. By selectively breeding ewes that produce
multiple offspring with higher birth weights for generations, sheep producers
have inadvertently caused some domestic sheep to have difficulty lambing;
balancing ease of lambing with high productivity is one of the dilemmas of sheep
breeding. sheep 86 sheep In the case of any such problems, those present at
lambing may assist the ewe by extracting or repositioning lambs. sheep 30 sheep
After the birth, ewes ideally break the amniotic sac (if it is not broken during
labor), and begin licking clean the lamb. sheep 30 sheep Most lambs will begin
standing within an hour of birth. sheep 30 sheep In normal situations, lambs
nurse after standing, receiving vital colostrum milk. Lambs that either fail to
nurse or are rejected by the ewe require help to survive, such as bottle-feeding
or fostering by another ewe. sheep 87 sheep
After lambs are several weeks old, lamb marking (ear tagging, docking, and
castrating) is carried out. sheep 30 sheep Vaccinations are usually carried out
at this point as well. Ear tags with numbers are attached, or ear marks are
applied, for ease of later identification of sheep. Castration is performed on
ram lambs not intended for breeding, although some shepherds choose to omit this
for ethical, economic or practical reasons. sheep 30 sheep However, many would
disagree with regard to timing. Docking and castration are commonly done after
24 hours (to avoid interference with maternal bonding and consumption of
colostrum) and are often done not later than one week after birth, to minimize
pain, stress, recovery time and complications. sheep 88 sheep sheep 89 sheep The
first course of vaccinations (commonly anti-clostridial) is commonly given at an
age of about 10 to 12 weeks; i.e. when the concentration of maternal antibodies
passively acquired via colostrum is expected to have fallen low enough to permit
development of active immunity. sheep 90 sheep sheep 91 sheep sheep 92 sheep
Ewes are often revaccinated annually about 3 weeks before lambing, to provide
high antibody concentrations in colostrum during the first several hours after
lambing. sheep 93 sheep Ram lambs that will either be slaughtered or separated
from ewes before sexual maturity are not usually castrated. sheep 21 sheep Tail
docking is commonly done for welfare, having been shown to reduce risk of
flystrike. sheep 94 sheep Objections to all these procedures have been raised by
animal rights groups, but farmers defend them by saying they solve many
practical and veterinary problems, and inflict only temporary pain. sheep 4
sheep sheep 30 sheep
Health
A veterinarian draws blood to test for resistance to scrapie
Sheep may fall victim to poisons, infectious diseases, and physical injuries. As
a prey species, a sheep's system is adapted to hide the obvious signs of
illness, to prevent being targeted by predators. sheep 4 sheep However, some
signs of ill health are obvious, with sick sheep eating little, vocalizing
excessively, and being generally listless. sheep 95 sheep Throughout history,
much of the money and labor of sheep husbandry has aimed to prevent sheep
ailments. Historically, shepherds often created remedies by experimentation on
the farm. In some developed countries, including the United States, sheep lack
the economic importance for drug companies to perform expensive clinical trials
required to approve more than a relatively limited number of drugs for ovine
use. sheep 96 sheep However, extra-label drug use in sheep production is
permitted in many jurisdictions, subject to certain restrictions. In the US, for
example, regulations governing extra-label drug use in animals are found in 21
CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 530. sheep 97 sheep In the 20th and 21st
centuries, a minority of sheep owners have turned to alternative treatments such
as homeopathy, herbalism and even traditional Chinese medicine to treat sheep
veterinary problems. sheep 3 sheep sheep 4 sheep Despite some favorable
anecdotal evidence, the effectiveness of alternative veterinary medicine has
been met with skepticism in scientific journals. sheep 3 sheep sheep 4 sheep
sheep 98 sheep The need for traditional anti-parasite drugs and antibiotics is
widespread, and is the main impediment to certified organic farming with sheep.
sheep 30 sheep
Many breeders take a variety of preventive measures to ward off problems. The
first is to ensure all sheep are healthy when purchased. Many buyers avoid
outlets known to be clearing houses for animals culled from healthy flocks as
either sick or simply inferior. sheep 4 sheep This can also mean maintaining a
closed flock, and quarantining new sheep for a month. Two fundamental preventive
programs are maintaining good nutrition and reducing stress in the sheep.
Restraint, isolation, loud noises, novel situations, pain, heat, extreme cold,
fatigue and other stressors can lead to secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone,
in amounts that may indicate welfare problems. sheep 99 sheep sheep 100 sheep
sheep 101 sheep sheep 102 sheep Excessive stress can compromise the immune
system. sheep 102 sheep "Shipping fever" (pneumonic mannheimiosis, formerly
called pasteurellosis) is a disease of particular concern, that can occur as a
result of stress, notably during transport and (or) handling. sheep 103 sheep
sheep 104 sheep Pain, fear and several other stressors can cause secretion of
epinephrine (adrenaline). Considerable epinephrine secretion in the final days
before slaughter can adversely affect meat quality (by causing glycogenolysis,
removing the substrate for normal post-slaughter acidification of meat) and
result in meat becoming more susceptible to colonization by spoilage bacteria.
sheep 100 sheep Because of such issues, low-stress handling is essential in
sheep management. Avoiding poisoning is also important; common poisons are
pesticide sprays, inorganic fertilizer, motor oil, as well as radiator coolant
containing ethylene glycol. sheep 105 sheep
A sheep infected with orf, a disease transmittable to humans through skin
contact
Common forms of preventive medication for sheep are vaccinations and treatments
for parasites. Both external and internal parasites are the most prevalent
malady in sheep, and are either fatal, or reduce the productivity of flocks.
sheep 4 sheep Worms are the most common internal parasites. They are ingested
during grazing, incubate within the sheep, and are expelled through the
digestive system (beginning the cycle again). Oral anti-parasitic medicines,
known as drenches, are given to a flock to treat worms, sometimes after worm
eggs in the feces has been counted to assess infestation levels. Afterwards,
sheep may be moved to a new pasture to avoid ingesting the same parasites. sheep
21 sheep External sheep parasites include: lice (for different parts of the
body), sheep keds, nose bots, sheep itch mites, and maggots. Keds are
blood-sucking parasites that cause general malnutrition and decreased
productivity, but are not fatal. Maggots are those of the bot fly and the
blow-fly. Fly maggots cause the extremely destructive condition of flystrike.
Flies lay their eggs in wounds or wet, manure-soiled wool; when the maggots
hatch they burrow into a sheep's flesh, eventually causing death if untreated.
In addition to other treatments, crutching (shearing wool from a sheep's rump)
is a common preventive method. Some countries allow mulesing, a practice that
involves stripping away the skin on the rump to prevent fly-strike, normally
performed when the sheep is a lamb. sheep 106 sheep sheep 107 sheep Nose bots
are fly larvae that inhabit a sheep's sinuses, causing breathing difficulties
and discomfort. Common signs are a discharge from the nasal passage, sneezing,
and frantic movement such as head shaking. External parasites may be controlled
through the use of backliners, sprays or immersive sheep dips. sheep 4 sheep
A wide array of bacterial and viral diseases affect sheep. Diseases of the hoof,
such as foot rot and foot scald may occur, and are treated with footbaths and
other remedies. These painful conditions cause lameness and hinder feeding.
Ovine Johne's disease is a wasting disease that affects young sheep. Bluetongue
disease is an insect-borne illness causing fever and inflammation of the mucous
membranes. Ovine rinderpest (or peste des petits ruminants) is a highly
contagious and often fatal viral disease affecting sheep and goats. Sheep may
also be affected by primary sheep 108 sheep or secondary photosensitization.
A few sheep conditions are transmissible to humans. Orf (also known as scabby
mouth, contagious ecthyma or soremouth) is a skin disease leaving lesions that
is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Cutaneous anthrax is also called
woolsorter's disease, as the spores can be transmitted in unwashed wool. More
seriously, the organisms that can cause spontaneous enzootic abortion in sheep
are easily transmitted to pregnant women. Also of concern are the prion disease
scrapie and the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), as both can
devastate flocks. The latter poses a slight risk to humans. During the 2001 FMD
pandemic in the UK, hundreds of sheep were culled and some rare British breeds
were at risk of extinction due to this. sheep 4 sheep
Predators
Main article: Domestic sheep predation
A lamb being attacked by coyotes with a bite to the throat
Other than parasites and disease, predation is a threat to sheep and the
profitability of sheep raising. Sheep have little ability to defend themselves,
compared with other species kept as livestock. Even if sheep survive an attack,
they may die from their injuries or simply from panic. sheep 4 sheep However,
the impact of predation varies dramatically with region. In Africa, Australia,
the Americas, and parts of Europe and Asia predators are a serious problem. In
the United States, for instance, over one third of sheep deaths in 2004 were
caused by predation. sheep 109 sheep In contrast, other nations are virtually
devoid of sheep predators, particularly islands known for extensive sheep
husbandry. sheep 4 sheep Worldwide, canids—including the domestic dog—are
responsible for most sheep deaths. sheep 110 sheep sheep 111 sheep sheep 112
sheep Other animals that occasionally prey on sheep include: felines, bears,
birds of prey, ravens and feral hogs. sheep 109 sheep sheep 113 sheep
Sheep producers have used a wide variety of measures to combat predation.
Pre-modern shepherds used their own presence, livestock guardian dogs, and
protective structures such as barns and fencing. Fencing (both regular and
electric), penning sheep at night and lambing indoors all continue to be widely
used. sheep 30 sheep More modern shepherds used guns, traps, and poisons to kill
predators, sheep 114 sheep causing significant decreases in predator
populations. In the wake of the environmental and conservation movements, the
use of these methods now usually falls under the purview of specially designated
government agencies in most developed countries. sheep 115 sheep
The 1970s saw a resurgence in the use of livestock guardian dogs and the
development of new methods of predator control by sheep producers, many of them
non-lethal. sheep 21 sheep Donkeys and guard llamas have been used since the
1980s in sheep operations, using the same basic principle as livestock guardian
dogs. sheep 4 sheep Interspecific pasturing, usually with larger livestock such
as cattle or horses, may help to deter predators, even if such species do not
actively guard sheep. sheep 30 sheep In addition to animal guardians,
contemporary sheep operations may use non-lethal predator deterrents such as
motion-activated lights and noisy alarms. sheep 4 sheep
Economic importance
Main article: Agricultural economics
Global sheep stocks
in 2013
(million)
China 185
Australia 89.0
India 75.0
Sudan 52.5
Iran 50.2
Nigeria 39
United Kingdom 32.9
New Zealand 30.8
World total 1,172.8
Source:
UN Food & Agriculture Organisation
(FAO)
Sheep are an important part of the global agricultural economy. However, their
once vital status has been largely replaced by other livestock species,
especially the pig, chicken, and cow. sheep 21 sheep China, Australia, India,
and Iran have the largest modern flocks, and serve both local and exportation
needs for wool and mutton. sheep 116 sheep Other countries such as New Zealand
have smaller flocks but retain a large international economic impact due to
their export of sheep products. Sheep also play a major role in many local
economies, which may be niche markets focused on organic or sustainable
agriculture and local food customers. sheep 3 sheep sheep 117 sheep Especially
in developing countries, such flocks may be a part of subsistence agriculture
rather than a system of trade. Sheep themselves may be a medium of trade in
barter economies. sheep 3 sheep
Wool supplied by Australian farmers to dealers (tonnes/quarter) has been in
decline since 1990
Domestic sheep provide a wide array of raw materials. Wool was one of the first
textiles, although in the late 20th century wool prices began to fall
dramatically as the result of the popularity and cheap prices for synthetic
fabrics. sheep 3 sheep For many sheep owners, the cost of shearing is greater
than the possible profit from the fleece, making subsisting on wool production
alone practically impossible without farm subsidies. sheep 3 sheep Fleeces are
used as material in making alternative products such as wool insulation. sheep
118 sheep In the 21st century, the sale of meat is the most profitable
enterprise in the sheep industry, even though far less sheep meat is consumed
than chicken, pork or beef. sheep 21 sheep
Sheepskin is likewise used for making clothes, footwear, rugs, and other
products. Byproducts from the slaughter of sheep are also of value: sheep tallow
can be used in candle and soap making, sheep bone and cartilage has been used to
furnish carved items such as dice and buttons as well as rendered glue and
gelatin. sheep 119 sheep Sheep intestine can be formed into sausage casings, and
lamb intestine has been formed into surgical sutures, as well as strings for
musical instruments and tennis rackets. sheep 2 sheep Sheep droppings, which are
high in cellulose, have even been sterilized and mixed with traditional pulp
materials to make paper. sheep 120 sheep Of all sheep byproducts, perhaps the
most valuable is lanolin: the waterproof, fatty substance found naturally in
sheep's wool and used as a base for innumerable cosmetics and other products.
sheep 2 sheep
Some farmers who keep sheep also make a profit from live sheep. Providing lambs
for youth programs such as 4-H and competition at agricultural shows is often a
dependable avenue for the sale of sheep. sheep 121 sheep Farmers may also choose
to focus on a particular breed of sheep in order to sell registered purebred
animals, as well as provide a ram rental service for breeding. sheep 122 sheep A
new option for deriving profit from live sheep is the rental of flocks for
grazing; these "mowing services" are hired in order to keep unwanted vegetation
down in public spaces and to lessen fire hazard. sheep 123 sheep
Despite the falling demand and price for sheep products in many markets, sheep
have distinct economic advantages when compared with other livestock. They do
not require expensive housing, sheep 124 sheep such as that used in the
intensive farming of chickens or pigs. They are an efficient use of land;
roughly six sheep can be kept on the amount that would suffice for a single cow
or horse. sheep 4 sheep sheep 125 sheep Sheep can also consume plants, such as
noxious weeds, that most other animals will not touch, and produce more young at
a faster rate. sheep 126 sheep Also, in contrast to most livestock species, the
cost of raising sheep is not necessarily tied to the price of feed crops such as
grain, soybeans and corn. sheep 127 sheep Combined with the lower cost of
quality sheep, all these factors combine to equal a lower overhead for sheep
producers, thus entailing a higher profitability potential for the small farmer.
sheep 127 sheep Sheep are especially beneficial for independent producers,
including family farms with limited resources, as the sheep industry is one of
the few types of animal agriculture that has not been vertically integrated by
agribusiness. sheep 128 sheep
As food
Shoulder of lamb
Main articles: Lamb and mutton and Sheep milk
See also: Sheep milk cheese, List of sheep milk cheeses, Category:Sheep's-milk
cheeses, and Sheep's trotters
Sheep meat and milk were one of the earliest staple proteins consumed by human
civilization after the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture.
sheep 4 sheep Sheep meat prepared for food is known as either mutton or lamb.
"Mutton" is derived from the Old French moton, which was the word for sheep used
by the Anglo-Norman rulers of much of the British Isles in the Middle Ages. This
became the name for sheep meat in English, while the Old English word sceap was
kept for the live animal. sheep 129 sheep Throughout modern history, "mutton"
has been limited to the meat of mature sheep usually at least two years of age;
"lamb" is used for that of immature sheep less than a year. sheep 130 sheep
sheep 131 sheep sheep 132 sheep
In the 21st century, the nations with the highest consumption of sheep meat are
the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Uruguay,
the United Kingdom and Ireland. sheep 3 sheep These countries eat 14–40 lbs
(3–18 kg) of sheep meat per capita, per annum. sheep 3 sheep sheep 132 sheep
Sheep meat is also popular in France, Africa (especially the Maghreb), the
Caribbean, the rest of the Middle East, India, and parts of China. sheep 132
sheep This often reflects a history of sheep production. In these countries in
particular, dishes comprising alternative cuts and offal may be popular or
traditional. Sheep testicles—called animelles or lamb fries—are considered a
delicacy in many parts of the world. Perhaps the most unusual dish of sheep meat
is the Scottish haggis, composed of various sheep innards cooked along with
oatmeal and chopped onions inside its stomach. sheep 133 sheep In comparison,
countries such as the U.S. consume only a pound or less (under 0.5 kg), with
Americans eating 50 pounds (22 kg) of pork and 65 pounds (29 kg) of beef. sheep
132 sheep In addition, such countries rarely eat mutton, and may favor the more
expensive cuts of lamb: mostly lamb chops and leg of lamb. sheep 3 sheep
Though sheep's milk may be drunk rarely in fresh form, sheep 134 sheep today it
is used predominantly in cheese and yogurt making. Sheep have only two teats,
and produce a far smaller volume of milk than cows. sheep 4 sheep However, as
sheep's milk contains far more fat, solids, and minerals than cow's milk, it is
ideal for the cheese-making process. sheep 32 sheep It also resists
contamination during cooling better because of its much higher calcium content.
sheep 32 sheep Well-known cheeses made from sheep milk include the Feta of
Bulgaria and Greece, Roquefort of France, Manchego from Spain, the Pecorino
Romano (the Italian word for sheep is pecore) and Ricotta of Italy. Yogurts,
especially some forms of strained yogurt, may also be made from sheep milk.
sheep 135 sheep Many of these products are now often made with cow's milk,
especially when produced outside their country of origin. sheep 3 sheep Sheep
milk contains 4.8% lactose, which may affect those who are intolerant. sheep 3
sheep
As with other domestic animals, the meat of uncastrated males is inferior in
quality, especially as they grow. A "bucky" lamb is a lamb which was not
castrated early enough, or which was castrated improperly (resulting in one
testicle being retained). These lambs are worth less at market. sheep 136 sheep
sheep 137 sheep sheep 138 sheep
In science
A cloned ewe named Dolly was a scientific landmark.
Ovine heart.
Sheep are generally too large and reproduce too slowly to make ideal research
subjects, and thus are not a common model organism. sheep 139 sheep They have,
however, played an influential role in some fields of science. In particular,
the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, Scotland used sheep for genetics research
that produced groundbreaking results. In 1995, two ewes named Megan and Morag
were the first mammals cloned from differentiated cells. A year later, a Finnish
Dorset sheep named Dolly, dubbed "the world's most famous sheep" in Scientific
American, sheep 140 sheep was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult
somatic cell. Following this, Polly and Molly were the first mammals to be
simultaneously cloned and transgenic.
As of 2008, the sheep genome has not been fully sequenced, although a detailed
genetic map has been published, sheep 141 sheep and a draft version of the
complete genome produced by assembling sheep DNA sequences using information
given by the genomes of other mammals. sheep 142 sheep In 2012, a transgenic
sheep named "Peng Peng" was cloned by Chinese scientists, who spliced his genes
with that of a roundworm (C. elegans) in order to increase production of fats
healthier for human consumption. sheep 143 sheep
In the study of natural selection, the population of Soay sheep that remain on
the island of Hirta have been used to explore the relation of body size and
coloration to reproductive success. sheep 144 sheep Soay sheep come in several
colors, and researchers investigated why the larger, darker sheep were in
decline; this occurrence contradicted the rule of thumb that larger members of a
population tend to be more successful reproductively. sheep 145 sheep The feral
Soays on Hirta are especially useful subjects because they are isolated. sheep
146 sheep
Sheep are one of the few animals where the molecular basis of the diversity of
male sexual preferences has been examined. sheep 147 sheep However, this
research has been controversial, and much publicity has been produced by a study
at the Oregon Health and Science University that investigated the mechanisms
that produce homosexuality in rams. Organizations such as PETA campaigned
against the study, accusing scientists of trying to cure homosexuality in the
sheep. sheep 77 sheep OHSU and the involved scientists vehemently denied such
accusations. sheep 77 sheep
Domestic sheep are sometimes used in medical research, particularly for
researching cardiovascular physiology, in areas such as hypertension and heart
failure. sheep 148 sheep sheep 149 sheep Pregnant sheep are also a useful model
for human pregnancy, sheep 150 sheep and have been used to investigate the
effects on fetal development of malnutrition and hypoxia. sheep 151 sheep In
behavioral sciences, sheep have been used in isolated cases for the study of
facial recognition, as their mental process of recognition is qualitatively
similar to humans. sheep 152 sheep
Cultural impact
See also: Mammals in culture, List of fictional sheep, Bellwether, and Black
sheep
The proverbial black sheep
Sheep have had a strong presence in many cultures, especially in areas where
they form the most common type of livestock. In the English language, to call
someone a sheep or ovine may allude that they are timid and easily led. sheep
153 sheep In contradiction to this image, male sheep are often used as symbols
of virility and power; the logos of the Los Angeles Rams football team and the
Dodge Ram pickup truck allude to males of the bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis.
Counting sheep is popularly said to be an aid to sleep, and some ancient systems
of counting sheep persist today. Sheep also enter in colloquial sayings and
idiom frequently with such phrases as "black sheep". To call an individual a
black sheep implies that they are an odd or disreputable member of a group.
sheep 154 sheep This usage derives from the recessive trait that causes an
occasional black lamb to be born into an entirely white flock. These black sheep
were considered undesirable by shepherds, as black wool is not as commercially
viable as white wool. sheep 154 sheep Citizens who accept overbearing
governments have been referred to by the Portmanteau neologism of sheeple.
Somewhat differently, the adjective "sheepish" is also used to describe
embarrassment. sheep 155 sheep
Religion and folklore
Ancient Greek red-figure ram-head rhyton, ca. 340 BC
In antiquity, symbolism involving sheep cropped up in religions in the ancient
Near East, the Mideast, and the Mediterranean area: Çatalhöyük, ancient Egyptian
religion, the Cana'anite and Phoenician tradition, Judaism, Greek religion, and
others. 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 BCE. sheep 156 sheep In Ancient
Egyptian religion, the ram was the symbol of several gods: Khnum, Heryshaf and
Amun (in his incarnation as a god of fertility). sheep 3 sheep Other deities
occasionally shown with ram features include the goddess Ishtar, the Phoenician
god Baal-Hamon, and the Babylonian god Ea-Oannes. sheep 3 sheep In Madagascar,
sheep were not eaten as they were believed to be incarnations of the souls of
ancestors. sheep 157 sheep
There are many ancient Greek references to sheep: that of Chrysomallos, the
golden-fleeced ram, continuing to be told through into the modern era.
Astrologically, Aries, the ram, is the first sign of the classical Greek zodiac,
and the sheep is the eighth of the twelve animals associated with the 12-year
cycle of in the Chinese zodiac, related to the Chinese calendar. sheep 157 sheep
In Mongolia, shagai are an ancient form of dice made from the cuboid bones of
sheep that are often used for fortunetelling purposes.
Jesus is depicted as "The Good Shepherd", with the sheep being Christians
Sheep play an important role in all the Abrahamic faiths; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Moses, King David and the Islamic prophet Muhammad were all shepherds. According
to the Biblical story of the Binding of Isaac, a ram is sacrificed as a
substitute for Isaac after an angel stays Abraham's hand (in the Islamic
tradition, Abraham was about to sacrifice Ishmael). Eid al-Adha is a major
annual festival in Islam in which sheep (or other animals) are sacrificed in
remembrance of this act. sheep 158 sheep sheep 159 sheep Sheep are occasionally
sacrificed to commemorate important secular events in Islamic cultures. sheep
160 sheep Greeks and Romans sacrificed sheep regularly in religious practice,
and Judaism once sacrificed sheep as a Korban (sacrifice), such as the Passover
lamb . sheep 157 sheep Ovine symbols—such as the ceremonial blowing of a
shofar—still find a presence in modern Judaic traditions. Followers of
Christianity are collectively often referred to as a flock, with Christ as the
Good Shepherd, and sheep are an element in the Christian iconography of the
birth of Jesus. Some Christian saints are considered patrons of shepherds, and
even of sheep themselves. Christ is also portrayed as the Sacrificial lamb of
God (Agnus Dei) and Easter celebrations in Greece and Romania traditionally
feature a meal of Paschal lamb. In many Christian traditions, a church leader is
called the pastor, which is derived from the Latin word for shepherd.
Sheep are key symbols in fables and nursery rhymes like The Wolf in Sheep's
Clothing, Little Bo Peep, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, and Mary Had a Little Lamb;
novels such as George Orwell's Animal Farm and Haruki Murakami's A Wild Sheep
Chase; songs such as Bach's Sheep may safely graze (Schafe können sicher weiden)
and Pink Floyd's Sheep, and poems like William Blake's "The Lamb".
Gallery
Didactic model of a sheep muscular system.
Didactic model of a sheep.
Didactic model of a sheep muscular system.
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