HISTORY of the BREEDS
United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc. |
A HISTORY
The Corsican Group of Sheep (Painted Desert, Texas Dall, Black Hawaiian, American Blackbelly,
Desert Sand, and sheep referred to as Corsicans) are actually the result of initial crosses
decades ago between the shedding, European Mouflon Sheep (Ovis musimon, native to Corsica
and Sardinia) with a wide range of more well known "wool" breeds of sheep including: Horned
Rambouillet, Churro, Merino, and Jacob.
At times, some of these crosses also included a hair or shedding sheep called the Barbados
Blackbelly (Ovis aries) which were imported from the Caribbean island of Barbados, West Indies
with bloodlines originally coming from Africa.
One of the very first crosses happened in the mid 1900’s at the YO Ranch in Texas between
Mouflon Ewes and Rambouillet rams resulting in beautiful snowy white, shedding sheep now
known as the Texas Dall. The two lambs which were produced by the Rambouillet X Mouflon
cross were found by Bob Snow of the Y.O. Ranch and were the first Texas Dalls.
Mouflon Sheep are found running wild in a few locations throughout the world but have dwindling
populations in some places. European Mouflon are native to Corsica and Sardinia. These sheep
are considered by many to be one of the two original wild sheep from which the domestic breeds
of sheep descended while other research points toward Mouflon Sheep being a domesticated
sheep that grew to be feral.*
However their beginnings, Mouflon sheep are a shedding sheep, shedding their thicker winter
coat in the Springtime which seems to be more like the first sheep. Some research indicates that
the need for shearing sheep (because the “wool” sheep do not naturally shed their wool) is a
result of selective breeding through the years by breeders to increase and improve wool for use in
fabrics.
Eventually, Mouflons made their way into several zoos in the United States. After several years, the
zoos released some of the Mouflons to large ranches with a concentrated release in Texas. Here
in the United States,after 1946, the wild Mouflon Sheep crossed with the more well known wool
sheep breeds as well as the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep and the Corsican Group of Sheep were
born.
Originally, these Mouflon and Mouflon cross sheep were primarily used for "Trophies" due to the
rams' beautiful horns. As the popularity of the sheep increases, the focus has become on
achieving recognition for these sheep for other markets such as meat, show, pasture/fenceline
clearing, etc., and for simply being unique sheep deserving of recognition as a breed.
BREED RECOGNITION
As with other breeds of sheep and even other animals, Texas Dalls, Black Hawaiians, Desert
Sands, Corsicans, American Blackbelly and Painted Desert Sheep started out as hybrids or
composites of 2 or more different breeds - with one parent being the Mouflon Sheep. Once the
special characteristics of these wonderful sheep became more popular, efforts to get these
sheep recognized as a unique and individual breed were underway by dedicated breeders.
In 1997, a Painted Desert registry was started in Texas in order to promote recognition for the
Painted Desert Sheep as being a unique sheep deserving of more than it‘s humble origins.
In 2005, the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association, International, created a class for the
American or Texas Blackbelly which has led to an increase in education and recognition about the
breed who is generally a Mouflon X Barbados Blackbelly X Ramboulliet sheep.
In 2009 the United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc. was formed and incorporated as a
member owned and operated, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and providing
education about the breeds of sheep it represents: Painted Desert, Texas Dall, Black Hawaiian,
Desert Sand, Corsican, and Mouflon. Click HERE to learn more about UHHSA, Inc.
TO LEARN MORE click on the following links:
GENERAL INFORMATION about the breeds
Breed Standards and Registration Requirements
MARKETS for the Sheep
*Exotic Animal Field Guide. Mungall, Elizabeth Cary. Texas A& M University Press, College
Station: 2007.
See also by Mungall, Elizabeth Cary and Sheffield, William J. Exotics on the Range: The Texas
Example. Texas A&M University Press: College Station 1994. NOTE: this book contains a good
bibliography for a starting place to look for more information. Studies on items such as Mouflon
and Rambouillet tail lengths have been conducted.
Information written by Rafter SB.
The Corsican Group of Sheep (Painted Desert, Texas Dall, Black Hawaiian, American Blackbelly,
Desert Sand, and sheep referred to as Corsicans) are actually the result of initial crosses
decades ago between the shedding, European Mouflon Sheep (Ovis musimon, native to Corsica
and Sardinia) with a wide range of more well known "wool" breeds of sheep including: Horned
Rambouillet, Churro, Merino, and Jacob.
At times, some of these crosses also included a hair or shedding sheep called the Barbados
Blackbelly (Ovis aries) which were imported from the Caribbean island of Barbados, West Indies
with bloodlines originally coming from Africa.
One of the very first crosses happened in the mid 1900’s at the YO Ranch in Texas between
Mouflon Ewes and Rambouillet rams resulting in beautiful snowy white, shedding sheep now
known as the Texas Dall. The two lambs which were produced by the Rambouillet X Mouflon
cross were found by Bob Snow of the Y.O. Ranch and were the first Texas Dalls.
Mouflon Sheep are found running wild in a few locations throughout the world but have dwindling
populations in some places. European Mouflon are native to Corsica and Sardinia. These sheep
are considered by many to be one of the two original wild sheep from which the domestic breeds
of sheep descended while other research points toward Mouflon Sheep being a domesticated
sheep that grew to be feral.*
However their beginnings, Mouflon sheep are a shedding sheep, shedding their thicker winter
coat in the Springtime which seems to be more like the first sheep. Some research indicates that
the need for shearing sheep (because the “wool” sheep do not naturally shed their wool) is a
result of selective breeding through the years by breeders to increase and improve wool for use in
fabrics.
Eventually, Mouflons made their way into several zoos in the United States. After several years, the
zoos released some of the Mouflons to large ranches with a concentrated release in Texas. Here
in the United States,after 1946, the wild Mouflon Sheep crossed with the more well known wool
sheep breeds as well as the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep and the Corsican Group of Sheep were
born.
Originally, these Mouflon and Mouflon cross sheep were primarily used for "Trophies" due to the
rams' beautiful horns. As the popularity of the sheep increases, the focus has become on
achieving recognition for these sheep for other markets such as meat, show, pasture/fenceline
clearing, etc., and for simply being unique sheep deserving of recognition as a breed.
BREED RECOGNITION
As with other breeds of sheep and even other animals, Texas Dalls, Black Hawaiians, Desert
Sands, Corsicans, American Blackbelly and Painted Desert Sheep started out as hybrids or
composites of 2 or more different breeds - with one parent being the Mouflon Sheep. Once the
special characteristics of these wonderful sheep became more popular, efforts to get these
sheep recognized as a unique and individual breed were underway by dedicated breeders.
In 1997, a Painted Desert registry was started in Texas in order to promote recognition for the
Painted Desert Sheep as being a unique sheep deserving of more than it‘s humble origins.
In 2005, the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association, International, created a class for the
American or Texas Blackbelly which has led to an increase in education and recognition about the
breed who is generally a Mouflon X Barbados Blackbelly X Ramboulliet sheep.
In 2009 the United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc. was formed and incorporated as a
member owned and operated, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and providing
education about the breeds of sheep it represents: Painted Desert, Texas Dall, Black Hawaiian,
Desert Sand, Corsican, and Mouflon. Click HERE to learn more about UHHSA, Inc.
TO LEARN MORE click on the following links:
GENERAL INFORMATION about the breeds
Breed Standards and Registration Requirements
MARKETS for the Sheep
*Exotic Animal Field Guide. Mungall, Elizabeth Cary. Texas A& M University Press, College
Station: 2007.
See also by Mungall, Elizabeth Cary and Sheffield, William J. Exotics on the Range: The Texas
Example. Texas A&M University Press: College Station 1994. NOTE: this book contains a good
bibliography for a starting place to look for more information. Studies on items such as Mouflon
and Rambouillet tail lengths have been conducted.
Information written by Rafter SB.
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| THIS website is copyright May 2009 by United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc. Active Members of UHHSA are permitted to use information on their website to help in ethical and honest promotion and education about the breeds represented. However, a link to this website should be provided. Pictures are copyrighted by owners of the sheep pictured and permission will need to be sought to use the pictures. |