A sheep is any of several woolly ruminant quadrupeds, but most commonly the Domestic Sheep (Ovis aries), which probably descends from the wild moufflon of south-central and south-west Asia. For other types of sheep and their close relatives, see goat antelope. For more information on the raising and breeding of sheep, see "Sheep husbandry." Download high resolution version (640x962, 143 KB)Flock of sheep. ... (Redirected from Images of sheep) This page is part of Wikipedias repository of free images. ... Scientific classification - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Bilateria Acoelomorpha Orthonectida Rhombozoa ?Myxozoa Superphylum Deuterostomia    Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... Families Suidae Hippopotamidae Tayassuidae Camelidae Tragulidae Moschidae Cervidae Giraffidae Antilocapridae Bovidae The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Subfamilies Bovinae Cephalophinae Hippotraginae Antilopinae Caprinae A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. ... Genera Capricornis Nemorhaedus Rupicapra Oreamnos Budorcas Ovibos Hemitragus Ammotragus Pseudois Capra Ovis Pantholops A goat antelope is any of the species of mostly medium-sized herbivores that make up the subfamily Caprinae or the single species in subfamily Panthalopinae. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is a standard convention used for naming species. ... A painting of Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as Carl von Linné  listen, and who wrote under the Latinized name Carolus Linnaeus (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish scientist who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of taxonomy. ... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A ruminant is any hooved animal that digests its food in two steps, first by eating the raw material and regurgitating a semi-digested form known as cud, then eating the cud. ... A quadruped is an animal having exactly four walking legs. ... Moufflon are a type wild sheep (Ovis orientalis and O. musimon) native to the mountains of Sardinia, Corsica and western Asia (especially Turkey and southern Iran). ... World map showing location of Asia A satellite composite image of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... Genera Capricornis Nemorhaedus Rupicapra Oreamnos Budorcas Ovibos Hemitragus Ammotragus Pseudois Capra Ovis Pantholops A goat antelope is any of the species of mostly medium-sized herbivores that make up the subfamily Caprinae or the single species in subfamily Panthalopinae. ... Sheep husbandry is the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. ...

Classification

There are at least seven species of sheep:

• Argali, Ovis ammon
• Domestic Sheep, Ovis aries
• Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis
• Thinhorn Sheep, Ovis dalli
• Mouflon, Ovis musimon
• Snow Sheep, Ovis nivicola
• Urial, Ovis orientalis

Sheep breeders refer to female sheep as ewes, intact males as rams, castrated males as wethers, yearlings as hoggets, and younger sheep as lambs. Note the adjective applying to sheep: ovine; and the collective terms for sheep: flock and mob. Binomial name Ovis canadensis Shaw, 1804 Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep in North America with several subspecies. ... Binomial name Ovis musimon Pallas, 1762 The Mouflon (Ovis musimon), one of the Caprinae or goat antelopes, is thought to be one of the two ancestors for all modern sheep breeds. ... Binomial name Ovis vignei Blyth, 1841 The Urial is a medium-sized wild sheep, member of the goat antelope subfamily, also known as Shapo or Arkhar. ... A lamb being bottle fed Lamb A lamb is a young sheep. ... The word mob has its origins in the 1600s when it was formed from the latin mobile vulgus, meaning a vacillating crowd. ...

Many breeds of sheep occur, generally sub-classable as:

• wool breeds, or
• meat breeds, or
• dual use breeds.

Farmers develop wool breeds for superior wool quantity and quality (fineness of fibers), wool staple length and degree of crimp in the fiber. Major wool breeds include Merino, Rambouillet, and Lincoln. Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, AR Wool is the fiber derived from the hair of domesticated animals, usually sheep. ... Staple has several meanings: a staple is a formed metal fastener used to secure sheets of material or wires a foodstuff that forms the basic constituent of a diet is a Staple food staple is the raw material, or its length and quality, of fibre from which textiles are made... In gambling terminology a crimp is a bend that has been intentionally made on the corner(s) of a playing card to facilitate identification. ...

Breeders of meat sheep concentrate on fast growth, multiple births, ease of lambing, and hardiness. Breeds of meat sheep include Suffolk, Hampshire, Dorset, Columbia, and Texel.

Dual-use breeds include the Corriedale. The Finnish Landrace sheep has a reputation for multiple births. Some breeds, called hair sheep, like the Katahdin and Dorper, have little to no wool.

Cultural significance

A horned sheep in the Yorkshire Dales, UK.

For centuries, 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. A horned sheep in the Yorkshire Dales. ... A horned sheep in the Yorkshire Dales. ... A village in the Yorkshire Dales The Yorkshire Dales lie in an area of high ground in North and West Yorkshire, England. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... In a draw in a mountainous region, a shepherd guides a flock of about 20 sheep amidst scrub and olive trees. ... Selective breeding in domesticated animals is the process of developing a cultivated breed over time. ...

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 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. The Star of David, a common symbol of Jews and Judaism Judaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths. ... Passover, also known as Pesach or Pesah (פסח pesaḥ), is a Jewish holiday (lasting seven days in Israel and among some liberal Diaspora Jews, and eight days among other Diaspora Jews) that commemorates the exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Egypt; it is also observed by some Christians to... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... The Agnus Dei, the figure of a lamb bearing a symbol of Jesus as the Lamb of God. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. ... There are three factors which may assist to varying degrees in determining whether someone is considered Arab or not: Political: whether they live in a country which is a member of the Arab League (or, more vaguely, the Arab world); this definition covers more than 300 million people. ...

Herding sheep plays an important historico-symbolic part in the Jewish and Christian faiths, since Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and King David all worked as shepherds. The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... This article discusses faith in a religious context. ... Abraham (אַבְרָהָם Father/Leader of many, Standard Hebrew Avraham, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAḇrāhām; Arabic ابراهيم Ibrāhīm) is the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Moses or Móshe (מֹשֶׁה, Standard Hebrew Móše, Tiberian Hebrew Mōšeh, Arabic موسى), son of Amram and his wife, Jochebed, a Levite. ... This page is about the Biblical king David. ... In a draw in a mountainous region, a shepherd guides a flock of about 20 sheep amidst scrub and olive trees. ...

The sheep (or goat) 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 is associated with certain personality traits. See: Sheep (Zodiac). Goat - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Chinese astrology (占星術 pinyin: zhan4 xing1 shu4; 星學 pinyin: xing1 xue2; 七政四餘 pinyin: qi1 zheng4 si4 yu2; and 果老星宗 pinyin: guo3 lao3 xing1 zong1) is related to the Chinese calendar, particularly its 12-year cycle of animals (aka Chinese Zodiac), and the fortune-telling aspects according to movement of heavenly... The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar formed by combining a purely lunar calendar with a solar calendar. ... The sheep (or goat or ram) appears in the Chinese zodiac (related to the Chinese calendar) as one of its 12-year cycle of animals. ...

Economic importance

Grazing sheep

Raising sheep occupied many farmers in ancient economies, given that this animal can give milk (and all its derivative products, such as cheese), wool (and the associated sheepskin used for making footwear and sheepskin rugs) and meat. In the 21st century, sheep retain considerable importance in the economies of areas such as Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay. Download high resolution version (640x857, 97 KB)Sheep in mountain pasture from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (640x857, 97 KB)Sheep in mountain pasture from http://www. ... A glass of milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. ... Cheese is a solid food made from the curdled milk of various animals—most commonly cows but sometimes goats, sheep, reindeer, and water buffalo. ... Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, AR Wool is the fiber derived from the hair of domesticated animals, usually sheep. ... High-heeled shoe Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet. ... Meat is animal tissue (mainly muscle) used as food. ...

In some places, like Sardinia, sheep-breeding has become the principal and characteristic activity. Sardinia (Sardigna, Sardinna or Sardinnia in the Sardinian language, Sardegna in Italian, Sardenya in Catalan), is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy, Spain and Tunisia, south of Corsica. ...

Even in the 21st century, 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 Highland clearances, the U.S. range wars, and the English "inclosing of the commons". The Highland Clearances were part of a process of agricultural change throughout the United Kingdom, but the late timing, the abruptness of the change from the Clan System in the Scottish Highlands and the brutality of many of the evictions gave the Highland Clearances particular notoriety. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... Inclosure (also commonly enclosure), refers to the process of subdivision of common lands for individual ownership. ...

Domestication of sheep

Domestic sheep are descended from the moufflon (Ovis orientalis) that is found from the mountains of Turkey to southern Iran. 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 (Ovis vignei) is found from northeastern Iran to northwestern India. It has a higher number of chromosomes (58) than domestic sheep (54) which makes it an unlikely ancestor of the latter, but as it interbreeds with the moufflon. The argali sheep (Ovis ammon) of inner Asia (Tibet, Himalayas, Altai, Tien-Shan and Pamir) has 56 chromosomes and the Siberian snow sheep (Ovis nivicola) with 52 chromosomes. Moufflon are a type wild sheep (Ovis orientalis and O. musimon) native to the mountains of Sardinia, Corsica and western Asia (especially Turkey and southern Iran). ... Space-filling model of a section of DNA molecule Deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of all cellular forms of life (and many viruses). ... Binomial name Ovis vignei Blyth, 1841 The Urial is a medium-sized wild sheep, member of the goat antelope subfamily, also known as Shapo or Arkhar. ... Binomial name Ovis vignei Blyth, 1841 The Urial is a medium-sized wild sheep, member of the goat antelope subfamily, also known as Shapo or Arkhar. ... Figure 1: Chromosome. ... For the republic in Russia, see Altai Republic. ... Located in Central Asia, the Pamir Mountains are formed by the junction of the worlds greatest mountain ranges, a geologic structural knot from which the great Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush mountain systems radiate. ...

The European moufflon (Ovis 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. 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, not sheared, as the kemps are still longer than the soft fleece, (a process called rooing) or the fleece must be collected from the field after it falls out. This article is about the Mediterranean island. ... Sardinia (Sardigna, Sardinna or Sardinnia in the Sardinian language, Sardegna in Italian, Sardenya in Catalan), is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy, Spain and Tunisia, south of Corsica. ... For other meanings of the word Jericho, see: Jericho (disambiguation) Jericho (Arabic أريحا Arīḥā; Hebrew alphabet יריחו, Standard Hebrew Yəriḥo, Tiberian Hebrew Yərîḫô, Yərîḥô) is a town in the West Bank, near the west bank of the Jordan River. ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... Soay Sheep are a breed of sheep descended from a population of feral sheep on the Isle of Soay. ...

Cuisine

Chefs and diners commonly know sheep meat prepared for food as lamb or mutton (compare the French word for "sheep": mouton). The meat of immature sheep, also termed lamb, generally has a reputation as more tender and appears more often on tables in some western countries. Mutton tastes more flavorful but often seems tougher and fattier than lamb. Lamb commonly features in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Meat is animal tissue (mainly muscle) used as food. ... A lamb being bottle fed Lamb A lamb is a young sheep. ... For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ... External links Mediterranean cuisine guide and recipes Categories: Stub | Mediterranean cuisine ... The term Middle Eastern cuisine refers to the cuisines of the Middle East. ...

Ethology

Two sheep in Santiago, Chile

Sheep tend to follow the lead others; hence, one can refer to people as "sheep" when they follow a group of other people. This can occur because such people trust the group, or it can happen because people do not think for themselves. Such passive behaviour can be advantageous in that it offers greater protection from predators, and, if the flock finds a food source, can help ensure that all animals are fed. It can be disadvantageous if the group should make a mistake, such as following the wrong path to a food source. Satellite image of Santiago Santiago (full form Santiago de Chile) is the capital of Chile. ...

Sheep follow each other so reliably 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 (the term also occurs in statistics). This sheep undertakes to go out further away from the safety of the flock to graze, while taking a chance that a predator, such as a wolf, will attack it first because of its isolation. Another sheep, the bellwether, which never goes first but always follows an outlier, signals to the others that they may follow in safety. When it moves, the others will also move. The tendency to act as outliers or as bellwethers, or to stick in the middle of the flock, seems to stay with sheep throughout their whole life. Genes may make them repeat this role behaviour. Statistics is the science and practice of developing knowledge through the use of empirical data expressed in quantitative form. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Binomial name Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 The Wolf or Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) is a mammal of the Canidae family and the ancestor of the domestic dog. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ...

A flock of sheep in Serbia

Sheep, contrary to popular opinion, have a relatively high level of intelligence. 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." [1] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3938591.stm) For example, in Yorkshire sheep found a way to get over cattle grids by rolling on their backs. This article is about the English county. ... Cattle grid is a type of obstacle to prevent hoofed animals, such as sheep or cows from passing. ...

Sheep can become hefted by this kind of herd behaviour so that they do not roam far. Since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK, new flocks have had to be trained to new areas[2] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1634526.stm). Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease, is a highly contagious but non-fatal viral disease of cattle and pigs. ...

Related topics

• Blue tongue disease
• Scrapie
• Dolly the sheep
• Exploding sheep
• Shepherd

Blue tongue disease (also called catarrhal fever) is a viral disease of sheep and less frequently of cattle, goats, buffaloes, deer and antelopes. ... Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous systems of sheep and goats. ... Dolly and her first son, Bonnie The sheep named Dolly (July 5, 1996 - February 14, 2003) was the first mammal to have been successfully cloned from an adult cell. ... An exploding sheep in the computer game Revenge of the Mutant Camels. ... In a draw in a mountainous region, a shepherd guides a flock of about 20 sheep amidst scrub and olive trees. ...

See also

• List of sheep breeds
• Sheep husbandry

Breeds of sheep used in farming For wool: Africana Barbado Barbados Blackbelly Blackhead Persian Brazilian Somali Damara Dorper Katahdin Masai Merino Morada Nova Pelibüey Rabo Largo Rambouillet Sahel-type Santa Inês Somali St. ... Sheep husbandry is the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. ...

External links

• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/
• Open Directory category: Sheep (http://dmoz.org/Business/Agriculture_and_Forestry/Livestock/Sheep/)

File links The following pages link to this file: Amphibian Animal Abstract algebra Ada programming language Applied mathematics Algebra A Plus Cuisine of the United States Arthropod Active Server Pages Biology Bird Biochemistry Bicycle Bubble tea Botany Battery (electricity) Cell (biology) Bear Bubble and squeak Bash Bat Chordate Chess Cryptography... File links The following pages link to this file: Abu Dhabi Abraham Lincoln Australia Adolf Hitler Animation Andorra Alaska Anatomy Asia Albert Einstein Asterales Automobile Aircraft Alexander Graham Bell Apple Computer American Civil War Ancient Egypt Asteraceae Alps Arches National Park Aarhus Almond Caesar Augustus Acacia Acropolis Acupuncture Amaranth Alexander... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

Books

• Juliet Clutton-Brocl. 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.