Scientific name Ovis aries Rank Breed | Higher classification Sheep | |
Similar Santa Inês, Morada Nova sheep, Bergamasca sheep, Blackhead Persian, Île‑de‑France sheep | ||
The Somali sheep, occasionally known as the Berbera Blackhead, is a hair sheep native to Somalia.
Overview
The Somali sheep is the direct forebear of the Blackhead Persian, the latter of which was bred in South Africa between the late 19th century to early 20th century and has been extensively used for crossbreeding in many tropical areas.
The Somali sheep is white with a black head. It belongs to the fat-tail type, and both of the breed's genders are polled. The animal is mainly reared for meat production, and is a major export of the Somalian economy, particularly to the Arabian peninsula.
References
Somali sheep Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA