Dohne Merino
Encyclopedia
The Dohne Merino is a breed of domestic sheep
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all 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...

 from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. The breed was started in the late 1930s by the South African Department of Agriculture. It was developed by interbreeding Peppin-style Merino ewes and German Mutton Merino rams. The Dohne Merino is a dual purpose breed providing meat and fine wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....

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Characteristics

At maturity, the Dohne Merino ram weighs 80 to 100 kg (176.4 to 220.5 lb) and the ewe will weight 50 to 65 kg (110.2 to 143.3 lb). At 100 days, both sexes will weigh 25 to 35 kg (55.1 to 77.2 lb). Yearly fleece production is 3.5 to 5 kg (7.7 to 11 lb) with an average diameter of 17 to 21 microns.

External links

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