Knowra Domestic sheep Domestic sheep Domestic sheep are domesticated ruminant mammals descended from wild mouflon. People raise them worldwide for wool, meat, milk, hides, and other products.
Mouflon : Mouflons are wild sheep native to parts of Eurasia and the ancestors of domestic sheep. Domestic sheep descend from wild mouflon populations.
Wool : Wool is a textile fiber obtained mainly from sheep, composed chiefly of the protein keratin. Sheep fleece is shorn and processed into this widely used fiber.
Animal domestication : Animal domestication is the process by which human populations manage and selectively breed animal populations across generations. Sheep are among the earliest livestock domesticated by humans.
Goat : The goat is a domesticated ruminant species, Capra hircus, raised for meat, milk, fiber, and hides. Goats are closely related livestock but differ in ancestry, behavior, and products.
Ruminant : A ruminant is a mammal that ferments plant food in a specialized stomach and regurgitates cud for further chewing. Ruminant digestion lets sheep extract nutrients from fibrous forage.
Lamb and mutton : Lamb is meat from young sheep; mutton is meat from older sheep. Sheep are raised and slaughtered for both categories of meat.
Neolithic Revolution : The Neolithic Revolution was the transition in many societies from foraging toward farming and settled life. Sheep husbandry expanded alongside early farming communities.
Cattle : Cattle are domesticated bovines raised chiefly for meat, milk, hides, and labor. Cattle and sheep are major grazing livestock with different body size and production systems.
Sheep breeds : A sheep breed is a population shaped by inherited traits and selective breeding for characteristic forms or uses. Selective breeding produced sheep suited to wool, meat, milk, and local environments.
Sheep milk : Sheep milk is milk produced by ewes and used for drinking and dairy products. Some breeds are raised primarily for milk and cheese production.
Show all 22