Domestic Sheep

Fun Facts

Domestic sheep have been raised for wool, milk, and meat for thousands of years. Most original sheep breeds had hair coats. Because of the value of wool, farmers started selecting for sheep with more wool than hair in their coats. Wool sheep quickly grew in popularity, which is why people typically envision wool coats when they think of sheep.

Hair sheep are usually considered to be superior to their woolly relatives. They are tougher, stronger, and more adaptable. They also do not need to be sheared because they shed their coats naturally.

Species in the goat/sheep kind have horizontal pupils that rotate to remain level with the horizon even when their heads are lowered. This allows them to retain excellent views of their surroundings while grazing. As prey animals, this gives them an extra edge over potential predators.

Sheep have scent glands in front of their eyes and between the splits of their hooves. The smelly secretions left by these glands are used to communicate with other sheep.

Sheep have a reputation for being dumb, but that is not true. Sheep intelligence is similar to other intelligent livestock, like pigs and goats, and they can be trained for many behaviors. They can recognize and remember the faces of people and other sheep, and they can solve problems and mazes.