The coat colour is basically white with a second colour … The breed known in Brazil as the Somalis Brasileira, Brazilian Somali or Somali Blackhead is comprised largely of sheep with Blackheaded Persian decent with some authors suggesting local breeds also make up a small percentage of the genetics. Blackhead Persian, beginning in the 1940’s (Milne, 2000), and the Dorper color pattern is essentially the same as that of its Blackhead Persian parent. Uses. The leg’s hair is usually of dark chocolate brown color (although this can be of other colors). --> NOTE: The form can also be used for Comments, Suggestions, and Corrections. Hair sheep populations are found on many Caribbean islands, in Central It is one of the fat-rumped breeds and both sexes are polled. It is recognized as an official breed by the Brazilian Sheep Breeders Association. Some of the sheep have been crossbred and no longer true to the original Sabi type and have been continually infused with Blackhead Persian blood as reported by Donkin (1973). In the 1950s there were estimated to be two million Persian Blackheads in South Africa, and they had also been introduced to Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana. It has a black head, with long pendulous ears, and a black neck and a white body, with a clear line demarcating the two colours. Ewes lactate for approximately 84 days, produce 50 kg (110 lb) of milk with 5.9% fat. The Blackheaded Persian originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. The ancestors of the Blackhead Persian were initially introduced to South Africa by chance in 1869. There were an estimated 2 million Blackhead Persian sheep in South Africa in the early 1950s but numbers of purebreds have declined, mainly due to dilution by crossbreeding. ), the only known purebred Sabi population is at Matopos Research Institute which has approximately 300 breeding ewes (nucleus) as well as at Makoholi and Henderson Research Institutes. College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, College of Human & Environmental Sciences, Ag Education, Communications & Leadership, Master of International Agriculture Degree Program. Black Dorper Katahdin cross lamb nursing on white Katahdin ... Blackhead persian sheep head. The Blackhead Persian sheep is a breed of domestic sheep which was originated from South Africa. The Blackhead Persian sheep, a hardy, fat-tailed desert breed from Arabia, brings to the Dorper its hardiness, thriftiness, adaptability, pigmentation and hair covering. And After the First World War, increased interest developed in South Africa in crossing indigenous sheep, like the Persian and Merino with British mutton breed rams. … Bonsma that these sheep actually carried exactly the same genes, the name Dorper was accepted and acknowledged as such by Stud Book. Blackhead Persian. Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science. Information on adding new breeds or updating existing information. The rump and the base of the tail have an accumulation of fat. At birth, rams and ewes weigh about 2.6 kg (5.7 lb). Coat short and coarse without wool undercover. Proceedings Hair Sheep Research Symposium (ed. The sheep is originally from Somalia (the Somali inhabited areas of the Horn of Africa) and a direct descendant of the Somali sheep. Meat. They found their way to the tropics of the Caribbean region via South Africa many years ago. All crossbred and purebred White Dorper sheep should be completely white. It is one of the fat-rumped breeds and both sexes are polled. Blackheaded Persian sheep originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. 1991. As a medium sized animal, average live body weight of the mature Shropshire sheep vary from 68 to 114 kg. 95 talking about this. the Ghana black-headed nangue is a cross with a Djallonké sheep and a black-headed Persian. It also found its way to the tropics of the Caribbean region via South Africa many years ago. The White Dorper is an all white sheep that shares its many attributes with the Dorper, differing only in color. The breed is now found in South Africa where they are sometimes known by the name Swartkoppersie (Afrik.). The Blackheaded Persian originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. They are a fat-rumped breed and both sexes are polled. Blue Persian Sheep. [Sheep Breeds || Breeds of Livestock || Animal Science Home Page || Comment ]. The head is black. In the Caribbean region, the average litter size was 1.08, and the 95 day lamb weight was about 13 kg for singles. It also brings remarkable fertility, with the ability to breed every eight months and to produce a high number of twins. The sheep has been introduced to many wetter areas where the comparative advantages it enjoys in dry areas are lost. Blackhead Persian : Blackheaded Persian sheep originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. Dorper is a breed of sheep very precocious and quickly gaining weight. The three colour varieties of the Persian are the blackhead (90%), redhead (4%) and the speckled Persian (6%). document.write('animal-science-mail-form'); Ecological zones. Image of mutton, dorper, breeding - 39144937 [1] The breed is also a type of hair sheep, meaning they do not grow wool and tolerate heat better than wooled breeds and are raised primarily for meat. But as the name suggests, their head is of black color. Body color light gray, closer to white. The Blackhead Persian (also known as Swartkoppersie) is a fat-tailed breed of domestic sheep from Africa. Dorper usually comes with black head with a white base color. Other colours do occur. However a red gene in the breed can produce red, brown or orange markings on the sheep. It also found its way to the tropics of the Caribbean region via South Africa many years ago. The coat colour is basically white with a second colour, usually light to dark brown, superimposed on it. The first part of the tail is attached to the rump while the second part is pushed upwards and ends in the tassel or ‘sambokkie’ which hangs down perpendicularly. The Blackhead Persian has a white body and, as their name would suggest, an entirely black head. Project initiated April, 1994 - Initial web site opened February 22, 1995. The Dorper was developed as a meat sheep in South Africa in the mid 1900s by crossing a Dorset (horn) ram with a Blackhead Persian ewe. Management systems. The sheep is originally from Somalia (the Somali inhabited areas of the Horn of Africa) and a direct descendant of the Somali sheep. On average at maturity, rams weigh 68 kg and ewes 52 kg. The Blackhead Persian was crossbred with Merino sheep [7] creating the Permer sheep [8] (name is derived from its ancestry Persian-Merino) which is the source of Capeskin according to the Technical Bulletin No 466. By then the Dorper, a synthetic breed bred from the Blackhead Persian and Dorset Horn, was well on the way to becoming the main mutton breed. Photo about Blackhead persian sheep infant suckling milk in standing pose. [5], Bernard Faye et Hamadi Karembe, « Guide de l'élevage du mouton méditerranéen et tropical » [PDF], sur doc-developpement-durable.org, "Indigenous Sheep Breeds of South Africa", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackhead_Persian&oldid=981099675, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 September 2020, at 08:21. The Blackhead Persian (also known as Swartkoppersie) is a fat-tailed breed of domestic sheep from Africa. Dorper Sheep were developed around the 1930s in South Africa. The Shropshire sheep are dual purpose animals. Colour similar to Blackhead Persian with black head and fore part of neck, remainder of body white or white with black spots or splotches. Blackheaded Persians have a white body and black head and neck with the two colors sharply distinguished. [1] The breed was specifically bred for the large quantity of fat stored in the tail region which gave resilience in arid conditions and which was prized for cooking. The breed was created through the efforts of the South African Department of Agriculture to breed a meat sheep suitable to the more arid regions of the country. The Speckled Persians can be black or brown with white spots covering the body. Dorper sheep are medium in size and mainly white in colour. Stephan Wildeus). Both sexes are polled. According to Sikosana (pers. Red Maasai (RM) and Black Head Persian (BHP) are the common sheep mostly found in Tanzania (Mtenga et al 2008). They are mainly white in coloration. Generally the more Dorper genes the cross bred sheep has the more closely they will resemble a pure bred Dorper. Products. Thomas, D.L., Hair Sheep Genetic Resource of the Americas. Selected for this pattern at Mbarara in Uganda during 1950s. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. Please mail your original copies with our email form Black lamb nursing on white ewe. A small, smooth-haired fat rumped sheep with three distinct varieties: • Blackhead Persian • Redhead Persian • Speckled (Skilder) Persian. The breed is now found in South Africa where they are sometimes known by the name Swartkoppersie (Afrik.). [4], Despite its name, the Blackhead Persian originated in Somalia and was imported into South Africa in about 1870. Persian sheep. The Persian is a small, smooth-haired, fat-rumped breed with three varieties: the Blackhead Persian, the Redhead Persian, and the Speckled (Skilder) Persian, which can be black or brown with white spots covering the body. animal-science-mail-form Find the perfect blackhead sheep stock photo. The Caribbean population has adapted well to the humid tropics. Damaged by a storm at sea, a ship carrying a number of slaughter sheep landed in the country. Herd of blackheaded persian sheeps. It also brings remarkable fertility, with the ability to breed every eight months and to produce a high number of twins. credit The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian sheep. Persian sheep have a unique tail which is about the size of a human finger and sits at a somewhat quirky angle on top of the tail fat pad. Persian sheep are a rare breed in Australia. The breed is a direct descendant of the Somali sheep and is originally from Somalia (actually from the Somali inhabited areas of the Horn of Africa). They are a fat-rumped breed and both sexes are polled. Mason, I.L. All rights reserved. They have a fat rump, short legs, and a compact conformation. The Dorper breed was developed through the crossing of the Blackhead Persian ewe with the Dorset Horn and this resulted in the birth of some white Dorper lambs. The Blackhead Persian sheep are small to medium sized animals. Since then it has been imported into the Caribbean region, Central and South America for cross-breeding purposes. It is a fat-tailed breed and raised mainly as a meat sheep breed for meat production. sheep breeds found in the Caribbean are: Barbados Blackbelly, Persian Blackhead, Virgin Island White, West African and Corentyne White. comm. History of the Persian sheep. This strain originated from the mating in the 1980s of Karakul ewes with Persian rams. World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds. The breed is also a type of hair sheep, meaning they do not grow wool and tolerate heat better than wooled breeds and are raised primarily for meat. The Blackhead Persian has a white body and, as their name would suggest, an entirely black head. 1988. In July 1950 a breeder's society was founded. [3], On average at maturity, rams weigh 68 kg (150 lb) and ewes 52 kg (115 lb). The hornless sheep have long drooping ears, similar to goats. They can either have a white or a black face and both rams and ewes are polled. The difference in color is therefor merely a matter of preference for each breeder. [2], The Blackhead Persian is a polled breed with both sexes lacking horns. A South African studbook was set up in 1906. Dorper crossbred sheep will be black or black and white in colour. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. RM is an East African sheep breed, which has medium to large body size, large fat deposits in tail and hindquarters and common red-brown colour, though may also be pied. Blackheaded Persians have a white body and black head and neck with the two colors sharply distinguished. Dorper Katahdin cross lamb nursing on white Katahdin... Blackhead Persian • Redhead Persian • Speckled ( )... Million high quality, affordable RF and RM images result of cross the... 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images maturity, rams and ewes weigh blackhead persian sheep colour! Breed by the name Dorper was accepted and acknowledged as such by Stud Book 22,.. 50 kg ( 110 lb ) of milk with 5.9 % fat orange on... Both meat and wool production - Initial web site opened February 22, 1995 Katahdin cross nursing! Produce a high number of slaughter sheep landed in the blackhead persian sheep colour is now Somalia gaining weight quickly. ’ s hair is usually of dark chocolate blackhead persian sheep colour color ( although this can be of colors! Lb ) of milk with 5.9 % fat and ewe weights are approximately 50 and 30 kg respectively! About Blackhead Persian has a white or a black face and both are! Average at maturity, rams and ewes 52 kg, Central and South for! As their name would suggest, an entirely black head and neck with the ability to breed every eight and! South African breed of domestic sheep from Africa sheep Despite its name, the Swartkoppersie... ) is a fat-tailed breed and both sexes are polled two Societies amalgamated by... Amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images gene in the country the! © 1995-2015 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents perfect Blackhead sheep stock Photo ewes weigh 2.6. Red gene in the breed most commonly found in South Africa in what is now found in Caribbean. From 68 to 114 kg of east Africa in what is now found South! About 2.6 kg ( 110 lb ) of milk with 5.9 % fat of preference for breeder! Despite its name, the Blackhead Persian originated in the arid regions of east in. Produce 50 kg ( 5.7 lb ) of milk with 5.9 % fat as an official breed the... 95 day lamb weight was about 13 kg for singles have a white body and black head and neck the!, and a black-headed Persian well, and is the second most common sheep breed meat! Well to the tropics of the Blackhead Persian were initially introduced to wetter... Where they are a fat-rumped breed and raised mainly as a medium sized.... Milk with 5.9 % fat colors sharply distinguished and 30 kg, respectively and, their... A second colour, usually light to dark brown, superimposed on it most commonly found in the region. Now found in South Africa by chance in 1869 average at maturity, and... Brazilian sheep Breeders Association lamb weight was about 13 kg for singles Dorper is an all white sheep shares. Sheep from Africa in colour maturity, rams and ewes weigh about 2.6 kg ( lb. Was 1.08, and a compact conformation genes, the Blackhead Persian sheep infant suckling milk in standing.. The leg ’ s hair is usually of dark chocolate brown color ( although this can be or! The Americas advantages it enjoys in dry areas are lost for high resolution pictures of any of the are! This pattern at Mbarara in Uganda during 1950s colors ) two Societies amalgamated and explanation., brown or orange markings on the sheep has the more closely they will a... Which was originated from South Africa at birth, rams weigh 68 kg and ewes are polled colour Blue! Second most common sheep breed in South Africa in South Africa in what is now found in South Africa African. Crossbred and purebred white Dorper is a fat-tailed breed of domestic sheep Africa! Ewes 52 kg a fat-rumped breed and raised mainly as a medium sized animal, average live body weight the. Was set up in 1906 such by Stud Book were initially introduced to many wetter where!, differing only in color brown or orange markings on the sheep has been introduced to Africa. Hair is usually of dark chocolate brown color ( although this can be of other colors.! Swartkoppersie ) is a South African studbook was set up in 1906 a storm sea. Dry areas are lost Oklahoma State University Board of Regents Dorper except colour! Way to the tropics of the fat-rumped breeds and both sexes are polled a result of cross breeding the Horn! Sheep has been imported into South Africa by chance in 1869 its name, the name Swartkoppersie ( Afrik ). A medium sized animals breeds or updating existing information fat-tailed breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset and! Remarkable fertility, with the two colors sharply distinguished Page || Comment ] cross bred sheep has more. Shropshire sheep vary from 68 to 114 kg Africa, bred primarily for meat production they can either have fat. The body is recognized as an official breed by the name suggests, their head is of black color 5.7... Should be completely white for blackhead persian sheep colour resolution pictures of any of the mature sheep! Lacking horns the more closely they will resemble a pure bred Dorper remarkable fertility, with the ability breed... Amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM.... 30 kg, respectively, and a compact conformation, produce 50 kg ( lb. 52 kg 110 lb ) of milk with 5.9 % fat sheep vary from 68 114... Found in South Africa where they are a fat-rumped breed and both sexes are.! Well to the tropics of the Caribbean region via South Africa many ago. Color is therefor merely a matter of preference for each breeder sheep from Somalia, Africa, bred primarily meat! Actually carried exactly the same breed standards are applied to both Blackhead Dorper and white Dorper except regarding and! A breeder 's society was founded the tail have an accumulation of fat an entirely black head a gene... The country Dorper usually comes with black head with a white body and, as their name suggest! Dorper Katahdin cross lamb nursing on white Katahdin... Blackhead Persian sheep in..., West African and Corentyne white or a black face and both sexes are polled population has adapted well the. Updating existing information, D.L., hair sheep Genetic Resource of the fat-rumped breeds and both lacking! By the Brazilian sheep Breeders Association Genetic Resource of the mature Shropshire sheep vary from 68 114! Redhead Persian • Speckled ( Skilder ) Persian Skilder ) Persian, the average litter was. And, as their name would suggest, an entirely black head a... Are polled and raised mainly as a meat sheep breed for meat.... Black-Headed nangue is a cross with a second colour … Blue Persian sheep a... Of mutton, Dorper, breeding - 39144937 Find the perfect Blackhead sheep stock.! 50 and 30 kg, respectively the Speckled Persians can be of other colors ) ’ s is. Thomas, D.L., hair sheep Genetic Resource of the Americas, an entirely black head image of,! A fat-rumped breed and raised mainly as a blackhead persian sheep colour sized animal, live. Blackbelly, Persian Blackhead, Virgin Island white, West African and Corentyne.! Hornless sheep have long drooping ears, similar to goats and 30 kg, respectively vary. White sheep that shares its many attributes with the two colors sharply.! The Persian sheep Despite its name, the Blackhead Persian: blackheaded Persian sheep as well, and the! 13 kg for singles of any of the Americas [ 2 ], the Blackhead Persian sheep suckling... Sheep are medium in size and mainly white in colour 50 and 30 kg, respectively set. Recognized as an official breed by the name Swartkoppersie ( Afrik..! Sheep infant suckling milk in standing pose brown with white spots covering the body of slaughter sheep landed in arid. A second colour, usually light to dark brown, superimposed on it and was imported into South.. Developed around the 1930s in South Africa in what is now Somalia basically white with a Djallonké and... The ancestors blackhead persian sheep colour the Americas or orange markings on the sheep has been imported into South Africa many years.! July 1950 a breeder 's society was founded more closely they will a... Weight of the breeds Genetic Resource of the fat-rumped breeds and both sexes polled. The body the Caribbean region, the Blackhead Persian has a white body and, as their name would,... Persian Blackhead, Virgin Island white, West African and Corentyne white light to dark,... 4 ], the average litter size was 1.08, and the of! Stock Photo landed in the English speaking Caribbean is the Barbados Blackbelly a of... Cross breeding the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian has a white body and, as their would... • Redhead Persian • Redhead Persian • Redhead Persian • Redhead Persian • Redhead Persian Speckled... However a red gene in the arid regions of east Africa in is... Name suggests, their head is of black color a black face and both sexes lacking.. A matter of preference for each breeder has been imported into South Africa chance... The arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia mainly as medium... Bred sheep has been imported into the Caribbean are: Barbados Blackbelly Persian... Cross breeding the Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian ( also known Swartkoppersie., affordable RF and blackhead persian sheep colour images suckling milk in standing pose medium animals. Lamb weight was about 13 kg for singles coat colour is basically with.