Cambridge (sheep)
The Cambridge is a modern British breed of domestic sheep.[3]: 774 It was bred at the University of Cambridge by John Owen and Alun Davies between about 1964 and 1979, with the aim of increasing prolificacy.[2][3]: 774 [4]: 638 It is among the most prolific of all sheep breeds, but is critically endangered.[2][4]: 638
.jpg.webp) Ewe with Texel-cross lambs | |
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Distribution |
|
| Use | meat |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Wool colour | uni-coloured brown |
| Face colour | brown |
| Horn status | polled (hornless) |
| |
History
The Cambridge was bred at the University of Cambridge by John Owen and Alun Davies between about 1964 and 1979, with the specific aim of increasing prolificacy. Ewes of a variety of British breeds were put to Finnsheep rams. These ewes were mostly of the Clun Forest breed, but Border Leicester, Hill Radnor, Kerry Hill, Llanwenog, Lleyn and Ryeland stock was also used.[3]: 774 A flock-book was started in 1969, and by 1979 the breed was established.[2]
Characteristics
The Cambridge is a polled sheep of medium to large size.[3]: 774 It is uniformly brown, with a brown face.[2] It is a short-wool breed; fleeces weigh some 2.5 kg, with a staple length of about 100 mm.[3]: 774
Ewes of the breed are among the most prolific of any breed of sheep, with average litter sizes for one-, two- and three-year-old ewes of 1.7, 2.5 and 2.9 respectively.[4]: 638
References
- Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- Breed data sheet: Cambridge / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2021.
- Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- Edward Boden (editor) (2009). Black's Veterinary Dictionary. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781408104187.
Further reading
- J.B. Owen, Sarah R.E. Crees, Janet C. Williams, D.A.R. Davies (1986). Prolificacy and 50-day lamb weight of ewes in the Cambridge sheep breed. Animal Science. 42 (3): 355–363. doi:10.1017/S0003356100018134.
- J.B. Owen, I. Ap Dewi (1988). The Cambridge sheep — its exploitation for increased efficiency of lamb production. Agricultural and Food Science. 60 (6): 585–590. doi:10.23986/afsci.72316.
- J.B. Owen, C.J. Whitaker, R.F.E. Axford, I. Ap Dewi (1990). Expected consequences of the segregation of a major gene in a sheep population in relation to observations on the ovulation rate of a flock of Cambridge sheep. Animal Science. 51 (2): 277–282. doi:10.1017/S0003356100005420.
- I. Ap Dewi, J.B. Owen, A. El-Sheikh, R.F.E. Axford, M. Beigi-Nassiri (1996). Variation in Ovulation Rate and Litter Size of Cambridge Sheep. Animal Science 62 (3): 489–495. doi:10.1017/S1357729800015022.
- J.B. Owen (1996). The Cambridge breed. In: Mohamed H. Fahmy (editor) (1996). Prolific Sheep. Wallingford: CAB International. ISBN 9780851989839, pages 161–173.