Criollo (sheep)
Encyclopedia
The Criollo is a breed
of domestic sheep
originating in the highlands of South
and Central America
. In the mid 16th Century, Spanish settlers brought the Churra with them. This is believed to be the ancestor of the modern day Criollo. The Criollo is raised primarily for meat.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
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...
originating in the highlands of South
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. In the mid 16th Century, Spanish settlers brought the Churra with them. This is believed to be the ancestor of the modern day Criollo. The Criollo is raised primarily for meat.