Targhee sheep
Encyclopedia
The Targhee is a breed
of domestic sheep
developed in early 20th century by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service
. Targhee sheep are a dual–purpose breed, with heavy, medium quality wool
and good meat production characteristics. They are hardy, and are especially suited to the ranges of the West where they were developed. Targhee are especially popular in Montana
, Wyoming
and South Dakota
, where their ¾ fine wool and ¼ long wool breeding is favored by western ranchers. This breed is raised primarily for wool
.
in Idaho. Their ancestors were Rambouillet
, Corriedale and Lincoln
sheep. Though development of this breed for the Western ranges of the U.S. began as early as 1900, the flock book was closed (meaning that only the offspring of registered Targhees could be themselves registered) in 1966.
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...
developed in early 20th century by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service
Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area...
. Targhee sheep are a dual–purpose breed, with heavy, medium quality wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
and good meat production characteristics. They are hardy, and are especially suited to the ranges of the West where they were developed. Targhee are especially popular in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
and South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, where their ¾ fine wool and ¼ long wool breeding is favored by western ranchers. This breed is raised primarily for wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
.
Characteristics
Mature body weight in the rams is 200 lb (90 kg) to 300 lb (135 kg) with the ewes weighing slightly less at 125 lb (56 kg) to 200 lb (90 kg). Each ewe will average a 10 lb (4.5 kg) to 14 lb (6.3 kg) fleece that has a fibre diameter of 21 to 25 micrometres and a spinning count of 64 to 58. The staple length of the fleece will be 3 inches (7.5 cm) to 5 inches (11 cm) with a yield of 50% to 55%.History
Targhee sheep were named after Targhee National Forest which surrounds the U.S. Sheep Experiment StationU.S. Sheep Experiment Station
The U.S. Sheep Experiment Station is an agricultural experiment station focusing on domestic sheep which is run by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service...
in Idaho. Their ancestors were Rambouillet
Rambouillet (sheep)
The Rambouillet is also known as the Rambouillet Merino or the French Merino. The development of the Rambouillet breed started in 1786 when Louis XVI purchased over three hundred Spanish Merinos from his cousin, King Charles III of Spain...
, Corriedale and Lincoln
Lincoln (sheep)
The Lincoln, sometimes called the Lincoln Longwool, is a breed of sheep from England. The Lincoln is the largest British sheep, developed specifically to produce the heaviest, longest and most lustrous fleece of any breed in the world. Great numbers were exported to many countries to improve the...
sheep. Though development of this breed for the Western ranges of the U.S. began as early as 1900, the flock book was closed (meaning that only the offspring of registered Targhees could be themselves registered) in 1966.