The Delaine Merino is a type of
Merino sheep
The Merino is a list of sheep breeds, breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monop ...
predominant in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
. It has fewer skin wrinkles than some types of Merino, but still has a fine, oily fleece that extends through the legs. They are hardy and long–lived, with an ability to thrive on the arid ranges of the Southwest United States.
This breed originated in
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, and is raised primarily for
wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...
production.
[
]
Delaine has become a most practical Merino sheep on the average farm and is especially adapted to range sheep production in the Western and Southwestern states. They are found throughout the United States at all altitudes.
This particular breed is very common within Australia and New Zealand for wool production.
See also
*
Debouillet sheep
*
Delaine (cloth)
References
External links
Delaine Merinoat the American Sheep Industry Association
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Sheep breeds originating in the United States
Sheep breeds