domestic sheep
Sheep (: sheep) or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are a domesticated, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to ...
native to Canada, one of only a few livestock breeds native to the country.
History
The Rideau Arcott was produced from a breeding program that was created in 1966 by Agriculture Canada’s Animal Research Centre in Ottawa; other breeds that were produced from the same program include the Canadian Arcott and the Outaouais Arcott. The goal when creating the Rideau Arcott was to create a breed of sheep that produced multiple offspring rapidly. They introduced new technologies in
quantitative genetics
Quantitative genetics is the study of quantitative traits, which are phenotypes that vary continuously—such as height or mass—as opposed to phenotypes and gene-products that are Categorical variable, discretely identifiable—such as eye-col ...
, reproductive physiology,
nutrition
Nutrition is the biochemistry, biochemical and physiology, physiological process by which an organism uses food and water to support its life. The intake of these substances provides organisms with nutrients (divided into Macronutrient, macro- ...
and housing that allowed them to select for the traits they wanted to be expressed in the breed. The research flock was closed in 1974, and the breed was distributed to shepherds beginning in 1988.
The Rideau name is a common one in
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...
. The latter half of its name is an acronym for the Animal Research Centre in Ottawa.
One of only a few livestock breeds developed in Canada, the Rideau is a synthesis of many different breeds. The breed is genetically 40% Finnish Landrace, 20%
Suffolk
Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...
Shropshire
Shropshire (; abbreviated SalopAlso used officially as the name of the county from 1974–1980. The demonym for inhabitants of the county "Salopian" derives from this name.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West M ...
and 8%
Dorset Horn
The Dorset Horn is an endangered British breed of domestic sheep. It is documented from the seventeenth century, and is highly prolific, sometimes producing two lambing seasons per year. Among British sheep, it is the only breed capable of bre ...
; the remaining 9% is
Border Leicester
The Border Leicester is a British breed of sheep.
It is a polled, long-wool sheep and is considered a dual-purpose breed as it is reared both for meat and for wool. It is known for its distinctive upright ears. The sheep are large but docile. ...
,
North Country Cheviot
North Country Cheviot is a common breed of sheep
Sheep (: sheep) or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are a domesticated, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ov ...
, Romnelet and
Corriedale
The Corriedale is a New Zealand list of sheep breeds, breed of Domestic sheep, sheep. It was bred from about 1882 in the South Island by James Little, who cross-bred Australian Merino, Merino and Lincoln (sheep), Lincoln Longwool sheep. The bre ...
. The Rideau Arcott has been selectively bred for higher fertility, multiple births, milk production and growth rate.
Rideaus exhibit strong maternal traits, making them a popular choice for
crossbreeding
A crossbreed is an organism with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. A domestic animal of unknown ancestry, where the breed status of only one parent or grandparent is known, may also be called a crossbreed though ...
as they typically produce
twins
Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of Twin Last Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two e ...
or triplets. Crossbreeding with Rideau
rams
In engineering, reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS)
Characteristics
The Rideau Arcott is a large sheep with a rapid growth rate. it is generally white, but some animals have slightly coloured legs. The face is white and free of wool, but a few dark patches sometimes occur. This breed is naturally polled but some rams may develop horny protuberances. Rams weigh up to and ewes range between . The breed is primarily kept for meat, but does also produce a medium-quality fleece.
This breed is very prolific. Lambing can occur at intervals of eight months and ewe lambs can be put to the tup at seven months to lamb for the first time at a year old. These ewe lambs have a lambing rate of 180 percent, and mature ewes produce 40 percent twins and 50 percent triplets.
See also
*
List of sheep breeds
This is a list of breeds of domestic sheep. Domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are partially derived from mouflon (''Ovis gmelini'') stock, and have diverged sufficiently to be considered a different species. Some sheep breeds have a hair coat and a ...