Columbia Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Columbia sheep breed is a sweet-faced breed with a trim well proportioned body, long strong legs and were developed for their wool. They can also be used for their fine quality of meat that is quite lean and succulent.

They have quite a heavy coat although it fits tightly to their body and they are quite fast-growing sheep well suited for the modern day markets.

COLUMBIA SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Columbia Sheep breed were developed in America for range conditions.
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Other Names:	None
Breed Size:	Large
Main Purpose:	Wool but can be used for meat production
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Can be used for	Breed, Meat, Wool **LSC (Landscape Management)
Temperament:	Docile and alert
Ideal Climate:	Most climates
Conservation Status:	Not Listed by the *ALC Status/ Raarity: Common
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	Novice to intermediate level of sheep farming
Sheep Associations:	Columbia Sheep Breeders Association of America
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to the Columbia Sheep Breeders Association of America breeders directory for local distributors and breeders of the Columbia Sheep breed.
Note: ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy * LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Columbia Sheep breed is a large breed that’s fleece caps its head to its polled horns and has fleece covered legs. They have a defined straight long nose and a clean face.

Color(s):

White

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Breed Weight:	68 to 102 kgs	100 to 135 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear	Unclear
Hair:	Heavy, medium wool fleece with some curl	Heavy, medium wool fleece with some curl
Ears:	Long ears with soft hair covering them. They are pointed and stick out to the side of the head	Long ears with soft hair covering them. They are pointed and stick out to the side of the head
Horns:	Polled	Polled
Matures at age:	10 weeks/15 months or 15 years	10 weeks to 15 months
Puberty Age:	5 to 12 months	5 to 7 months
Breeding Age:	18 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Ewe Breeding & Milking Info.	Cover 5 to 10 Ewes in 1 season

EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION

They are prolific breeders and are a hardy breed that can take of their young. The ewes are excellent nurturing mothers.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 24 to 36 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/15 to 20 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 149 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days
No. Lambs/Litter:	1 and on the rare occasion 2 (twins)
Lactation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days
Milking From:	4 to 6 weeks after lambing
Milk Quality:	Good, Quantity: Enough to wean lambs , Per: Lactation period
Milk Ideal for:	Lambs
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SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

They have a fine meat quality with a good meat to bone ratio with some fat to keep the meat succulent.

Meat Production:

Yes, Quality: Fine quality

SHEEP ⇒	LAMB	HOGGET/MUTTON
Approx. Maturity Weight:	58 kgs	79 kgs
Approx. Maturity Age:

SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

They are primarily bred for their superior wool production.

Wool Production?

Yes, Quality: Medium with a spin count of 50s to 60s.

Wool is used to Produce:

Knitted garments, clothes, blankets, etc.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months	6 to 8 months
Approx. Length:	8.89 to 12.7 cm	8.89 to 12.7 cm
Microns:	24 to 31	24 to 31
Approx. Quantity:	From 1 kg up to 5 kgs a year	From 1 kg up to 5 kgs a year

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE COLUMBIA SHEEP

A few good pointers that are good to know about the Columbia Sheep breed
Child-Friendly?	They are a large breed of livestock and no child should be left unsupervised around livestock.
Landscape Management?	As with most sheep breeds, they love to forage and are quite good grazers that can graze their way through many different bush or greenery types.
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the Columbia Sheep Breeders Association of America breeders directory as they have the most up to date list of registered breeders and sellers of the breed in or around your area.
General Information:	They were developed by the United States Department of Agriculture for a sheep that was a fast grower and had a good staple wool quality.

HISTORY

They were one of the first sheep breeds developed in the USA from the crossing of Lincoln and Rambouillet sheep. This cross was done to design large ewes that produce more wool and more lamb.
They were specifically designed for the range and the development of the Columbia sheep breed started in 1912.

It is a large breed that is very popular breed and is also used for crossing with other breeds in commercial flocks.