Ile-de-France Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Ile-de-France breed of sheep or Dishley Merino as it cans also be called is a large, sturdy breed of sheep with impressively powerful looks. They breed is sturdy, hardy and the ewes have a very high lambing percentage which makes them most desirable to farmers as well as their useful production profile.

IL DE FRANCE SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
They are a large sturdy breed with a powerful full body well proportion frame
Country of Origin:	France
Other Names:	Dishley Merino
Breed Size:	Large
Main Purpose:	Meat and wool but can be used for their milk. They are classified as a dairy sheep in the USA.
Can be used for	Breed, **LSC, Meat, Milk, Wool
Temperament:	Docile and alert
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most climates
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Common
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	Novice to intermediate sheep farmers/keepers
Sheep Associations:	Canadian Sheep Breeders Association
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy ** LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Ile-de-France sheep breed have a very well developed and proportional large frame, cut tails and a strong with face with strong boned features. The ewes faces are a more feminine version of the males and not as wide.
Color(s):	White
SHEEP ⇒ EWE RAM Breed Weight: 65 kgs 100 kgs Breed Height: Unclear they are a large sized breed Unclear they are a large sized breed Hair: Even curls of medium length that are soft and springy to the touch. They should not have any kemp Even curls of medium length that are soft and springy to the touch. They should not have any kemp Ears: Alert, white and large Alert, white and large Horns: No horns/Polled No horns/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 can produce throughout the year and produce fall lambs. They have excellent maternal intincts and an extremely high lambing percentage with hardly any birthing problems.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 24 to 36 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/13 to 19 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days
No. Lambs/Litter:	1 to 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 – ***NDS, Quantity: Ave. 180 to 495 liters, Per: Lactation period
Milk Ideal for:	Lambs, human consumption and cheese production
Note: ***DS – stands for Dairy Sheep *** NDS – stands for Non-Dairy Sheep
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SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION
The Ile-de-france sheep have fast growing lambs with a good carcass quality, lean, succulent and tasty. They tend to keep their lamb flavor into maturity and have a fine grain and color of meat.
Meat Production:	Yes, Quality: Fine meat quality
SHEEP ⇒ LAMB HOGGET/MUTTON Approx. Maturity Weight: 26 to 45 kgs / 45 to 60 kgs 50 to 90 kgs / 65 to 100 kgs Approx. Maturity Age: 3 to 6 months / 9 months 12 to 18 months / Adult
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SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION
The Ile-de-France sheep breed has a fine, clean white fleece that is a good quality.
Wool Production?	Yes, Quality: Fine quality with a spinning count of 60s to 70s
Wool is used to Produce:	Knitted garments, clothes, blankets, etc., weaving and hand spinning
SHEEP ⇒ EWE RAM Age they Produce from: 6 to 8 months 6 to 8 months Approx. Length: 8 to 10 cm 8 to 10 cm Microns: 20 to 27 20 to 27 Approx. Quantity: From 5 kg up to 6 kgs a year From 5 kg up to 6 kgs a year
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SHEEP SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION
They are not primarily bred for their sheep skin production. Although their skin is or has at some time been used for the production of some form of sheep skin product such as chamois, etc.
Skin Production?	N/A
Skin is used to Produce:	Kid skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, etc. Chamois cloths, leather goods such as seats, shoes and other garments and leather materials such as furniture, etc.
SHEEP ⇒ EWE RAM Age they Produce from: 3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather 3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE IL DE FRANCE SHEEP
A few more interesting facts to know about the breed
Child-Friendly?	No livestock should be left unattended around children
Landscape Management?	They are good for landscape managements and bush clearing
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Ile-de-France sheep breed is one of the top meat producing sheep breeds in the world and is found in most countries. Including South Africa, America, Australia as well as throughout Europe.

In America the sheep breed is sometimes referred to as a dairy sheep breed as it is used in the production of various sheep milk products.

One of the prime uses of the Il-de-France sheep breed is that of a terminals sire for the improvement of meat, fleece and milk production.

HISTORY

The Ile-de-France sheep breed was developed at a French veterinary college in the region of Ile-de-France which is near to Paris, France. The sheep breed was developed in the 1830 with the crossing of the Rambouillet and Dishley Leicester.

A breed Association for the registry of members was started in 1933 and it was tasked with the testing of its meat quality in order to meat the standards that were in demand at the time.

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