California Red (sheep)
Encyclopedia
The California Red is a breed of domestic sheep
developed in the United States
in the 1970s. It is so named because its lambs are born all red, and retain this color in their faces and limbs in to adulthood. Dr. David Spurlock of Davis, CA crossed Tunis
and Barbados Blackbelly sheep, and the California Red is subsequently a dual–purpose breed with many of the qualities of its forebears. Spurlock actually set out to create a new hair sheep like the Barbados Blackbelly, but though he failed to do so — California Reds have reddish tan hairs intermingled with white wool. — he and other breeders continued to keep developing the strain anyway. The California Red can lamb out of season, thus being able to produce multiple lamb crops in a year. It also functions well in hot weather, and is polled in both sexes.
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 the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 1970s. It is so named because its lambs are born all red, and retain this color in their faces and limbs in to adulthood. Dr. David Spurlock of Davis, CA crossed Tunis
Tunis (sheep)
The Tunis is a medium sized sheep, that is naturally hornless, with cream-colored wool and a cinnamon-red face and legs. This breed is raised primarily for meat.-Characteristics:...
and Barbados Blackbelly sheep, and the California Red is subsequently a dual–purpose breed with many of the qualities of its forebears. Spurlock actually set out to create a new hair sheep like the Barbados Blackbelly, but though he failed to do so — California Reds have reddish tan hairs intermingled with white wool. — he and other breeders continued to keep developing the strain anyway. The California Red can lamb out of season, thus being able to produce multiple lamb crops in a year. It also functions well in hot weather, and is polled in both sexes.