Columbia (sheep)
Encyclopedia
The Columbia is one of the first breeds of sheep developed in the United States
. The product of USDA and university research, it was intended to be an improved breed specially built for the Western ranges of the country (where the majority of sheep raising takes place). Beginning in 1912 in Laramie, Wyoming
, Lincoln
rams were crossed with Rambouillet
ewes. In 1918, the foundation flock was moved to the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station
near Dubois, Idaho
, for further refinement. Today's Columbia is a popular breed, with heavy, white fleece
s and good growth characteristics. It is one of the larger breeds, and is often used for cross breeding in commercial western flocks.
ranges from 3.5 to 5 in (8.9 to 12.7 cm). The wool is classified as medium wool with a spin count of 50s to 60s. The wool varies from 31.0 to 24.0 microns.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The product of USDA and university research, it was intended to be an improved breed specially built for the Western ranges of the country (where the majority of sheep raising takes place). Beginning in 1912 in Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
, Lincoln
Lincoln (sheep)
The Lincoln, sometimes called the Lincoln Longwool, is a breed of sheep from England. The Lincoln is the largest British sheep, developed specifically to produce the heaviest, longest and most lustrous fleece of any breed in the world. Great numbers were exported to many countries to improve the...
rams were crossed with Rambouillet
Rambouillet (sheep)
The Rambouillet is also known as the Rambouillet Merino or the French Merino. The development of the Rambouillet breed started in 1786 when Louis XVI purchased over three hundred Spanish Merinos from his cousin, King Charles III of Spain...
ewes. In 1918, the foundation flock was moved to the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station
U.S. Sheep Experiment Station
The U.S. Sheep Experiment Station is an agricultural experiment station focusing on domestic sheep which is run by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service...
near Dubois, Idaho
Dubois, Idaho
Dubois is a city in Clark County, Idaho, United States. The population was 647 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Clark County.The city was named for U.S. Senator Fred Dubois....
, for further refinement. Today's Columbia is a popular breed, with heavy, white fleece
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
s and good growth characteristics. It is one of the larger breeds, and is often used for cross breeding in commercial western flocks.
Characteristics
An adult ram weigh between 275 and 400 lb (124.7 and 181.4 kg). Females weigh 175 to 300 lb (79.4 to 136.1 kg). An average fleece of a ewe weighs from 10 to 16 lb (4.5 to 7.3 kg) with a yield of 45 to 55%. The staple length of the woolWool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
ranges from 3.5 to 5 in (8.9 to 12.7 cm). The wool is classified as medium wool with a spin count of 50s to 60s. The wool varies from 31.0 to 24.0 microns.