Damara (sheep)
Encyclopedia
The Damara is a breed of domestic sheep
and was originally from Eastern Asia and Egypt
. The breed then moved down to the present day Namibia
and Angola
. For many years the sheep were in an isolated region of Namibia
and thus remained free of influence from other breeds. They are found in northwestern Namibia
(Kaokoland) and southern Angola
where they were herded relatively free from external influences, by the local inhabitants (Himba
and Tjimba). The name of the breed was derived from the specific region where the sheep were originally encountered (formerly known as Gross Damaraland).
Damara sheep can survive in a harsh environment and under poor nutritional conditions. The breed is exceptionally vigorous and can produce and reproduce where water and grazing is fairly restricted. This makes it very suitable for the communal areas of Namibia
where extreme conditions are usually the norm rather than the exception. Research has however shown that the breed responds very well to optimum conditions.
It has a fairly high resistance to most sheep diseases and also good tolerance against internal parasites. The Damara sheep has a diverse diet. It feeds on grass, bush and shrubs and can almost be classified as a browser. Research has indicated that up to 64% of the diet of the Damara sheep can consist of browsing material. This places the Damara in the same feeding category as goats.
The mothering ability of the breed is exceptional. The ewes produce enough milk even to raise twin lambs which will occur in 5 to 10% of the births. They care well for their young and will even fight off predators when attacked by such. Orphan lambs are a rarity in the breed because of the outstanding mothering ability. It is known for example that ewes with small lambs can be transported over long distances without ending up with a single orphaned lamb.
The Damara is a long, fat tailed sheep that grows short, coarse hair. They can be uni-colored (black, brown or white) or multi-colored (black and white pied).
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...
and was originally from Eastern Asia and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The breed then moved down to the present day Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. For many years the sheep were in an isolated region of Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and thus remained free of influence from other breeds. They are found in northwestern Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
(Kaokoland) and southern Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
where they were herded relatively free from external influences, by the local inhabitants (Himba
Himba
The Himba are an ethnic group of about 20,000 to 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene region . Recently they have built two villages in Kamanjab which have become tourist destinations...
and Tjimba). The name of the breed was derived from the specific region where the sheep were originally encountered (formerly known as Gross Damaraland).
Damara sheep can survive in a harsh environment and under poor nutritional conditions. The breed is exceptionally vigorous and can produce and reproduce where water and grazing is fairly restricted. This makes it very suitable for the communal areas of Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
where extreme conditions are usually the norm rather than the exception. Research has however shown that the breed responds very well to optimum conditions.
It has a fairly high resistance to most sheep diseases and also good tolerance against internal parasites. The Damara sheep has a diverse diet. It feeds on grass, bush and shrubs and can almost be classified as a browser. Research has indicated that up to 64% of the diet of the Damara sheep can consist of browsing material. This places the Damara in the same feeding category as goats.
The mothering ability of the breed is exceptional. The ewes produce enough milk even to raise twin lambs which will occur in 5 to 10% of the births. They care well for their young and will even fight off predators when attacked by such. Orphan lambs are a rarity in the breed because of the outstanding mothering ability. It is known for example that ewes with small lambs can be transported over long distances without ending up with a single orphaned lamb.
Characteristics
- Can survive on a limited water supply (up to three days).
- Feeds on grass, bushes, shrubs and trees - survives even where other breeds wouldn't
- Resistant to extreme temperatures (woolish in winter, sheds wool in summer)
- Can travel for a long distance (can be found from desert where temperature exceeds 50 degrees to Kwa-Zulu Natal with winter sub-zero temperatures)
- Immunity to diseases (Moving skin and ears can effectively repel insects, also resistant to parasites)
- Has first lambs at 11-15 months of age
- They can lamb three times in two years
- They have hair - not woolWoolWool 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....
- thus they do not need to be shorn
The Damara is a long, fat tailed sheep that grows short, coarse hair. They can be uni-colored (black, brown or white) or multi-colored (black and white pied).