Meat Sheep Breeds

Sheep meat is becoming the central focus of sheep farming, particularly since wool production started facing a decline in profitability from the late 20th century onwards. The meat is often categorized by the age of the animal into lamb and mutton, which has a significant impact on its texture and flavor profiles. Lamb, sourced from sheep less than a year old, is prized for its tenderness and mild flavor. Meanwhile, sheep aged two years or more, commonly known as mutton, yield meat that is tougher and richer in flavor.

While ‘mutton’ typically refers to sheep meat in most parts of the world, in certain South Asian cultures, the word means goat meat instead. However, globally sheep meat is more popular due to its tender texture and richer flavor. Interestingly, both cooked lamb and goat meat offer similar protein content, with a 3-ounce serving providing around 21 grams and 23 grams of protein, respectively.

List of the Best Meat Sheep Breeds

What Makes a Sheep Good for Meat Production

• Rapid Growth Rate — For a breed to be considered a good meat sheep, it needs to gain around 0.6-0.7 lbs daily.

• Low Feed Conversion Ratio — Efficient feed conversion is crucial because feed costs typically constitute a significant portion of the expenses in meat production. Sheep that convert feed efficiently will require less feed per unit of body weight gain, thereby reducing the overall cost of production. For meat sheep on a diet of high-quality feed, the average FCR is 4-5. However, on a diet of poorer quality, the FCR value can reach 6.

• High Dressing Percentage — Dressing percentage refers to the proportion of the animal’s live weight that remains as carcass weight after it has been slaughtered, skinned, and eviscerated. On average, the dressing percentage for meat sheep ranges from 45% to 55%.

• Effect of the Coat — Sheep with hair instead of wool are often better suited for meat production. These breeds eliminate the recurring costs of shearing and reduce the risk of heat stress, which is especially important as meat sheep tend to gain weight quickly. Notable examples of hair sheep commonly used for meat include the Katahdin and the Barbados Blackbelly.

More Sheep Breeds Used for Meat

• Valais Blacknose
• Jacob
• Merino
• Rambouillet
• Shetland
• Herdwick
• Soay
• Border Leicester
• Corriedale
• Karakul
• Polypay
• Cotswold
• Finnsheep
• Australian White
• Racka
• Wensleydale
• Montadale
• Najdi
• Teeswater
• Wiltshire Horn
• Boreray
• Damara
• Galway
• Lonk
• Manchega
• St. Croix
• Somali