CAMEROON SHEEP
Ovis aries
Bred by humans on the African continent for thousands of years, the Cameroon Sheep is one of the world’s oldest surviving breeds. They were originally bred in Cameroon and other surrounding countries in West Africa. The breed has also been domesticated in Europe and is used primarily for meat production
Description
Known as a hair breed, the Cameroon Sheep has no wool, but thick, tight hair, with an extra undercoat during winter months. This winter coat is shed automatically once spring arrives. They are best known for their unique brown colour, with a blackhead, belly and legs. Females do not have horns, while rams have spiral horns, with a thick mane and throat ruff (almost like a beard!).
Reproduction
A ewe can raise up to two lamb crops each year and the breed are a very prolific one. They reach sexual maturity at an early age, meaning they will have more lambs in the long run.
Facts
The Cameroon sheep’s large, pronounced eyes situated on the sides of their heads give them a 270-degree field of vision. This helps them stay on the lookout for predators!
There are fewer than 1,000 Cameroon sheep left in the world, and Peak is home to 13 of them!
