IRANIAN DOMESTIC SHEEP BREEDS

Like the dog, sheep is one of the first animals that domesticated in Iran. The history of sheep and specially all the livestock in Iran, back to thousands of years ago. The first fleece of sheep is dated back to 5000 B.C. in the form of a crude clay image of a sheep found at Sarab in Iran. It is almost the most rife livestock in this country too. In 1986 the Iranian sheep population was estimated at 34,500,000 head.

BREEDS OF SHEEP IN IRAN:

There are 27 different kinds of Sheep in Iran. Here you can read about them

  1. AFSHARI - Belongs to the cold area of ZANJAN Province.
  2. ARABI- In KHUZESTAN Province.
  3. BALUCHI- NAEINI
  4. BAHMEII- Distribution in KOHKILOYEH va BOIR AHMAD Province.
  5. DALAGH or ATABI- Distribution in GOLESTAN Province.
  6. FARAHANI- In FARAHAN and ARAK.
  7. FASHANDI- In TALAGHAN and DASHTEH GHAZVIN.
  8. GHEZEL
  9. GREY SHIRAZ ( KABUDEH SHIRAZ ) -Distribution in FARS Province.
  10. HARAKI- In West AZARBAYJAN Province.
  11. KARAKUL
  12. KALAKUI
  13. KERMANI-In KERMAN Province.
  14. KURDI- In KURDESTAN Province.
  15. LAKE GHASHGHAYI
  16. LORI- In LORESTAN Province.
  17. LORI BAKHTIARI
  18. MAKUII
  19. MEHRABANI
  20. MOGHANI
  21. SANGEH SARI -In SEMNAN Province.
  22. SANJABI- In KERMANSHAHAN Province.
  23. SHAL- Distribution in DASHTEH GHAZVIN area.
  24. TURKI-GHASHGHAII. In LORESTAN Province.
  25. ZANDI
  26. ZEEL- Distribution in MAZANDARAN Province. Zel Sheep

FAT TAILED SHEEP:
These sheep are so named because they can store large amounts of fat in the tail and the region of the rump. They are kept primarily for their milk producing ability, which is higher than that of other types; their wool, however, is coarse and long and is used primarily for making carpets. Fettled sheep are found mainly in the extremely arid regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and they represent about 25 percent of the world sheep population. The major breeds are the Awassi, Bakhtiari, Karakul, Ghashghai and Kermani.

BALUCHI / NAEINI SHEEP:

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The Baluchi Also Known As: (Baluchi dumda, Mengali, Taraki, Shinwari, Araghi, Farahani, Kermani, Naeini, Yazdi) is a breed of sheep that originated in the eastern and south eastern area (Sistan and Baluchestan) and kavir markazi of Iran. They are fat-tailed sheep using for dairy, meat and wool (with good quality carpet wool). The average height of this breed is 74-55 (male/females) cm. A live Baluchi sheep weight about 44-36 (male/femals) kg. Birth weight of the lambs is 2.6-2.2 (male/females) kg. Milk yield per lactation about 47 kg. (fat avg, 7.2%) and average of yearly fleece weight 1.55 kg each sheep. They are white with black marks on the head and legs. Rams can be either horned or polled and ewes are polled. This breed accounts for 50% of the national flock in Iran.
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Our special thanks to Mr. Ali Golashan (PersianSalukis) for sending us photos and information of this breed.
GHEZEL SHEEP:

The breeding area of this sheep is East Azarbayjan province.
KALKUI SHEEP:
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A breed origin from Iran, distribution in Ghom and Varamin. The main Use of this breed is for wool.
Kalakui Sheep - 2002 photo (C) PersianSalukis
Our special thanks to Mr. Ali Golashan for sending us photos of this breed.
KARAKUL-(Khorasani) SHEEP:

Ovis aries - Karakul or Khorassani is one of the earliest domesticated sheep breeds. Other names of this breed is: Astrakhan, Bukhara and in English it is called: "Persian Lamb". The silky black fur of the newborn Karakul lambs once was used for the manufacture of the popular expensive coats-called Persian fur coats. This breed is using for dairy, meat and wool. The average height of an adult Karakul is 78-68 (male/females) cm. A live Karakul sheep weight about 70-57.5 (male/femals) kg. Birth weight of the lambs is 3.1-2.4 (male/females) kg. Milk yield per lactation about 57 kg. (fat avg, 7.5%) and average of yearly fleece weight 2.5 kg each sheep. Rams have 2 horns but ewes are polled. Karakul is a fat tail breed (tip of tail s-shaped). Distribution of this sheep is Khorasan Province. According to Iranian government information on population from 1976, this breed was 0.5% of all Iranian sheep. Today Karakul breed is not at risk.

Links: Karakul Sheep (1) , Karakul Sheep (2) , Karakul Sheep (3) , Karakul Sheep (4)

LAKE GHASHGHAI SHEEP:

The main breed ot the GHASHGHAYI nomads. The Ghashghai is found in the region surrounding Fars in Iran. It is a carpet wool breed also raised for meat. Generally seen with various colored spots on the head and legs. Ewes are polled. This is one of the fat-tailed breeds of sheep.

Ghashghai Sheep - 2002 photo (C) Ghashghai.bigstep.com
  
LORI BAKHTIARI SHEEP:
 

The local breed of the BAKHTIARI nomads in Lorestan and Charmahal Va Bakhtiari Province. They are long fat-tailed sheep using for milk, meat and wool. Adult live weight about 69-66 (male/femals) kg. The average height of this breed is 72-65 (male/females) cm. Birth weight of the lambs is 5.1-4.2 (male/females) kg. Milk yield per lactation about 92 kg. (fat avg, 6.25%) and average of yearly fleece weight 2.2 kg each sheep. Rams can be either horned or polled and ewes are polled. This breed accounts for 50% of the national flock in Iran. They are uni colour: white, occasionally with colour marks on head and legs, occasionally black or brown. There are no available data for population and special qualities of the breed.
MAKUI SHEEP:

Fat tail sheep , similar to White Kermani. They are multi coloured: black, white with black spots on face and feet. The local Breed of East & West Azarbayjan provinces. A live Makui female sheep weight about 47 kg. Birth weight of the lambs is 3.7-3.5 (male/females) kg. Milk yield per lactation max. 100 kg. (with 6% fat) and max of yearly fleece weight 3 kg each sheep. Distribution in Varamin, Ghom and Saveh. There are no available data for population and special qualities of the breed. This breed is using for both meat and wool.
MEHRABANI SHEEP:
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 These sheep originated in the western province of Iran which is known as Hamadan. In this province, the predominant breed is the Mehraban, reared primarily for meat production. They number approximately 3 million head. The results of research indicate that mean birth weight and body weight at 30 and 60 days, weaning weight(90d) and average daily gain birth to weaning (Kg) is 3.9, 11.76, 17.93, 22.34, and 0.209 respectively (Bathaei 1994 ,World Review of Animal Production V29 , N:1). Multiple births, fertility and survival rate from birth to weaning Mehraban is high. The wool is a light brown carpet wool quality which was favored in the famous Iranian carpets of years ago.
Mehrabani Sheep - 2002 photo (C) Ebrahim Nooriyan Sooror
Mehrabani Sheep - 2002 photo (C)www.Iranzoo.cjb.net
Our special thanks to Mr. Ebrahim Nooriyan sooror for sending us the photo and information of this breed.
MOGHANI SHEEP:

Distribution in Dashteh Moghan and NorthEast of Azarbayjan.

ZANDI:
 

The origin of the breed is black variety of Grey Shirazi sheep. They are uni colour of black. The average height of this breed is 63-55 (male/females) cm. A live Zandi sheep weight about 47-42 (male/femals) kg. Birth weight of the lambs is 2.4-2.2 (male/females) kg. Milk yield per lactation about 50 kg. and average of yearly fleece weight 0.8 kg each sheep. Distribution in Varamin, Ghom and Saveh. There are no available data for population and special qualities of the breed. This breed is using for wool.

HAIRED SHEEP:
Domesticated sheep on the whole are much more woolly than their wild allies, but some breeds lack wool and are covered with hair. They are found primarily in tropical regions and are used primarily for meat. Among the breeds of this type is Blackhead Persian.

For more information, please see these links about sheep breeds in Iran:

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Last Updated: 13 April, 2005