Drysdale sheep

The Drysdale is a New Zealand [list of domestic sheep|sheep breeds|breed] of sheep. It was developed from 1931 by Francis Dry, and derives from sheep of the New Zealand Romney breed in which a mutation caused the coat to be particularly hairy, and thus suitable for carpet-making. It is a specialised carpet wool breed, but also a useful meat breed.

History

Francis Dry in 1931 noticed a genetic freak, a Romney ram with a high percentage of very coarse wool. Crossing two Romneys and Cheviots resulted in a sheep with a lot of coarse fleece which is about with a 40 microns fibre diameter and a staple of. The coarse wool gene causes both male and female Drysdales to be horned. The male's horns resemble a Wiltshire ram's horns whereas the ewe's horns are very small - usually only in length. Live weight is 60–70 kg.