Oh The Fiber – Cormo Sheep

Cormo Sheep Courtesy of Juniper Moon Farm

Cormo is an Australian breed of sheep developed in Tasmania. In 1960, Ian Downie with the help of the Division of Animal Genetics of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization did a carefully constructed study. The object was to produce a more fertile, larger framed and higher wool producing sheep.

Select Corriedale Rams were crossed with 1200 selected saxon merino ewes. They strictly selected certain offspring to become the Cormo (corriedale, merino) breed.

Sheep in a coat by Apple Rose Farm on flickr

The cormo breed has these characteristic’s: 

• They are a rugged breed meaning they need no shelter or supplemental feed
•  High fertility rate
• long staple, high yield wool
• resistance to fleece rot and skin issues
• open ( no wool) faces
• can be used for meat animal (large carcass)
• polled

 

Group of Cormo Sheep courtesy of Apple Rose Farm

What a face! thanks to Juniper Moon Farm on flickr

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I couldn’t resist one last pic.

Wheeee! picture courtesy of Juniper Moon Farm on flickr