- Sheep are mammals.
- They are herbivores meaning plant eater.
- Sheep mostly graze on grass.
- There are over 1 billion sheep in the world.
- Sheep live in most nations around the world.
- There are hundreds of different species of sheep.
- Adult female sheep are called ewes.
- Adult male sheep are called rams.
- Adult male sheep that have been castrated are called wethers.
- Wethers are less aggressive than rams.
- Baby sheep are called lambs.
- Mother sheep give birth to between 1-3 lambs.
- Lambs are between 5-8 pounds when they are born.
- Adult female sheep or ewes weigh between 90-300 pounds when they are full-grown.
- Adult male sheep or rams weigh between 150-400 pounds when they are full-grown.
- Sheep are very social animals.
- The live in groups called herds or flocks.
- Most sheep live on farms or ranges.
- A sheep herder is the person who keeps the sheep together in a flock/herd on an open range.
- Sheep have excellent hearing.
- Sheep can see behind themselves without moving their heads.
- Sheep have good memories.
- Sheep making sounds like Baa-Baa.
- The lifespan for a sheep is between 6-11 years.
- A sheep is covered in a thick fleece.
- Some sheep have their fleece cut or sheared in the Spring to make wool for clothing.
- Some sheep are raised for meat.
- Other sheep are used to make products such as leather.
- Fat from a sheep called tallow is sometimes used to make soap and candles.
- Sheep milk is higher in fat, protein and calcium than cows or goat milk.
Fun Sheep Facts
- Sheep are believed to be the first domesticated animal in Asia. It is believed there became domesticated there over 10,000 years ago.
- Sheep were first brought to the United States by Christopher Columbus in 1493.
- Texas has the highest population of sheep in the U.S. There are over 1 million sheep in Texas.
- There are more sheep in New Zealand than people!
- President Woodrow Wilson has a flock of sheep graze on the While House lawn.
- Plural for sheep is sheep.
- When you have trouble sleeping some say to count sheep.
Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Baa, baa black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir.
Three bags full…