Corriedale

James Little bred the foundation flocks in the South Island from Merino and Lincoln Longwool crosses. The type was officially recognized in 1911, and the first flock book was published in 1924.

They are also the second most numerous sheep in the world after the Merino: reported from twenty-five countries in 2021, with a world population estimated just over 5 million.

Rams weigh 187 to 231 pounds and ewes 143 to 165. They are polled and white faced, with dark hooves and dark skin on the nostrils.

A ewe's fleece runs 11 to 15 pounds at 25 to 32 microns, with a staple of six to seven inches.

The American Corriedale Association describes the ewes' mothering ability as outstanding and the breed as a very effective maternal cross. It also lists them as early maturing, able to be bred as lambs, and with excellent potential for fall lambing.

The ewes raise a lamb that finishes acceptably while the fleece pays its own way.

Commercially the wool goes into blankets, knitting wools, tweeds and worsteds.

Forage, in most climates. The American Corriedale Association credits them with the ability to forage under a variety of climatic conditions. Oklahoma State University is more specific: well adapted to farm flocks where feed is abundant, usable in range situations, and in Australia kept mainly in temperate, higher-rainfall zones on improved pasture.

They are a wool breed and need shearing. Oklahoma State puts a mature ewe's fleece at 10 to 17 lb with a 3.5 to 6 inch staple, bulky and high-yielding.

The trade is the usual dual-purpose one. A Corriedale lamb will not grow like a Suffolk cross and the wool will not price like a Merino's, and the breed makes its case on the two together.

The American Corriedale Association registers the breed in the US. Ask for fleece weight and micron along with the pedigree; in a dual-purpose breed the wool numbers are half the animal.

Recent sale prices on HoofnHorn, where there are any, are further down this page.