Cambridge (sheep)

The Cambridge is a modern British breed of domestic sheep.^[3]: 774 It was bred at the University of Cambridge by John Owen and Alun Davies between about 1964 and 1979, with the aim of increasing prolificacy.^{[2][3]: 774 [4]: 638} It is among the most prolific of all sheep breeds, but is critically endangered.^{[2][4]: 638}

Cambridge

Ewe with Texel-cross lambs
Conservation status	FAO (2007): endangered[1]: 137  DAD-IS (2021): critical[2]
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Distribution	England Wales
Use	meat
Traits
Weight	Male: average 90 kg[2] Female: average 70 kg[2]
Height	Male: average 72 cm[2] Female: average 66 cm[2]
Wool colour	uni-coloured brown
Face colour	brown
Horn status	polled (hornless)
Sheep Ovis aries

History

The Cambridge was bred at the University of Cambridge by John Owen and Alun Davies between about 1964 and 1979, with the specific aim of increasing prolificacy. Ewes of a variety of British breeds were put to Finnsheep rams. These ewes were mostly of the Clun Forest breed, but Border Leicester, Hill Radnor, Kerry Hill, Llanwenog, Lleyn and Ryeland stock was also used.^[3]: 774A flock-book was started in 1969, and by 1979 the breed was established.^[2]

Characteristics

The Cambridge is a polled sheep of medium to large size.^[3]: 774 It is uniformly brown, with a brown face.^[2] It is a short-wool breed; fleeces weigh some 2.5 kg, with a staple length of about 100 mm.^[3]: 774

Ewes of the breed are among the most prolific of any breed of sheep, with average litter sizes for one-, two- and three-year-old ewes of 1.7, 2.5 and 2.9 respectively.^[4]: 638