Merino Sheep Origin
The breed has become prominent in many countries worldwide.
Merino sheep origin. It was known as early as the 12th century and may have been a moorish importation. In 1789 the prince had sent two rams and four ewes to the warmer dutch colony at the cape of good hope to be cared for by colonel robert jacob gordon. It was originated in spain and it is highly prized for its wool.
Where is merino from. The modern merino sheep were domesticated in australia and new zealand. The sheep came from a flock originally given to prince william of orange in the netherlands by king carlos iii of spain.
Merino was first introduced in spain in the late 12th century by a tribe of berbers or noble men. In the 13th and 14th centuries spanish breeders introduced english breeds to develop the merino and spain became noted for its fine wool built up a fine wool monopoly between the 12th and 16th centuries. Merino breed of fine wool sheep originating in spain.
It was particularly well adapted to semiarid climates and to nomadic pasturing. The origins of the breed are the subject of debate with alternatives of it originating in flocks transferred from morocco as early as the 12th century originating and being improved in extremadura in southwestern spain in the 12th and 13th centuries or from the selective crossbreeding of spanish ewes with imported rams at several different periods. The merino sheep is a very important and popular breed of domestic sheep.