Rambouillet (sheep)

Rambouillet (sheep)

The Rambouillet is also known as the Rambouillet Merino or the French Merino. The development of the Rambouillet breed started in 1786 when the French government either purchased or Louis XVI received a gift of over three hundred Spanish Merinos (318 ewes, 41 rams, 7 wethers) from Louis XVI cousin, the King of Spain. The flock was subsequently developed on an experimental royal farm at a place known as Rambouillet, not far from Paris. The flock was cultivated by the government with no sheep being sold for many years.

Outcrossing with English long-wool breeds and selection, produced a well-defined breed [cite book
last = Paterson
first = Mark
title = National Merino Review
publisher = Farmgate Press
date = 1990
location = West Perth, Australia
pages = 12-17
id = ISSN 1033-5811 ] , differing in several important points from the original Spanish merino. The size was greater with full grown ewes weighing up to two hundred pounds and rams up to three hundred pounds, live weight. The wool clips were larger and the wool length had increased to greater than three inches.

In 1889 the Rambouillet Association was formed in the United States with the aim of preserving the breed. It has been estimated that 50% of the sheep on the US western ranges are of Rambouillet blood [ cite book
last = Ross
first = C.V.
title = Sheep production and Management
publisher = Prentice Hall
date = 1989
location = Engleworrd Cliffs, New Jersey
pages = 26-27
id = ISBN 0-13-808510-2 ] .Rambouillet stud has also had an enormous influence on the development of the Australian Merino industry though Emperor and the Peppin Merino stud.

The fleece was valuable in the manufacture of cloth, at times being woven in a mixed fabric of cotton warp and wool weft, known as delaines.

The breed is well known for its wool, but also for its meat, both lamb and mutton. It has been described as a dual-purpose breed, with superior wool and near-mutton breed characteristics.

References

* [http://rambouilletsheep.org/index.php?page=history The American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association]
* [http://www.tumbledownfarm.com/texts/DS/DS_II.html "The Varieties and Breeds of Sheep"] in Henry Stewart's "The Domestic Sheep: Its Culture and General Management". Chicago: American Sheep Breeder Press, 1898.


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  • Rambouillet — /ram boo lay /; Fr. /rddahonn booh ye /, n. one of a breed of hardy sheep, developed from the Merino, yielding good mutton and a fine grade of wool. [1905 10; after Rambouillet, town and forest in N France, source of the breed] * * * ▪ France… …   Universalium

  • Rambouillet — [ram′bə lā΄; ] Fr [ rän bo͞o ye′] n. [after Rambouillet, town in N France] any of a breed of large sheep originally bred in France from merino sheep imported from Spain: it yields long, fine wool and good quality mutton …   English World dictionary

  • Sheep — For other uses, see Sheep (disambiguation). Domestic sheep A research flo …   Wikipedia

  • sheep — sheepless, adj. sheeplike, adj. /sheep/, n., pl. sheep. 1. any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats, esp. O. aries, bred in a number of domesticated varieties. 2. leather made from… …   Universalium

  • Rambouillet — A breed of sheep that resulted from crossing Spanish Merino sheep with native French sheep, beginning about 1800. Blood lines also trace to German Merino sheep …   Combined glossary of agriculture

  • sheep — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. ram, ewe, lamb; bighorn, karakul; mutton; congregation, parish; follower. See animal, laity, modesty. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. lamb, ewe, ram, tup, mutton. Types and breeds of sheep include: Leicester …   English dictionary for students

  • rambouillet — noun Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Rambouillet, France Date: 1847 any of a breed of large sturdy sheep developed in France …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Rambouillet — Ram•bouil•let [[t]ˈræm bʊˌleɪ, buˈyeɪ[/t]] n. ahb. one of a breed of hardy sheep, developed from the Merino, raised for wool and meat • Etymology: 1905–10; after Rambouillet, town and forest in N France, its source …   From formal English to slang

  • Rambouillet — /ˈrɒmbujeɪ/ (say romboohyay), /ˈræmbəleɪ/ (say rambuhlay) noun a variety of Merino sheep yielding good mutton and wool, especially common in the western US. {named after Rambouillet, town in France} …  

  • sheep breeds — Charollais, Cheviot, Columbia, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Lincoln, Merino (There are 10 distinct breeds of Merino type sheep), Rambouillet, Southdown, Shropshire Suffolk …   Combined glossary of agriculture

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