Bleu du Maine (sheep)

Bleu du Maine (sheep)
A Bleu du Maine ewe at an agricultural show in Flanders.

The Bleu du Maine (also known as Blauköpfiges Fleischschaf (German), Bazougers, Bluefaced Maine, Blue-headed Maine, Maine-Anjou, Maine à tête bleue, Maynne Blue)[1] is a breed of domestic sheep that originated in western France, in the region common to the departments of Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne and Sarthe.[2] A large, prolific sheep, the most distinctive characteristic of the breed is its bald, gray–blue head which is polled in both sexes.[1] More common in France and the Netherlands, it has also been exported to the U.K., where it is sometimes used for the creation of cross–bred mules.[3] Though this breed does grow wool, it is raised primarily for meat.[4]

Millennium Bleu

The Millennium Bleu is a new breed which began to be developed in the year 2000. It is a cross of a Bleu du Maine ewe with a Texel or Beltex ram. It is still rare in the U.K., and is used primarily as a terminal sire.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Bleu du Maine". Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University Dept. of Animal Science. http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/bleudumaine/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 
  2. ^ "Race ovine Bleu du Maine" (in French). Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon Dept. of Animal Science. Archived from the original on 2006-11-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20061117081916/http://www.inapg.inra.fr/dsa/especes/ovins/bleumai.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-28. 
  3. ^ Brown, Dave; Sam Meadowcroft (1996). The Modern Shepherd. Wharfedale Road, Ipswich 1P1 4LG, United Kingdom: Farming Press. ISBN 0-85236-188-2. 
  4. ^ "Bleu du Maine/France". Breed Data Sheet. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. http://dad.fao.org/. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
  5. ^ "Millennium Bleu sheep proving a success.". The Journal. 2003-08-09. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-106436748.html. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 

External links

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