Columbia Sheep

Columbia sheep stand out as a remarkable breed, valued by farmers for their impressive physical characteristics, including their large size, high-quality carcass, and gentle temperament. Known for their dual-purpose utility, they are excellent producers of both fine meat and wool, making them a versatile and valuable addition to any farm.

If you’re considering adding Columbia sheep to your farm, you’re making a great choice. The information below will guide you on how to properly care for them, raise them healthily, and optimize their potential for top-quality meat and wool production.

What is a Columbia Sheep

Columbia sheep is a domestic dual-purpose sheep breed created by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1912 through crossbreeding Rambouillet ewes and Lincoln rams.

It is also known as one of the first breeds of sheep developed in the United States, with the initial crossbreeding taking place in 1912 in Laramie, Wyoming.

Characteristics

This sheep has unique characteristics that differentiate it from other sheep varieties, particularly in its size and body structure, which are exclusive to this breed.

Size

The sheep has a large size.

The average body length of these sheep ranges from 46 to 49 inches (117 to 124 cm) while the average height is around 35 to 38 inches (89 to 97 cm) at the shoulder.

Color

It is white, unlike other breeds such as Shetland sheep, which come in various colors.

Fleece

The fleece is white or creamy white and covers almost the entire body, including the back legs, front legs, head, and forehead.

Head, Face, Eyes, Ears

The head of these sheep is medium-sized compared to the rest of the body and has a straight profile.

The face is expressive and covered in short white hair, maintaining a clean appearance.

The eyes are bright and alert, positioned laterally on the sides of their head, offering good peripheral vision.

The ears, moderately long in size, like the face, are also covered in short white hair and are erect with a slight tilt forward.

Horns

It does not have horns, as it is a polled sheep breed like Katahdin, Australian White, and Southdown sheep.

Neck, Shoulders, Back

The body of this sheep is very large, as it is known as one of the largest sheep breeds out there. The sheep is very massive and well-muscled.

The neck is short and strong, with no wrinkles. The shoulders are broad and laid smoothly on top, stretching evenly along the back. The chest is wide and deep, like the shoulders, and the back is straight, long, wide, and muscular.

Ribs and Rump

The rump extends long and wide, with the dock carried high.

The ribs, like the entire body, are wide, deep, and muscular.

Legs

The legs are positioned under their bodies, spaced apart, with sturdy bones, and covered with white hair beneath the wool.

Lifespan

The lifespan of this sheep is 12 years.

Depending on factors such as genetics, diet, and environmental conditions, these sheep can live even longer, up to 13 or 14 years old. Overall, they have a long lifespan, which classifies them as a long-lived sheep breed.

Growth Rate

How fast do these sheep grow?

They have a good growth rate.

These sheep can reach the market weight by the age of 10 to 14 months, depending on the diet and management practices. Sexual maturity is around 7-8 months.

The lambs of this breed are weaned at around 60 to 90 days of age, weighing between 60 and 80 pounds (27 to 36 kg). After weaning, they can gain up to 1 pound (0.45 kg) per day with good nutrition.

Weight

These sheep have a weight between 130 to 300 lbs (60 to 136 kg), with rams weighing between 220 and 300 lbs (100 to 136 kg) and ewes between 132 to 225 lbs (60 to 102kg).

Slaughtered age

You can slaughter these sheep between 7 and 16 months of age, depending on the farmer’s specific goals.

The lambs can be slaughtered starting at 7 months if there is no desire for increased weight. At around 7 months, they can weigh between 120 and 150 lbs (54 to 68 kg).

If you want a greater amount of meat, you can wait until 12 to 16 months. This way, you will get a larger carcass and better meat quality.

Shearing

You need to shear these sheep once a year, typically in the spring or when the weather warms up.

When shearing them, you need to follow a few easy steps to ensure the sheep stay comfortable and maintain the quality of the fleece.

Throughout the process, be mindful of maneuvering the sheep gently to minimize stress.

Temperament and Behaviour

This breed has a gentle disposition.

Calm and friendly, they are a good choice for farms that want an easy-to-raise breed. They tend to get accustomed to humans and other animals quite quickly, which makes them easy to handle.

Compared with other breeds, this one does not display aggressive behaviors. These sheep are docile, allowing even novice shepherds or farmers to handle them without any worries.

Although calm, they are quite social and do best in the company of other sheep, as they prefer a flock environment. This type of environment ensures their security while reducing stress and encouraging social behaviors. Additionally, new environments make them curious, encouraging them to explore every inch of their surroundings.

Regarding habits, grazing is a strong one embedded in their nature. Known as efficient grazers, these sheep develop best in open pastures with various types of bushes and grasses. They act as natural caretakers, helping maintain pasture health.

Flock instinct is another strong characteristic, which makes them feel comfortable, safe, and socially integrated. They tend to adapt very quickly to new environments, demonstrating good adaptability.

Overall, Columbia sheep possess a gentle and docile temperament, making them suitable for small farms and family operations. Their social nature, adaptability, and low maintenance requirements further contribute to their popularity among sheep farmers.

Usage

This sheep breed is used for both meat and wool production.

Meat

Columbia sheep are defined by their fine meat. They are known for producing high-quality meat with a lean texture, which is also extremely succulent. Due to this attribute of the meat, this breed is very popular in meat production.

The leanness of the meat is one aspect that sets it apart from other breeds. But even though it is lean, don’t get the wrong idea—it still has a great flavor after being cooked. The flavor can be classified as mild, making it suitable for those who do not prefer the stronger taste often associated with lamb and mutton.

This balance of leanness and marbling is a key characteristic that differentiates it from fattier breeds. Despite being less fatty, the meat remains tender.

The reduced fat also makes it a good option for those seeking healthier, less fatty meat choices.

Wool

This breed’s second purpose is wool production.

The wool is characterized by medium quality, with good strength, elasticity, and durability. It has a staple length of around 3.5 to 5 inches (9 to 13 cm), making it versatile for spinning and other wool crafts. The diameter of it ranges from 31.0 to 24.0 microns.

Columbia sheep produce a generous amount of wool, as you can obtain 10 to 16 lbs (4.5 to 7.3 kg) per shearing. This results in a wool yield of 45% to 55% of the raw fleece weight.

Their wool is suitable for the production of various products such as blankets, carpets, rugs, outerwear, sweaters, scarves, and other knitted goods.

Raising Columbia Sheep

Feeding

Feeding Columbia sheep is not complicated, as they are primarily grazing animals and can grow well on open pasture. But can they survive solely on what they graze? That depends on a few factors.

In general, these sheep can grow well by grazing alone, but only if they have access to high-quality, nutrient-rich pasture.

The pasture should contain a good variety of vegetation, such as broadleaf plants, bushes, and different grasses. This kind of lush pasture is typically found in regions with sufficient rainfall and fertile soil throughout the year. Therefore, if your pasture meets these requirements, you can raise them on grazing alone. However, it’s important to manage the pasture carefully to avoid overgrazing, which can reduce its quality and even lead to soil erosion. As the pasture quality declines, so do the available nutrients, potentially leading to mineral deficiencies in your sheep.

Be cautious about the amount of clover and alfalfa in the pasture, as too much of these plants can cause a risk of bloat. You can prevent this by introducing the sheep slowly to such pastures or by feeding them dry hay beforehand to reduce the risk.

There are times when supplementing their diet is recommended, such as:
– Cold season: In colder climates, pasture vegetation is sparse, so it’s helpful to provide supplemental feeding like hay or silage.
– Lambing season: To ensure that ewes have enough energy and produce sufficient milk for their lambs, you’ll need to increase their food intake.
– For rapid growth: If you aim for rapid weight gain, adding grains to their diet can help them grow faster.

In addition to proper feeding, a fresh water source is essential.

Sheep need access to clean, fresh water at all times to stay healthy and hydrated, especially in hot weather or when they are lactating.

How many sheep per acre?

You can raise 4 to 6 mature sheep per acre or 6 to 10 lambs per acre.

A mature sheep is capable of grazing around 3 to 10 lbs (1.4 to 4.5 kg) of grass per day, which is about 2 to 4% of its body weight.

Environment

Although these sheep thrive in open pastures because of their grazing behaviors and health advantages, they can also be kept in confined spaces as long as their requirements for space, nutrition, and social interaction are properly addressed.

Climate

You can raise them in all kinds of climates.

They are adaptable and can be easily raised in both hot and cold temperatures, as well as in dry and wet conditions.

If raised in hotter climates, it is advisable to shear them to reduce the risk of overheating. In colder climates, their wool should be left intact, as it provides natural insulation, minimizing the risk of hypothermia.

Shelter

When raising these sheep, it’s important to provide them with shelter along with an electric fence.

The shelter protects them from harsh weather conditions such as extreme cold, heat, rain, and snow, keeping them healthy and minimizing the risk of illness caused by exposure to wet or cold conditions, as well as intense sun or strong winds.

An electric fence ensures they stay within their designated area and keeps predators out.

Breeding

These sheep are very prolific, making breeding an easy process. You can start breeding them as early as 7 to 10 months of age. However, it’s often recommended to wait until they are 12 to 15 months old before their first breeding. This ensures the ewe has reached a sufficient level of physical development and can handle pregnancy and lambing more easily.

Columbia sheep are seasonal breeders, meaning they come into heat in the fall when the days grow shorter. Depending on the climate and region, they can reproduce from late August to December.

The estrus period lasts between 24 to 36 hours, and the heat cycle occurs every 15 to 20 days, with an average of 17 days. When in heat, the ewe may become more active, move around frequently, wag her tail—especially near a ram—show mucus discharge, and have a swollen or reddened vulva.

To breed, simply introduce a ram with the desired traits to the ewe when she is in heat, and they will breed naturally.

Like most sheep breeds, Columbia sheep have a gestation period between 149 and 155 days, with the average being around 152 days.

Ewes exhibit strong mothering qualities and can provide lactation for about 150 to 240 days.

Why should you raise these sheep?

Columbia sheep are a good breed choice for those focusing on business as well as for those interested only in high-quality meat and wool.

These sheep are popular among farmers, especially those in meat production. With their large carcass and great growth rate, Columbia sheep can be highly profitable. They provide a good return on investment not only from lean cuts but also from wool, which can be sold as well.

Their hardy nature means lower veterinary costs, and their grazing habits lead to reduced spending on supplemental feed, though it is important to pay attention to pasture quality. All in all, they can become a viable business, particularly for small to medium-sized farms.

For homesteaders, they are also a good choice, as they do not require a lot of attention or care. You can benefit from excellent meat as well as lovely wool for making various products.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Table 1. Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages	Disadvantages
They produce high-quality meat and medium-quality wool.	They require maintenance in very hot climates due to their wool.
They are large, having a high meat yield and substantial carcass.	They need larger spaces because of their size.
They adapt easily to new environments and climates.	They are not parasite-resistant and require regular deworming.
They can help maintain the health of pastures through grazing.	They need a larger amount of feed compared to smaller sheep breeds.
They have a lactation period of 150 to 240 days.
They are independent due to their strong grazing instinct.
They are hardy animals.
They can be bred from an early age.