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Leicester Longwool sheep in the United States: saving an international rarity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2009

D.P. Sponenberg ,
J. Henry ,
K. Smith-Anderson  and
E. Shirley
D.P. Sponenberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences and Pathobiology, Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
J. Henry
Affiliation:
Route 1, Box 1728, Albright, West Virginia 26519, USA
K. Smith-Anderson
Affiliation:
Route 1, Box A32d, Bruceton Mills, West Virginia 26525, USA
E. Shirley
Affiliation:
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, P.O. Box 1776, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187, USA
*
Correspondence to: D.P. Sponenberg, Department of Biosciences and Pathobiology, Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA. email: dpsponen@vt.edu
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Summary

Leicester Longwool sheep are pivotal in the history of standardised sheep breeds. The breed was imported into the United States in 1990, and it was never imagined as more than a minor sideline to the array of breeds in the United States. Eighteen sheep were originally imported from Tasmania, with further contributions via semen from 12 rams in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In subsequent years the population of this breed in those source countries has plummeted, leaving the United States with the largest national flock (800). The decline in numbers worldwide have made the genetic management of the North American population increasingly important. The wool is sought by handcrafters and brings a premium price. Attention to maintaining the breed with its original fleece characteristics is an important priority, especially given the breed's role in the development of multiple longwool breeds. One divergence of the American flock from the other countries is the registration of coloured animals, and these make up 6% of the current flock.

Résumé

Les moutons Leicester Longwool sont cruciaux dans l'histoire des races ovines normalisées. La race a été importée aux Etats-Unis en 1990 et n'avait jamais été considérée au départ plus qu'une race mineure parmi les races ovines des Etats-Unis. On a importé au début 18 animaux provenant de la Tasmanie et ensuite le sperme congelé de 12 béliers de l'Australie, de la Nouvelle-Zélande et du Royaume-Uni. Après les importations, les populations de la race dans ces pays ont beaucoup baissé, de façon que le troupeau des Etats-Unis est maintenant le plus grand troupeau national (800) parmi tous les pays ayant cette race. La diminution du nombre des animaux dans le monde a rendu la gestion génétique de la population des Etats-Unis de plus en plus importante. Une des priorités principales est le maintien des caractéristiques originales de la toison, en raison surtout de l'importance de cette race dans le développement de plusieurs races à laine longue. Une différence du troupeau américain par rapport aux troupeaux des autres pays est l'enregistrement des animaux de couleur qui représentent 6% du troupeau courant.

Resumen

La raza ovina Leicester Longwool es importante en la historia de las razas ovinas de estándar. La raza fue importada a los Estados Unidos en 1990, y originalmente era considerado como una raza muy menor dentro las razas ovinas en los EEUU. La importación original es de 18 cabezas de Tasmania, y luego hubo importaciones de semen congelado de 12 borregos de Australia, Nueva Zelandia y el Reino Unido. Después de estas importaciones los censos de esta raza en esos países han disminuido mucho, de modo que los EEUU ya tiene el rebaño nacional más grande. Está situación ha hecho el manejo de esta raza en los EEUU muy importante. La lana de la raza es popular con artisanes, y tiene precio muy alto. El manejo de la raza para asegurar la características originales de la lana es una prioridad muy importante, especialment en la luz del papel de la raza en la fundación de muchas razas de lana larga. Una diferencia entre la raza en los EEUU de los otros países es la registración de animales de color, y estos representan el 6 porciento del rebaño actual.

Keywords

genetic resourceLeicester Longwool sheepressource génétiquemouton Leicester Longwoolrecursos genéticosLeicester Longwool
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 45 , October 2009 , pp. 93 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2009

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References

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