The Dohne Merino (''Dohne, El Dohne Merino'') is a breed of

domestic sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated ...

from

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

. The breed was started in the late 1930s by the South African Department of Agriculture. It was developed by interbreeding Peppin-style Merino ewes and German Mutton Merino rams. The Dohne Merino is a dual purpose breed providing meat and fine

wool Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. ...

Characteristics

At maturity, the Dohne Merino ram weighs and the ewe will weight . At 100 days, both sexes will weigh . Yearly fleece production is with an average diameter of 17 to 21 microns.

References

External links

Dohne Merino Breed Society of South Africa

Australian Dohne Breeders Association
Sheep breeds Sheep breeds originating in South Africa {{Sheep-stub