Domestic sheep, otherwise known as Ovis aries though casually are referred to as just "sheep", are quadrupedal caprines. Although the term "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, casual usage of said term is used to almost always refer to domesticated sheep. Domesticated sheep are also the largest species of sheep.

Domesticated sheep more than likely descended from from the mouflon, a Eurasian species of wild sheep, and are one of the earliest animals humans domesticated for its use in agriculture. They are raised for several resources, mainly for their fleece, meat, and milk, with sheep wool being the most widely used animal fiber.

Domesticated sheep play a key role in various facets of human cultures, often appearing in and being represented within language, symbology, and various culture's mythologies. Domestic sheep are often utilized in both ancient and modern animal sacrifices.

Breeds

• barbados_blackbelly
• bluefaced_leicester
• border_leicester
• cheviot_sheep
• clun_forest_sheep
• corriedale
• dorset_down
• greyface_dartmoor
• hampshire_down
• herdwick
• hill_radnor
• icelandic_sheep
• jacob_sheep
• kerry_hill_sheep
• lincoln_sheep
• merino_sheep
• navajo-churro
• oxford_down
• rough_fell
• scottish_blackface
• shropshire_sheep
• southdown_sheep
• valais_blacknose
• welsh_mountain_sheep

See also

• mammal
• caprine
• goat
• domestic_goat
• sheep
• domestic_sheep