ANIMAL HIGHLIGHT

The Painted Desert Sheep is a colorful, hardy breed of hair sheep originally developed on Texas game ranches in the mid-1900s. Primarily valued for their striking multi-colored coats and the large, "trophy-class" horns grown by rams, they are popular for hunting, meat production, and as low-maintenance "lawn mowers" for pasture management. Physical Characteristics

• Coat & Shedding: Unlike traditional wool sheep, Painted Deserts are a double-coated "hair sheep" breed. They grow a thick woolly undercoat in winter and naturally shed it in the spring, eliminating the need for shearing.
• Coloration: They are known for "flashy" patterns that can be tri- or quad-colored. Common combinations include white, black, brown (chocolate, cinnamon, mahogany), and copper.
• Horns: Rams typically grow large, impressive horns (28–38 inches) in various shapes like heart-shaped or spiral. Ewes are generally hornless (polled), though some may have small horns or scurs.
• Manes: Rams develop a thick, luxuriant mane and bib in the winter, which adds to their dramatic appearance.
• Size: Mature rams weigh between 75 and 200 pounds, while ewes are smaller, typically weighing 60 to 120 pounds.
• Origin and BreedingThe breed was created by crossing European Mouflon with several wool breeds, including Merino, Rambouillet, and Navajo-Churro, as well as the Texas Blackbelly. They are closely related to other "Corsican" breeds like the Texas Dall and Black Hawaiian.