Stavropol Sheep

a breed of fine-fleeced sheep raised for wool. Stavropol’ sheep were bred on the Sovetskoe Runo Experiment Station in Stavropol’ Krai between 1923 and 1950 by improving New Caucasian Merinos and crossing them first with male American Rambouillet sheep and then with males of the Groznyi breed.

Stavropol’ sheep have a high wool productivity. The wool clip from males is 14–19 kg (with a maximum of 25 kg), and the wool clip from females is 7–8 kg (with a maximum of 13 kg). The wool, which is thick, strong, and silky, is 8–10 cm long. It has good uniformity and is of 64–70 quality. The yield of clean wool is 40–43 percent. Males weigh 100–115 kg, and females 50–55 kg. One hundred females produce 120–140 lambs.

Stavropol’ sheep are well adapted to breeding in arid steppe areas with a continental climate. They are used to improve the wool productivity of other fine-fleeced breeds. The breed is raised in the Northern Caucasus and the Lower Volga Region.