Hungarian Merino Sheep
A breed well adapted to the domestic climatic conditions, originally intended for dual or triple use (wool, meat, milk), although currently, meat production is considered the primary source of income. Therefore, the main objective is to improve fertility and lamb-rearing capability. The Hungarian Merino breed is characterized by white coloration and moderate body conformation. It has a moderately long body length, with a well-covered abdomen and legs, and a head covered with wool up to the eye line. Its fertility rate is between 1.3 – 1.5, with a weight gain of 300-350 g/day. Ewes reach a mature weight of 54-58 kg, while rams weigh 85-100 kg. The wool quality ranges from 18-26 microns.
Landschaf Merino Sheep
A large-bodied, well-muscled Merino breed. It withstands the rigors of weather well and is capable of covering large areas. Its fertility rate is 1.5-1.8, and it excels in lamb-rearing, tolerating intensive lambing and early breeding well. In some countries, it is known as Württemberg Merino. Mature rams weigh 100-125 kg, while ewes weigh 70-80 kg.
German Meat Merino Sheep
A breed of sheep with coarser bone structure than the Hungarian Merino, known for its white-colored meat. Its body conformation approaches ideal meat shapes. The breed has a fertility rate of 1.3 – 1.4, but to successfully rear its lambs, adequate emphasis must be placed on preparing for lambing and ensuring milk production for lamb rearing. It is prone to out-of-season breeding. Lambs exhibit good weight gain during the lambing period, ranging from 340-380 grams, with excellent feed conversion rates and attractive meat shapes. At maturity, ewes weigh 60-80 kg, while rams weigh 90-125 kg.
Ile de France Sheep
A breed of sheep with white coloration and attractive meat shapes, closely related to the Merino breed. It exhibits good maternal characteristics, with a fertility rate of 1.4 – 1.8. It has a good propensity for out-of-season breeding, capable of being fertile at any time of the year, unlike many other meat breeds. Lambs have good weight gain capability (320-360 g). At maturity, ewes weigh 70-90 kg, while rams weigh 100-140 kg.
Cigaja Sheep
Cigaja sheep originated from the Balkan Peninsula and were introduced to Hungary in the late 18th century. They are a medium-sized breed with black heads and legs, and their fleece is white with colored fibers scattered throughout. Ewes are usually polled or have scimitar-shaped horns, while some rams are polled, and others have strong, spiral horns that describe one and a half turns. They exhibit favorable weight gain during the lambing period, around 300-350 g/day. Ewes typically weigh 50-60 kg, while rams weigh 75-90 kg.
Gyimesi Racka Sheep
The Gyimesi (Transylvanian) Racka is a type of racka sheep bred in Transylvania, Romania. It is the largest breed among the racka sheep group, with ewes weighing 45-50 kg and rams weighing 80-90 kg. Ewes typically have scimitar-shaped or small twisted horns, but there are also many polled individuals, while rams bear loose, spiral horns with 1.5 – 2.25 turns. The fleece of Gyimesi Racka sheep is white, but black coloring is quite common on the head and legs, often appearing in patches (around the eyes and mouth), on the ears, and at the tips of the legs. Their fleece is a mixture of wool and hair, with a fiber length of 30-40 cm. In Transylvania, milk production is the primary utilization of this breed.
Hortobágy Racka Sheep (White, Black)
The distinctive feature of Racka sheep is their uniquely twisted, spiral horns, reminiscent of a corkscrew, which are present in both males and females. Ewes have horns that stand upward in a “V” shape, while rams have wider-spaced horns. The average length of horns is 30 cm in ewes and 50 cm in rams. This breed is small-bodied, with long, coarse wool that grows down to the ground and forms tassels. They are bred in both black and white color variations. The head and legs are covered in short, shiny brown or black hair. They are known for their lively temperament. Their weight gain during the lambing period is modest, ranging from 150-250 g/day. Ewes weigh between 35-45 kg, while rams weigh between 55-75 kg.
Yellow-headed Berke Sheep
Primarily bred in Covasna and Harghita counties in Transylvania, but also found in the vicinity of Kecskemét in Hungary, the Yellow-headed Berke sheep is an extensive breed. It belongs to the cigája breed group and includes a separate type known as the “csóréhasú” (bare-bellied) variation. It has a fertility rate of 1.2-1.4 and a lactation milk production ranging from 80 to 150 kg. At maturity, ewes weigh between 55-70 kg, while rams weigh between 80-100 kg. Rams have a shearing weight of 4-5 kg, while ewes have 3-4 kg, with a fleece length of 8-10 cm. The wool fineness ranges from 28 to 36 mm.
Egyéb juhfajták
Berrichon du Cher Sheep
The Berrichon du Cher sheep is a white meat breed with good grazing ability. It exhibits excellent maternal traits and a good milk yield, with a fertility rate of 1.4-1.6. The breed tends to show a propensity for out-of-season breeding. In its region of origin, about 60% of ewes give birth between September and November. Rams can be bred from 10 to 12 months of age, and the breed also demonstrates long-term productive potential. It boasts good meat conformation, with an average daily lamb weight gain of 320-370 g. At maturity, ewes weigh between 70-90 kg, while rams weigh between 90-130 kg.
Blanc du Massif Central (BMC) Sheep
The Blanc du Massif Central (BMC) sheep is a white meat breed with excellent grazing ability. It exhibits good maternal traits and a good milk yield, with a fertility rate of 1.4-1.6. The female individuals of the breed can lamb out of season. Rams can be bred from 10 to 12 months of age, and this does not negatively impact their performance with proper feeding. It boasts good meat conformation, with an average daily lamb weight gain of 300-350 g. At maturity, ewes weigh between 60-80 kg, while rams weigh between 90-140 kg.
White Dorper Sheep
The White Dorper sheep was developed through the crossbreeding of Dorper and Afrikaner breeds in South Africa. It is white in color, with pigmented hooves, the area under the tail, and teats. This is a hairy sheep breed, meaning that most of the wool is shed naturally, eliminating the need for shearing. It is a non-seasonal breed capable of lambing in high densities, with a fertility rate of 160-180%. They have a calm temperament, excellent maternal instincts, and exhibit good grazing ability. They are resilient and can tolerate dry conditions well. The average daily weight gain of lambs ranges from 350-450 g. At maturity, ewes weigh between 75-80 kg, while rams weigh between 90-110 kg.
Charollais Sheep
The Charollais sheep is a fine-boned, single-purpose white meat breed. It possesses excellent maternal instincts, high fertility rates averaging between 1.7 to 1.8, and outstanding milk production. It is an early-maturing, seasonally breeding breed, with rams capable of breeding from 7 months of age. Charollais lambs are characterized by good meat conformation, with strong growth potential, reaching or exceeding 25 kg by 70 days of age. In crossbreeding for meat production, lambs sired by Charollais rams exhibit minimal fat deposition even at 40 kg. Lambs typically gain between 350-400 g per day. At maturity, ewes weigh between 70-80 kg, while rams weigh between 90-110 kg.
German Black-headed Meat Sheep
A robustly built meat breed with good grazing ability. The head and legs are of a dull black color. Possessing strong maternal instincts, the breed has a fertility rate ranging between 1.5 to 1.7. It is characterized by a high average daily lamb weight gain of 360-400 g. When used for crossbreeding with Merino flocks, lambs born at the end of the lambing season can easily reach market weight. While its tendency for seasonality is minimal, under Hungarian husbandry conditions, a portion of the flock can be fertile outside the breeding season. At maturity, ewes weigh between 70-90 kg, while rams weigh between 100-130 kg.
Texel Sheep
A medium-sized to medium-large breed with a sturdy build and white coloration, the Texel is renowned for its excellent meat conformation, with well-muscled fore and hindquarters, giving it a “square” appearance. The S/EUROP carcass classification system is based on the Texel breed. It exhibits an average daily lamb weight gain of 320-380 g. Possessing strong maternal instincts, it has a fertility rate ranging between 1.5 to 1.7, along with good milk production and lamb-rearing capabilities. It matures moderately early and exhibits seasonal fertility. At maturity, ewes weigh between 60-70 kg, while rams weigh between 90-100 kg.
Vendéen Meat Sheep
Primarily bred in France, particularly in the western part of the country and the Massif Central region, the Vendéen Meat Sheep is known for its robust constitution, tolerating both hot summers and cold winters, and its high meat production capability. As a paternal line, it enhances daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and meat-to-bone ratio. It’s a single-purpose meat breed that adapts well to varying technological conditions. Ewes tend to exhibit seasonal estrus. With a fertility rate ranging between 1.7-1.9, they are known for easy lambing, and excellent lamb-rearing capabilities. They possess good grazing ability and are resilient to weather conditions. Exhibiting excellent meat conformation, mature ewes weigh between 60-80 kg, while rams weigh between 100-120 kg.
Lacaune Sheep
The most renowned French dairy breed, Lacaune sheep are famously used to produce “Roquefort” cheese, with milk production ranging from 200-400 liters. They are of medium size, with a fine bone structure, and their wool is short, extending only from the neck to the middle of the back. What sets Lacaune apart from other dairy breeds is that their meat conformation and weight gain (320-400 g) rival those of meat breeds. They exhibit excellent seasonality, being fertile year-round, with a particular emphasis on the April-May period. Mature ewes weigh between 50-60 kg, while rams weigh between 90-100 kg.
Suffolk Sheep
Suffolk sheep are a large, robust, single-purpose meat breed with excellent grazing abilities. They are characterized by a fine, shiny black coat covering their head and legs. They exhibit outstanding maternal characteristics, with high milk production and a high fertility rate of 1.6 – 1.8. Some of the Hungarian population demonstrates a propensity for out-of-season breeding. Suffolk sheep are among the best grazers, but they also thrive in confinement. They boast good meat conformation and achieve an average daily weight gain of 350-400 g during the lambing period. Mature ewes weigh between 75-90 kg, while rams weigh between 90-130 kg.
Kecske tenyésztőink
Bóer Goat
The Boer goat is a meat breed originating from South Africa. It is a large, muscular animal with a short coat, typically white in color with a red neck and head. The nose bridge is curved, often with a hump, and it has long, drooping ears. Both males and females are horned. It is typically introduced for breeding purposes at the age of 10-12 months. Its reproductive cycle is non-seasonal, and it has a calm temperament, along with excellent maternal characteristics. Grazing-based management is recommended. Its average litter size is 1.8, with milk production ranging from 300-500 kg. It experiences intensive weight gain, with a slaughter yield of over 50%. It boasts excellent meat conformation, with flavorful, low-fat meat. Its outstanding characteristics are also well expressed in crossbreeding.
Santali Goat
The Santali goat is primarily bred in Transylvania, specifically in Kovászna and Hargita counties, but can also be found in the vicinity of Kecskemét in Hungary as an extensive breed. It belongs to the cigája breed group. It represents a separate type, known as the so-called “csóréhasú” (bare-bellied) variety. Its prolificacy ranges from 1.2 to 1.4, with lactation milk production between 80-150 kg. At maturity, the does weigh between 55-70 kg, while the bucks weigh between 80-100 kg. The fleece weight of bucks is 4-5 kg, and that of does is 3-4 kg, with a fleece height of 8-10 cm. The fineness of the wool ranges from 28-36 mm.
Hungarian Heath Goat
The Hungarian Heath Goat refers to the indigenous breed that arrived in Hungary during the migration period, partially bearing the characteristics of goats that emerged in the Carpathian Basin. The standardization of the breed’s appearance is still ongoing, with the main defining feature being the fleece length of mature animals, which is 10 cm or longer. This fleece covers the entire body (long-haired) or the rear portion of the body behind the ribcage (breeched) and is passed on to their offspring. Apart from a dark dorsal stripe, the brown body can occur in various color variations and compositions. The goats may be horned or polled, with horns curving outward in horned males. They are typically introduced into breeding between 7-12 months of age. While some individuals are capable of significant milk production, the primary goal is not achieving high milk yields but rather preserving the genetics and maintaining the breed’s robust constitution and high resistance.
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