III.

Fine-Wool Breeds

Sheep bred for their fine wool account for nearly half the world sheep population. They are adapted to semiarid conditions and are characterized as medium in size, with the ability to produce large amounts of wool fibers 20 micrometers or less in diameter. Found extensively in Australia, New Zealand, South America, and the western United States, most sheep of this type belong to the merino breed, which originated in the area around the Mediterranean Sea and became concentrated in Spain. The breed, however, has been modified and adapted to the conditions prevalent in various countries, and the different subtypes are usually called merinos combined with the name of their adopted country—for example, the Australian merino. The Rambouillet, similar to the merino, is the other major breed of fine-wool sheep.