New Zealand Introduced Animals > Karakul Sheep

Karakul Sheep

Domesticated Livestock

ORIGIN: Middle East

BREED DESCRIPTION: A long-legged sheep with long pendulous ears, roman noses and a long hair-like fleece. The ewes are generally hornless, whereas the rams have long spiral, outspreading horns. They are distinguished by an accumulation of fat in the tail and around the rump, which evolved as a store of food necessary for survival in a harsh drought-prone environment.

USE IN NEW ZEALAND: For the production of lean meat and fleece.

GENERAL: New Zealand’s first flock of Karakuls were released from quarantine in 1994, and are now farmed by Rare Breeders in Canterbury, such as Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. The Karakul is the original ‘Persian Lamb’ which has been known as a distinct breed for thousands of years. It is most famous for being the producer of high grade pelts (the best being taken from unborn lambs and those up to 3 days old) used in quality garments. The hair-like coat of older animals was used in the production of Persian carpets. The meat of the Karakul is very lean and the breed’s abundant milk supply is used for butter and cheese in some countries.


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