The post The Top 16 Cutest Sheep Breeds appeared first on A-Z Animals.
With their big eyes and soft fluffy fleece, it’s no wonder that lambs and sheep often appear in nursery rhymes and decorate children’s bedrooms. But did you know there are over 200 breeds of sheep out there? Frankly, we think they’re all cute, but we faced the tough task of whittling down that number down to just 16. And yes, we know that “cutest” is purely subjective, but indulge us. Here are our top picks for the most adorable, snuggly-soft sheep breeds around.
1. Babydoll Southdown Sheep
There are many different colors of Babydoll Southdown sheep.
©Brianna Hederer/Shutterstock.com
From their cute name to their charming appearance, Babydoll Southdown sheep are undeniably adorable. Standing just 18 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder, their compact size and fluffy faces make them look like cuddly plush toys.
2. Border Leicester Sheep
Border Leicester sheep have a regal “Roman nose”.
©Anakumka/Shutterstock.com
This cute sheep breed sports endearingly long ears that stand tall like a bunny rabbit! Border Leicester sheep are calm and gentle, with long white wool that is used to make beautiful fabrics and fibers.
3. Ryeland Sheep
Queen Elizabeth I only wore Ryeland fleece stockings.
©DejaVuDesigns/Shutterstock.com
Ryeland sheep look like cuddly teddy bears with a sheep’s face! Their thick, soft wool puffs out and covers their entire bodies, making them look extraordinarily huggable.
4. Valais Blacknose Sheep
The Valais Blacknose sheep originally comes from Switzerland.
©Foofa Jearanaisil/Shutterstock.com
Valais Blacknose sheep look like they belong in a fairy story with their round wooly bodies and whimsical horns. Spunky white fleece perfectly frames their black faces, ears, legs, and feet, making them irresistibly adorable!
5. Shetland Sheep
Shetland sheep come from Scotland.
©andrea cerri ferrari/Shutterstock.com
The Shetland sheep is a cute breed that only weighs around 75 to 125 pounds. But their miniature size isn’t the only thing that makes these sheep so cute. They also come in dozens of colors and patterns.
6. Kerry Hill Sheep
The Kerry Hill breed originated in Wales.
©MintImages/Shutterstock.com
Kerry Hill sheep are easy to spot with their distinctly adorable appearance. Their white fleece stands out against the striking black markings around their mouths, eyes, and ears.
7. Soay Sheep
Soay sheep live among the wild cliffs of St. Kilda’s Soay Island.
©Jamie Hall/Shutterstock.com
The Soay sheep is a descendant of feral sheep in Scotland. The breed retains its ancestral charm with shaggy, windblown wool and small, curved horns. Soay fleece comes in a variety of colors, from brown and black to blonde, or even a stunning two-tone.
8. Teeswater Sheep
Teeswater sheep have long fleece that hangs loosely in long, silky strands.
©Paul Buckingham / Track of Railway, from Ingleby Incline at Bank Foot Farm / CC BY-SA 2.0 – Original / License
Originating in England, Teeswater sheep have ridiculously long, flowing hair that makes them look like cute little llamas! Their fleece is soft, thin, and doesn’t clump like other sheep wool.
9. Faroese Sheep
These tough little sheep were brought to the islands by Viking settlers hundreds of years ago.
©Yannik Photography/Shutterstock.com
Originally from the Faroe Islands, Faroese sheep are small and hardy. Their long, wooly coats come in hundreds of different colors and pattern combinations, making each Faroese sheep uniquely adorable!
10. Cotswold Sheep
The Cotswold sheep is nicknamed the “Golden Fleece” breed.
©Vansittart/Shutterstock.com
Cotswold sheep have big beautiful eyes that peek out from beneath their wild fringe of adorable curls, which has a faint, golden shimmer. Sadly, these big and beautiful sheep are rare today and are classified as “at risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
11. Braunes Bergschaf Sheep
Bergschaf sheep are built for harsh climates.
©Worldlover/Shutterstock.com
The Braunes Bergschaf sheep is a cute breed from the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps. They have cute, compact bodies and floppy ears that droop down like a hound dog, adding to their overall charm.
12. Greyface Dartmoor
The Greyface Dartmoor sheep is incredibly tough.
©tviolet/Shutterstock.com
Greyface Dartmoor sheep are real eye-catching animals. Big, beautiful, and hardy, they sport long, shaggy coats that drape over their round bodies and cover their eyes. Their faces are bare and have cute grey or black speckles around their noses.
13. Oxford Down Sheep
The Oxford Down breed comes from England.
©Julie Beynon Burnett/Shutterstock.com
Originally from England, the Oxford Down is a massive sheep. Ewes weigh around 200 pounds and rams can weigh up to 320 pounds! They are covered in snuggly white wool, with contrasting black or brown markings on their faces, legs, and ears.
14. Jacob Sheep
Jacob Sheep have a piebald pattern.
©Nicky Rhodes/Shutterstock.com
The Jacob Sheep looks like something created by Dr. Seus! These adorable creatures have a unique dark and white spotted coat and look like miniature Holstein cows. But the cuteness doesn’t stop there — Jacob sheep have four horns instead of just two!
15. Clun Forest Sheep
The Clun Forest breed originated in Wales and western Shropshire.
©muroPhotographer/Shutterstock.com
Clun Forest sheep have dark brown faces and curly white coats. Their ears are especially cute — they stick straight up, giving the sheep a perpetually alert expression.
16. Boreray Sheep
Boreray sheep stand just 22 inches tall and weigh around 62 pounds.
©Gibbja / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Original / License
The Boreray is a rare sheep breed from Scotland’s St. Kilda Archipelago. Their small bodies with fluffy coats and curly horns give them a wild, almost mythical, Scottish allure.
The post The Top 16 Cutest Sheep Breeds appeared first on A-Z Animals.