Blackheaded Persians have a white body and black head and neck with the two colors sharply distinguished. For centuries sheep were managed as small flocks by village shepherds. From here the sheep were taken by ox wagon to Mr. Heatlie’s farm, near Worcester. The breed is now found in South Africa where they are sometimes known by the name Swartkoppersie (Afrik.). Info-pack ref. It also played a role in the upgrading of the Karakul. With the permission of the captain they arranged with the butcher to exchange these sheep for other slaughter stock. Lambs share the house with their human owners and are only placed with their mothers for short periods to suckle. It also played a role in the upgrading of the Karakul. The fatty tail is used in venison products such as dry wors and processed meats. Semi-arid and arid. © 2020 Coolibah Persian Sheep Stud - All Rights Reserved. Their ancestors moved with early mankind from the Middle East from areas which we know today as Iran and Iraq (formally Persia ) but were then Mesopotamia, hundreds if not thousands of years ago. In 1930, the Persian (Blackhead) Sheep Breeders’ Society of South Africa was formed, with headquarters in Cape Town. The lambs mature early. It wasn’t until the 20th century and in South Africa that breeding become more selective. Production norms ... Gromark are approximately 50 percent Corriedale and 50 percent Border Leicester. Mr. Barry, of the firm Barry& Nephews, and Mr. Charles Heatlie, a member of the Cape Parliament, went aboard the ship. Soon afterwards one of the surviving ewes lambed, producing a blackhead ram lamb and a redhead ewe lamb. Truly, all the breeds of sheep can be used for dual-purpose; that is meat and fiber. ‘South African sheep breeds: Persian sheep’. Rams have an average birthweight of 2,6kg, while ewes weigh on average 2,55kg at birth. Ecological zones. It is a fat-tailed sheep breed, and is generally kept for meat production. The Blackheaded Persian originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. The Van Rooy sheep is actually a cross between indigenous Ronderib Afrikaner, Rambouillets and Blackhead Persian sheep. The Persian was crossbred with local breeds and also “improved” though crossings with other breeds local to South Africa, including the Dorper. The origins of Persian sheep are shrouded in the mists or, rather, the desert sands of time. Persians are a truly ancient breed with some being pictured in the 19th century as industrial printing technology became available . Blackhead Persian. © 2020 Farmer's Weekly Magazine | Caxton Magazines Digital |, South African sheep breeds: Persian sheep’, How to grow healthy food vertically in a small space, Get back to basics with the Hoffman Chelsea boot, Growing evidence of chemical resistance in cutworm, Growing garlic: a golden opportunity for SA farmers, Stokvel concept offers hope to young farmers, Weak rand results in big fertiliser price increase, High food prices could take the cheer out of festive season. introduced for crossbreeding purposes to the West Indies, and to Central and South America. It is a multi-purpose livestock that is raised for skin, meat, dairy and fiber. Orgin: England Cross between Morino and Horned Sheep of Wales Meat sheep; white face, known for out of season breeding; Medium wool Horned or Polled. The coat colour is basically white with a second colour, usually light to dark brown, superimposed on it. What is known is that they are an ancient breed. Cross between Dorset Horn and Black Headed Persian Meat sheep; mixture of hair and wool; Heat tolerant; one of the most fertile of sheep breeds Polled. From this humble beginning the Blackhead, as well as Redhead colour variants of the Persian breed of South Africa were developed. It is indeed among the highly adored backyard fellows because of its advantages. Persians are a truly ancient breed with some being pictured in the 19, IMPORTATION INTO AUSTRALIA – AN EXCITING TIME. Many of these sheep, but particularly those through Kenya, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana, carry many of the characteristics that we associate with today’s Persian sheep. This vessel carried a number of slaughter sheep which were shipped aboard in the vicinity of Aden or in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf. As with many cross breeds, the Dorper concentrated the best qualities of each breed. Throughout many parts of Africa today sheep are still managed as small flocks by young boys who act as shepherds. On the road to Samburu 2012, Persian - type sheep near Samburu, Kenya 2012, Persian – type sheep, Samburu , Kenya 2012, James Walker from Coolibahstud at a Samburu village in north east Kenya 2012, Kraal, sheep are placed in this thorn bush enclosure each evening for protection from predators, Samburu 2012, Black head Persian lamb inside Samburu hut, 2012. This indigenous fat-rumped meat breed does well in arid semi-desert, savanna bushveld and coastal spekboom veld. Blackhead Persian is one of the fat-tailed breeds which is primarily raised for meat.The breed is originated from Somalia, Africa.The primary purpose of raising the sheep is for meat and leather. Dorset. It had been carrying one ram and three ewes, and the animals were taken to Wellington, where they became the nucleus of the breed in that country. Of Somalian/Saudi-Arabian origin, the ancestors of the Blackhead Persian were introduced to South Africa by chance in 1869 when a ship damaged by a storm at sea landed here. Join our mailing to receive latest In 1948, the present Blackhead Persian Sheep Breeders’ Society of South Africa was formed in De Aar. 2014/026, Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute. Mature weights are 68kg and 52kg for rams and ewes respectively. Some are roan owing to an admixture of bright brown hair. The Blackhead Persian is a fat-tailed breed of domestic sheep. Hand coloured antique print from Lizars Zoology text, 1840. These three ewes and a ram were shipped to Cape Town in another vessel and were taken by the first railway in South Africa to Wellington. 2014/026, Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute. The first group of Persian sheep in the Cape had black heads, but produced some progeny with red heads. The Persian is a small, smooth-haired, fat-rumped breed with three varieties: the Blackhead Persian, the Redhead Persian, and the Speckled (Skilder) Persian, which can be black or brown with white spots covering the body. The Blackheaded Persian originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. While this history is the official version it is likely that the breed was topped up with further introductions from coastal traders over the years working between colonies on the west and east of Africa and also by animals that were traded from adjacent areas overland. It is the dominant breed of sheep from the southwest to central Africa. They were very impressed with these blackhead fat-rumped hairy slaughter sheep. The Blackhead Persian is one of the parent breeds of the well-known Dorper breed. Info-pack ref. In this way the modern Persian breed was developed. Left outside the risk of predation is too high. It is one of the fat-rumped breeds and both sexes are polled. The sheep that could survive were those that reproduced. Description They were very impressed with these blackhead fat-rumped hairy slaughter sheep. They are a fat-rumped breed and both sexes are polled. The Blackhead Persian is one of the parent breeds of the well-known Dorper breed. According to Campbell & Hofmeyr (1972) a sailing vessel which was damaged by a storm at sea put in for repairs at Port Beaufort which was located at the mouth of the Breede River. The breed was already sufficiently established at this early time to be readily recognisable. It was estimated that were around two million Persian Blackheads in South Africa by the 1950s. Sheep breeds are highly demanded in the areas where people have backyards or farms. The breed is now found in South Africa where they are sometimes known by the name Swartkoppersie (Afrik.). As people moved south into what is now Saudi Arabia and Somalia and then onto Namibia and South Africa they took their sheep with them. It is known by some other names such as West African Maned, Southern, Savannah-type, Pagan, Nigerian Dwarf, Lakka, Kirdimi, Kirdi, Guinean, Futa Jallon, Fouta Djallon, Forest-type, Djallonke and Cameroons Dwarf. Samburu woman inside her house with the current young Persian lambs, Samburu 2012, Maasai sheep, Masai Mara, western Kenya 2012. The Blackhead Persian (also known as Swartkoppersie) is a fat-tailed breed of domestic sheep from Africa. The first Van Rooy embryos were imported into Australia in 1998. The sheep is originally from Somali land. They found their way to the tropics of the Caribbean region via South Africa many years ago. 2014. Mr. Barry, of the firm Barry& Nephews, and Mr. Charles Heatlie, a member of the Cape Parliament, went aboard the ship. It is one of the fat-rumped breeds and both sexes are polled. The West African Dwarf sheep is a breed of domestic sheep. Blackhead Persian : Blackheaded Persian sheep originated in the arid regions of east Africa in what is now Somalia. Source: Snyman, MA. There is good reason for the popularity of the Dorper sheep breed.