Cormo Sheep Courtesy of Juniper Moon Farm

Cormo is an Australian breed of sheep developed in Tasmania. In 1960, Ian Downie with the help of the Division of Animal Genetics of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization did a carefully constructed study. The object was to produce a more fertile, larger framed and higher wool producing sheep.

Select Corriedale Rams were crossed with 1200 selected saxon merino ewes. They strictly selected certain offspring to become the Cormo (corriedale, merino) breed.

Sheep in a coat by Apple Rose Farm on flickr

The cormo breed has these characteristic’s: 

  • They are a rugged breed meaning they need no shelter or supplemental feed
  •  High fertility rate
  • long staple, high yield wool
  • resistance to fleece rot and skin issues
  • open ( no wool) faces
  • can be used for meat animal (large carcass)
  • polled
 

Group of Cormo Sheep courtesy of Apple Rose Farm

 
Cormos have  been exported to Argentina, China, the United States, Italy and Belgium. However according to The Cormo Sheep Registry, Inc, there has only been 507 ewes and 28 rams brought to the U.S. as of 2002. that would explain why this breed is harder to find here.
 
Information from Wikipedia, Oklahoma State University, and The Cormo Sheep Conservation Registry, Inc.
 

What a face! thanks to Juniper Moon Farm on flickr

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I couldn’t resist one last pic.

Wheeee! picture courtesy of Juniper Moon Farm on flickr

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3 Comments on Oh The Fiber – Cormo Sheep

  1. Beth says:

    Your blog is a great resource!

    • Deyaneria says:

      That was kind of my intention when I started it …that and I have this insane desire to learn stuff and head full of useless trivia lol

  2. […] come in at 130-180 pds. They have been used to develop later breeds of sheep such as targhee, and cormo. natural color corriedales courtesy of Cabrissa on […]

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