The American Tunis is an endangered American breed of fat-tailed sheep descended from Tunisian Barbarin sheep gifted to George Washington by the Bey of Tunis in 1799. It became established in Pennsylvania before spreading through the Mid-Atlantic and Upper South and later concentrating in New England and the Great Lakes region. The breed has white wool, a red face, and is polled in both sexes, with rams weighing about 91 kilograms and ewes about 66 kilograms; it is raised chiefly for meat, though its wool is also used. Listed as a watch breed by the Livestock Conservancy and as endangered by the FAO, it has also been added to the Slow Food Ark of Taste in recognition of its cultural and agricultural significance.
Facts
Climate Adaptation Classification
Breed Risk Status In the Other Atlases
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Source American Tunis (Wikipedia)Lead sectionQuote, Lead section
is an endangered American breed of fat-tailed sheep.
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Sources
1. Tunis sheep (Wikipedia)
lead section
The American Tunis or Tunis is an endangered American breed of fat-tailed sheep.
lead description or Wikipedia lead (conservation-status)
The American Tunis is an endangered American breed of fat-tailed sheep descended from Tunisian Barbarin sheep gifted to George Washington by the Bey of Tunis in 1799.
View the Source2. The Livestock Conservancy: Tunis Sheep - Heritage Breeds, The Livestock Conservancy
The Livestock ConservancyBreed Facts, Temperament
Temperament: Docile
Breed Facts, Use
Use: Meat, Wool, Milk
Breed description
Tunis Sheep Tunis sheep spread throughout the mid-Atlantic and southeastern US and were well adapted to the heat and humidity of these regions.
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