Sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated by mankind, with sources providing a domestication date between nine and eleven thousand years ago in Mesopotamia. The species has several characteristics-such as a relative lack of aggression, a manageable size, early sexual maturity, a social nature, and high reproduction rates-that made it particularly amenable to taming. Today, Ovis aries is an entirely domesticated animal that is largely dependent on man for its health and survival. Small feral populations of sheep exist, but exclusively in areas that are devoid of predators (usually islands). The breeds from a cold climate have short tails, (Norhern Shortail)13 vertabras. Breeds from warmer climates have long tails, 22 vertabraes. In a hot climate you'll find fat-tailed or fat-rumped sheep, so named because they can store large amounts of fat in the tail and the region of the rump. Initially, sheep were kept solely for meat, milk and skins. Archaeological evidence from statuary found at sites in Iran suggests that selection for wooly sheep may have began circa 6000 BC, but the earliest woven wool garments have only been dated to two to three thousand years later. By that span of the Bronze Age, sheep with all the major features of modern breeds were widespread throughout Western Asia. However, one chief difference between ancient sheep and most modern breeds is the technique by which wool could be collected. Primitive sheep cannot be shorn, and must have their wool plucked out by hand in a process called "rooing". This is due to the fact that their kemps are still longer than the soft fleece. The fleece may also be collected from the field after it falls out. This trait survives today in unrefined breeds such as the Soay. The Soay, along with other Northern European breeds with short tails, unshearable fleece, diminutive size, and horns in both sexes, are more closely related to ancient sheep than most breeds found today.

 

     
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