Sheep breed
Merino (Spanish)
Merino (Spanish)
The original Spanish Merino, ancestor of the world's fine-wool sheep.
Merino sheep, Spain. Photo: „Merino Sheep, Spain” – David Mapletoft · CC BY 2.0 · Flickr · Resized and converted to WebP
Description1
A native sheep of the Iberian Peninsula, famous for its very fine, soft wool. It arose in Spain towards the end of the Middle Ages and for centuries was a strict Spanish monopoly. This is the original Spanish type, distinct from the Hungarian Merino already on this site.
Genetic studies show it arose by crossing Churra ewes with rams from other breeds over time – Italian in Roman times, North African in the medieval period and English wool breeds in the 15th century. The name is explained either by the Leonese official called merino or by the Marinid Berber tribe.
A compact sheep with short neck and legs and long, fine, crimped wool; off-white and unspotted, with spiral horns only very rarely in rams. Besides its white and black varieties, Spain also has the Merina de Grazalema and Merina de los Montes Universales; its descendants make up the world's Merino flocks.
History1
Late Middle Ages
Develops in Spain, probably by crossing Churra ewes with rams imported in different periods; the name is first documented in the early 15th century.
For centuries
A strict Spanish monopoly: export, policed by the Mesta, is punishable by death.
18th century
Flocks go to France (Rambouillet), Hungary, Saxony, Sweden and others, later to Australia and Argentina (1794).
Breed standard and breed society
The official breed description, breeding goal and herdbook rules are published by the breed's recognised breed society.
- Spanish Wikipedia – Oveja merinahttps://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oveja_merina
Photo gallery
All photos are freely licensed (Wikimedia Commons, Flickr); author, source and licence are shown under each image.
Sources
Accessed: 2026-10-18.