Merinolandschaf

It comes from Germany, where it is the most widespread breed. There, wool and meat-milk types are distinguished: the Bavarian type is more robust and less woolly than the Württemberg type but better for meat and milk.

It breeds out of season, has a prolificacy of 1.4–1.8 and tolerates accelerated lambing and early breeding. Lambing is easy thanks to the lambs' narrow heads and the ewes' wide pelvis; growth approaches that of meat breeds. Its long, strong legs cope well with droving; ewes weigh 70–100 kg and rams 120–160 kg.

A medium-large, moderately muscled breed. The head is long and wedge-shaped with large, slightly or fully drooping ears; it is polled, with a typical wool topknot on the poll. The body is long, the pelvis wide and the thighs well muscled. The wool is white, Merino-type, 24–29 microns.