What is the Rambouillet used for?

Rambouillet ewes are crossbred extensively with medium-wool and long-coarse-wool rams to produce choice market lambs and rugged breeding ewes with heavy, attractive medium wool.

Is Rambouillet a meat breed?

The Rambouillet is a breed of sheep that originated in France. It was initially bred for its meat and wool, but today it’s also often raised as a show animal.

Is Rambouillet wool soft?

I wanted to work with rambouillet wool because of its unique characteristics. It is both springy and dense! It holds its shape well and maintains a soft-hand. I think it is incredible to use in cables because of its balance of maintaining stitch definition and creating a lofty, airy fabric.

What species is Rambouillet?

The Rambouillet is a breed of sheep classified of the genus Ovis. It is also known as the Rambouillet Merino or the French Merino. The development of the Rambouillet breed started in 1786, when Louis XVI purchased over 300 Spanish Merinos (318 ewes, 41 rams, seven wethers) from his cousin, Charles III of Spain.

Is Rambouillet the same as Merino?

Rambouillet has many of the same characteristics as Merino, but with a longer staple and a bit less sheen. It is a fine fiber that measures between 18.5 to 24.5 microns, which makes it very comfortable to wear directly against your skin.

How soft is Rambouillet?

Rambouillet is next to skin soft. The soft feel is different than merino, where merino has a slippery, almost silky feel, rambouillet has a cottony, buttery feel.

Is Rambouillet fine wool?

Rambouillet has many of the same characteristics as Merino, but with a longer staple and a bit less sheen. It is a fine fiber that measures between 18.5 to 24.5 microns, which makes it very comfortable to wear directly against your skin. Like Merino, it can produce a very fine yarn that is a joy to spin and use.

Can you milk Rambouillet?

One of these options is the use of milk principally for cheese production. Sheep milk production is little known in North America. However, there are breeds such as Dorset, Rambouillet and Suffolk, which have demonstrated potential for milk production (Boylan et al., 1988).

How much wool does a Rambouillet sheep produce?

Mature Rambouillet rams weigh between 250 and 300 pounds (113-135 kg), ewes range from 150 to 200 pounds (68-90 kg). Mature ewes will have a fleece weigh of 8 to 18 pounds (3.6-8.1 kg) with a yield of 35 to 55 percent.

Is selling sheep wool profitable?

Profitability can be challenging, but with productive sheep and close control of expenses, a profit is possible. Sheep produce income from the sale of meat, wool and milk. The highest-quality meat is produced from lambs, young sheep under one year of age.