Sheep: Île-de-France

Country of Origin

France

Watchlist Status

Uses

Wool, meat, terminal sire

Breed traits

From Wikipedia:

"The Île-de-France is a breed of sheep native to the French region of Île-de-France near Paris. It was first developed at a French veterinary college in the 1830s through crosses of Dishley Leicester and Rambouillet, and was originally known as the Dishley Merino.^[1] A breed association was formed in 1933, and it was rigorously tested early on its breeding for meat characteristics and maternal qualities.^[

Today the Île-de-France is one of the top meat breeds worldwide, and is present in South Africa, Australia and the Americas as well as in Europe. It is primarily used as a terminal sire, but is also occasionally found as a dairy breed in the United States. It's a large, naturally polled breed with white fleece".

Breed association

Australian Il de France Association

Australian population

2025: Ewes 76

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