Sheep are grazing mammals of the genus Ovis and belong to the family Bovidae. The domesticated species, Ovis aries, is bred for food and wool. Wild species still exist and include the Bighorn Sheep, Dall's sheep, the mouflon, the Asian mouflon, the urial and the Argali.
Sheep are found in most countries of the world. They were first domesticated in the area that today is northern Iraq thousands of years ago. They have many uses including wool for clothing, milk for making cheese and meat in the form of lamb and mutton. They are also used in some areas as pack animals.
Like the hog, they belong to the order Artiodactyla, meaning they are even-toed and hoofed. They are ruminants, cud-chewing animals and have a four-compartmented stomach. They are also bovids, meaning they have a pair of hollow, unbranched horns that are not shed. Both male and female have horns. The male's horns are larger.
Sheep on average are about 5 feet long and weigh anywhere from 165 to 440 pounds. The gestation period is about 150 days and the mother bears up to three young. Their life span can be as long as 20 years.
There are many lambs in Jeannie's Cottage. There were so many that it took quite a few pictures to show them all. In the picture above at left is Erica who is a lamb made by the folks at Mill Mountain. This line of plush was called From Grandma's Heart. Kayla the lamb is next to Erica and she also was from Mill Mountain. Mill Mountain is no longer in business. The small black-faced lamb is Lizzy (left), a Puffkin. The other small black-faced lamb is Virgil made by MJC. The all black lamb is Bah Bah and is also a Puffkin. The big black-faced lamb in the back is Chops, a Beanie Buddy made by Ty. The little lamb with the red dress is Lilly, a Ty Attic Treasure. Puffkins and Attic Treasures are also no longer produced.
Here are more lambs at the Barnyard. Starting at left are Woolsy the Sheep from the Coca-Cola International Bean Bag series, Bluebelle the blue-face Puffkin lamb, Fleecia the Ty Attic Treasure, Fleecie the Beanie Baby, Fleece the Beanie Buddy and Beanie Baby, Priscilla the pink-face Puffkin lamb, Embraceable Ewe made by Boyds and Ewey the Beanie Baby by Ty Inc.
These lambs include, from left: Lamb Tubby Tummy from Ganz, Fleecie the Lamb in back from Boyds, also from Boyds is Lambsie Divy and the tiny little lamb in front of Lambsie Divy is a little Ganz Magnet Mate. The black faced lamb is Baby Virgil from Puff-Fection, and the yellow lamb in back is Strawberry the Lamb from Russ. The pink and blue lambs are called Lammie and are made by Ganz. And the little white lamb in front of them is a Soft Spot also made by Ganz. Check our Gift Shop to see if any of these lambs are available.
Here are Erica and Kayla again, little chenille
lambs From Grandma's Heart.These are all Beanie Babies and mostly sheep, with one goat and one hog. These are clockwise from far left: Ewey smiling, Ewey Basket Beanie, Fleecie, Lullaby, Ewey frowning, Bam the ram, Goatee, Grunt the razorback, Tender, Fleece and Chops. These are part of Jeannie's own personal collection and are not for sale.
To see other barnyard animals, click on the links below: Barnyard | Cows | Ducks | Goats | Guinea Pigs | Hamster | Horse | Llama | Pigs | Sheep
