awassi sheep for sale
- Origin & Distribution
- Most numerous and widely distributed breed in southwest Asia.
- Predominant in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic; only indigenous breed in Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel.
- Desert-conditions adaptation in northern Saudi Arabia.
- Named after the El Awas tribe (between the Tigris and Euphrates).
- Fat-tailed lineage developed in the Awassi breeding area for at least 5,000 years.
- Uses & Productivity
- Primarily a milking breed with long lactation periods.
- Also valued for meat and wool.
- Calm temperament aids easy handling.
Breed Characteristics
- Overall Build
- Large, robust frame with a fat tail.
- Deep and wide barrel; long, straight back.
- Rump short with the fat tail ending above the hocks.
- Head & Neck
- Long neck; convex profile (especially in rams).
- Pendulous ears.
- Horns & Ears
- Ewes: generally polled (hornless).
- Rams: typically horned; horns are strongly wrinkled, curve backward, tips directed outward.
- Body Conformation
- Long head and neck; chest and shoulders of moderate depth; prominent brisket.
- Tail & Fat Reserves
- Fat tail functions as an energy reserve during stress.
Size, Weight, and Form
- Ewes: 60–70 kg at maturity
- Rams: Up to 100 kg at maturity

