Introducing Tunis Sheep

The first, and most striking thing you will notice about Tunis sheep is the beautiful red color set on an attractive sheep with long pendulous ears and a calm disposition. These sheep are quickly becoming favorites with everyone who tries this unique breed, from showmen to commercial farmers.

Within this medium-sized package is found a very productive sheep. Tunis are very feed efficient, requiring less feed than larger breeds to produce marketable lambs at the same weights within similar timeframes. The ewes are excellent mothers who have a high rate of twinning, are heavy milkers, TUNIS SHEEPare productive for much of their long lives, and are easily handled with very docile temperaments. The Tunis lambs are vigorous at birth and are warmed by a double coat of red fibers. An extended breeding season can be expected – in fact some Tunis will breed out of season producing fall lambs.

Tunis carcasses yield a high percentage of meat thanks to the breed’s fine but strong bone structure and length of hind-saddle. And the Tunis sheep breed excels on pasture. In fact, due to their desert ancestry, Tunis will survive where many other breeds would starve and are very heat tolerant. The rams are also noted for their libido, being quite active when young and even during hot weather.

Our modern Tunis sheep originated by combining Middle-Eastern fat-tailed sheep imported from Tunisia, on the Northern coast of Africa, with sheep locally available in America around 1799. This makes them among the oldest breeds of livestock developed in America. The first known imported pair, a gift from the Bey of Tunis, was placed with Judge Richard Peters of Belmont, PA, who made rams available and gave away lambs to spread the breed. Throughout its long history in America the breed has been associated with many prominent figures like George Washington Custis, Judge Richard Peters, James A. Guilliams, Maynard R. Spigner, Colonel Washington Watts, and Charles Rountree. It is not insignificant that many of these men were members of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture.

The Tunis offers some very unique potential for those using it in an out-crossing program. The Tunis has the ability to stamp its feed efficiency onto its crossbred offspring; half Tunis lambs are noted for great weight gains, great feed conversion rates, and fast finishing. In particular, the Tunis-Dorset cross produces one of the best market lambs obtainable. Also, retained ewe lamb from this cross can be bred anytime of the year and seem to excel in mothering traits above even pure Tunis or Dorset ewes (two of the best breeds for mothering characteristics).

Tunis sheep are also noted for the fine flavor of their meat. It is said that Tunis mutton tastes as good as lamb of other breeds. Many find Tunis mutton superior. Tunis lamb has a long history of being sought after for its delicate and fine flavor. In fact, in the early 1800s Tunis lambs were the most sought after in the hothouse lamb markets around Philadelphia. Another bonus of Tunis cross lambs is that they inherit the improved flavor of meat that the Tunis is uniquely noted for.

Feed efficiency, long lives, easy birthing, high rate of twinning, excellent mothering, heavy milking, docile temperament, high carcass yields, fine flavor, extended season, heat tolerance, and vigor, Tunis have a lot to offer!

Breed History

The Tunis is one of the oldest breeds of sheep having descended from ancient fat-tailed sheep referred to in the Bible. As the name indicates,  Tunis originated in Early Tunisia on the Northern coast of Africa.

The Tunis popularity spread quickly and flocks were started primarily on the East coast and New England, where many remain today. During the Civil War, most of the Southern flocks were wiped out.

Today, interest in the Tunis sheep is stronger than ever. The National Tunis Sheep Registry, Inc. has experienced continuous growth in registrations and transfers.

With the help of AnnaRae Hodgin, and rummaging for old livestock books in antique shops, second hand shops and on the internet, I have put together some information. AnnaRae also has a list of publications which feature information about the Tunis. This article was taken from a book I purchased “Sheep Production” by Levi Jackson Horlacher, Assistant to the Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, dated 1927; published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. The book only had summary information about each breed, and this is what he wrote about Tunis…

The home of the Tunis, or fat-tailed sheep, is in the province of Tunis in northern Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. The origin of this breed is unknown, though it probably has existed in Africa for several centuries.

Importations – In 1799 ten head were shipped to the United States. Only two survived the voyage. The rams were widely used on native ewes. Later importations were made but the Civil War practically exterminated all flocks but one, that of Colonel M.R. Spigler of Columbia, SC. From the descendants of this flock in 1894 sheep were taken to Indiana where some Southdown blood was introduced. There are now more Tunis sheep in Indiana than in any other part of America.

Characteristics – The Tunis is a small sheep. Rams weigh 150 to 175 pounds and ewes 120 to 150 pounds. The wool is long, coarse, light in weight and frequently is grey or brown in color. Both sexes are hornless. The face, ears, and legs usually are solid brown, though they may be mottled. The ears are broad, and drooping. One striking feature is the broad, fat tail which when left on, interferes with breeding. The Tunis lacks somewhat in mutton conformation.

Properties – The outstanding property of the Tunis is the ability of the ewes to breed at any time of year. This makes them valuable for hothouse lamb production. Twins are frequent and the lambs fatten rapidly. The ewes are good milkers and are hardy. The flocking instinct is highly developed. They seem to be well adapted to warm climates.

The American Tunis Sheep Breeder’s Association was organized in Indiana in 1896.