Sheep

Sheep are ruminant animals of the genus Ovis. They have been domesticated for around 5,000 years and are an important source of food and textiles, as their fleece is customarily shorn annually to produce wool. Sheep meat is eaten in many countries, and some societies also use sheep's milk and cheese, although this is less common. Different species of sheep have been crossbred with the aim of improving their adaptability to local environmental conditions, and to improve the quality and usefulness of their products. Sheep farming is an important agricultural activity in a number of countries and it is estimated that more than 1,000 million animals are kept globally. A sheep known as Dolly has a particular place in history owing to its being an ...