Tunis

Sheep · Heritage · 1 live listings

Tunis are one of the oldest US breeds, descended from fat-tailed sheep sent from Tunisia in 1799. They have red-brown faces and legs, cream wool and red-coated lambs, handle heat well and can breed out of season.

At a glance

Purpose
Meat and wool
Origin
Tunisia, US-developed
Mature weight
Ewes 120–160 lb
Lifespan
10–12 years
Temperament
Calm, gentle
Best fit
Heritage flocks, warm climates
Species
Sheep
Category
Livestock
Group
Heritage
Registries
Breed association, Scrapie program tag, NSIP (genetic evaluation)
Papers
5 categories
DocilityCalm and gentle
HardinessHandles heat well
Fleece workAnnual shearing
Beginner fitGood first flock

Scales follow breed-club and veterinary consensus; individual animals vary. Listings show what each seller has on file.

The tradeoffs, honestly

Tunis are a heritage breed and less common, so registered stock may take time to find. They are moderate in growth compared with modern terminal breeds.

Common questions

Why are Tunis lambs red?

Lambs are born with red hair that gives way to cream wool as they grow. The red stays on the face and legs.

What health tests should they have?

Ask for OPP, CL and Johne's results for the flock, and check that each sheep carries official scrapie ID. Codon 171 scrapie genotype (RR is resistant) is worth asking for on breeding rams.

Do Tunis handle hot climates?

Yes. They are known for heat tolerance and for breeding in warm weather when other breeds slow down.

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Health tests to ask for
Veterinary exam on fileScrapie genotypeOPP negativeJohne's negativeCL (caseous lymphadenitis) negativeCD&T currentDNA parentage verifiedOfficial scrapie ID recorded

Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.

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Tunis · Everybarn