The Berrichon du Cher sheep is a breed of domestic sheep from France. It is a meat sheep breed and raised mainly for meat production in it’s native area.
It was developed by crossing the original breed with a Merino sheep. And the breed was developed in the late eighteenth century.
More improvements of the breed were made with the introduction of the Dishley Leicester sheep in the nineteenth century.
British breeders have developed what they regard as a distinct sub-breed from the French stock imported some 40 years ago.
And they have named the sub-breed as British Berrichon. Breed sales are held five times a year. And seventeen of the top agricultural shows, including the Royal Three Counties, the Royal Bath & West, the Royal Highland and England’s biggest show, Great Yorkshire Show, hold separate classes for British Berrichons.
The British breeders are mainly based in the West from Devon up to Scotland. Read some more information about this French sheep breed below.
Berrichon du Cher Sheep Characteristics
The Berrichon du Cher sheep are large animals. They are mainly white in coloration with white face, and their face is generally free of wool.
Their wool is medium which displays white and is unicolored. Both rams and ewes are generally polled.
Average body height of the mature rams is around 29 inches at the withers, and around 27 inches for the ewes.
Average live body weight of the mature ewes is around 70 kg. And the mature rams on average weight around 110 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Berrichon du Cher sheep is a meat sheep breed. It is raised mainly for meat production.
Special Notes
The Berrichon du Cher sheep are very hardy animals. They are well adapted to their local climates.
They are mainly used for meat production, but the rams are also used as a terminal sire. The breed is also pretty good for wool production.
Their wool is of medium size and pretty good in quality. However, review full breed profile of this breed in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Berrichon du Cher |
| Other Names | None |
| Breed Purpose | Mainly meat |
| Special Notes | Well adapted to local climates, very hardy animals, today raised mainly for meat, but are also pretty good for producing wool, large animals, medium sized wool, also used as terminal sire |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Weight | Mature ram’s average body weight is around 110 kg, and the mature ewe’s average live body weight is around 70 kg. |
| Horns | No |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Color | White |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | France |
