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Sheep, Uruguay
Photo of the Week - 03/27/2007

lambs in field

Sheep in Uruguay are raised in natural grasslands called the campo and exported throughout the world as meat and leather products. Their wool is well known and used in woolen textiles.

"The first sheep in Uruguay were of the 'Criolla' breed, descendants of those brought by the Spanish. Sheep arrived in the country from Argentina where they had been taken by land f rom Perú. Possibly they were of the Churra breed. Around 1830 some rams were imported, as well as Merino ewes, to improve wool; by 1840 wool exports began. In the mid nineteenth century there were 662,500 sheep of the 'Criolla' breed and 133,700 crosses. By 1860 sheep rearing was strongly promoted."
Uruguay.

Learn more about Uruguay.

Photo thanks to ArtToday.com.

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