Arabi

Arabi sheep are a Middle Eastern fat-tailed breed or breed group associated with Iraq, southwestern Iran, and neighboring Gulf-region pastoral systems. They are typically kept for meat, milk, fat, and carpet-type wool, with adaptation to heat, dry country, and in some areas lowland marsh or riverine grazing. The fat tail is a defining utility trait, storing energy in environments where forage quality shifts sharply through the year.

Arabi flocks are best understood through local management rather than through show-ring uniformity. Ewes may be valued for milk and lamb survival as much as for carcass size, while wool is often coarse and used for practical textiles. Selection should protect heat tolerance, feet, reproductive soundness, and the tail structure expected in the local market. When the name appears outside its home region, breeders should document import source, strain, and any crossbreeding, because Arabi can otherwise become a vague label for several related fat-tailed sheep.