Awassi

Awassi sheep are a fat-tailed dairy and meat breed of Southwest Asia, long associated with Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and neighboring dryland regions. They are usually white-bodied with a reddish brown head and legs, long drooping ears, a convex profile, and a heavy fat tail that stores energy for harsh seasons. Traditional Awassi flocks supplied milk, lamb, meat, and coarse wool, while improved dairy lines have been selected for much higher milk yield under more intensive management.

Awassi are valued in arid and semi-arid systems because they walk well, tolerate heat, and can make use of sparse grazing when other breeds struggle. Dairy-oriented ewes still need adequate protein, minerals, and water during lactation, and the fat tail should not be mistaken for general body condition. In wetter or colder areas, attention to shelter, foot health, and parasites becomes more important. Imported or crossbred Awassi genetics are often used where producers want heat tolerance combined with sheep milk production.

Colors: Badgerface, Black, Blackbelly, Brown, Gray, Gulmoget, Katmoget, Moorit, Piebald, Red, Silver, Spotted, Tan, White, White with Black Points, White with Brown/Black Head and Legs, White with Brown Points