Charmoise

The Charmoise is a French meat sheep breed developed for compact muscling, easy lambing, and efficient lamb production. It is smaller and lighter-boned than many terminal sire breeds, which can make it useful on ewes where lambing ease matters. The breed has a white fleece and a tidy meat-sheep appearance, with selection aimed at carcass shape rather than specialty wool.

Farmers often consider Charmoise rams for grass-based lamb systems, hill ewe crossings, or flocks wanting lively lambs that finish without excessive birthweight. Management should still track growth rate, ram soundness, feet, and how lambs grade in the intended market. The breed is not simply a miniature terminal sire; its value depends on matching moderate size and carcass quality to ewe type, feed, and lambing labor.

Colors: Badgerface, Black, Blackbelly, Broken, Brown, Gray, Grey, Gulmoget, Katmoget, Moorit, Piebald, Red, Roan, Silver, Solid, Spotted, Tan, White, White with Black Points, White with Brown Points