Criollo

Criollo sheep are not one tightly standardized breed so much as a family of Creole and landrace sheep descended largely from Iberian stock taken to the Americas. Different regional names may be used across South and Central America, and local flocks can vary in size, fleece, horns, color, and production emphasis depending on climate and history.

Their value is usually practical: hardiness, thrift, and the ability to lamb and survive under low-input range or smallholder systems. Breeders working with Criollo sheep often select within local conditions rather than against a narrow show standard, so buyer expectations should focus on the flock's origin, health, parasite tolerance, and actual performance. When source flock history is available, it usually tells more than the breed label alone, especially for climate tolerance, lambing habits, and wool type.