Mehraban

Mehraban is an Iranian fat-tailed sheep from Hamadan Province, where it is one of the important local meat breeds. It is a carpet-wool sheep rather than a fine-wool type, often described with light brown wool and a sturdy frame suited to western Iranian conditions. The breed is valued for lamb production, fertility, and survival from birth to weaning in regional farming systems.

Management centers on maintaining ewes through seasonal feed changes and raising lambs efficiently for meat. The fat tail reflects adaptation to environments where forage quality can shift, but it should not be allowed to hide poor body condition, lameness, or weak growth. Mehraban wool has traditional value in stronger textiles, including carpet-type uses, while the main farm income is usually lamb. Breeders comparing Mehraban sheep should pay close attention to flock origin, mothering, lamb weights, and whether animals have been selected under pasture conditions or more intensive feeding.