Rideau Arcott

Rideau Arcott sheep are a Canadian maternal breed developed by Agriculture Canada at the Animal Research Centre near Ottawa; the name Arcott comes from that centre. The breed was built from several sources, including Finnsheep, Suffolk, East Friesian, Shropshire, and Dorset-type influence, to produce ewes that lamb young, breed over a longer season, and raise large litters. Rideaus are usually white, medium to large framed, and used far more for ewe productivity than for show-ring color or fleece traits.

Because prolificacy is the point of the breed, management has to match it. Ewes are commonly scanned, sorted by litter size, and fed carefully during late pregnancy and lactation; triplets and quads may need fostering, supplemental milk, or smaller lambing groups. Commercial shepherds use Rideau Arcott females in crossbreeding systems to lift lamb crop, while purebred flocks track fertility, udder quality, lamb survival, and temperament. They can work on pasture, but they are not a low-attention breed when litter size is high.