Polypay: Wool Educational Material for the Clothing Industry

Dual Purpose Breeds: Polypay

MATURE BODY WEIGHT

Ram 190-250 lb.
Ewe 140-180 lb.

AVERAGE fiber DIAMETER

Micron 31-24
Spinning Count 60-48

GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT

Ewe 7-10 lb.

YIELD

50-60%

STAPLE LENGTH

3-5"

The Polypay is a breed developed in the 1970's at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station at Dubois, Idaho, and Nicholas Farms at Sonoma, California. Targhee x Dorset and Rambouillet x Finnsheep crosses were mated to form a 4-breed composite. The breed is medium-sized, white-faced and prolific with an extended breeding season. They are good mothers and milkers, and produce lambs with acceptable growth and carcass quality. Due to the recent formation of this breed, body size, type and fleece traits are still quite variable.

Learn more about sheep & wool from the following resources.

Wool Research 

Wool fiber

Sheep Glossary

Benefits of Wool

Sheep Wool Grades

Wool Definition