Kashmir Merino

The Kashmir Merino, sometimes called Kashmiri Merino, is a fine-wool sheep developed in Jammu and Kashmir by crossing local sheep with Merino-type stock. It was intended to improve fleece quality while retaining enough adaptation for the cold valleys and uplands of the western Himalaya. Most animals are white or light colored, medium in size, and selected for a dense, fine fleece rather than the coarse carpet wool common in many mountain sheep. The name can mislead visitors: Kashmir Merino is a sheep breed, while cashmere or pashmina fiber comes from goats.

Flocks are kept for wool, with lambs and cull animals contributing meat in local systems. Management centers on steady nutrition through winter, protection from cold rain or snow, and careful shearing so the fleece stays clean and useful. Fine-wool sheep also need attention to skin health, flystrike risk where climate allows, and adequate feed during pregnancy and lactation. Because crossbreeding and local naming can vary, buyers or conservation projects should ask about flock history, fleece measurements when available, and whether animals are suited to the altitude and forage conditions where they will be kept.

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