Najdi
Najdi sheep are a fat-tailed breed from the Najd region of central Arabia and are now kept across parts of the Gulf. They are tall, long-legged sheep with pendulous ears, a narrow face, and a long, often glossy fleece. The familiar color pattern is a black body with a white face and white legs, although shade and markings vary. Najdis are raised for meat, household milk in some flocks, and cultural display, and mature animals with the preferred carriage and markings can command high regional prices.
Desert adaptation does not remove the need for careful husbandry. Najdi flocks require shade, dependable water, and rations that balance roughage with grain or concentrates when pasture is poor. Their long fleece should be kept clean enough to avoid skin problems, and the fat tail needs space in handling systems, transport, and lambing areas. Breeding flocks often select first for height, straight legs, ear set, and the black-and-white pattern. Fertility and lamb growth still matter in flocks expected to produce regularly. In cooler or wetter climates, keepers should be ready for more foot care and parasite control than the breed may need on dry Arabian ground.
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