White Karaman

The White Karaman, more commonly called Akkaraman in Turkey, is a fat-tailed sheep of the central Anatolian plateau. It is one of the main traditional Turkish sheep breeds and is adapted to dry steppe grazing, long walking distances, and seasonal shortages of feed. The body is usually white, often with dark markings on the muzzle, around the eyes, or on the legs. Rams may be horned, while ewes are commonly polled. Its fleece is coarse and mixed, historically useful for carpets and household textiles rather than fine wool.

Akkaraman flocks are kept for lamb, milk, and wool in village and transhumant systems. The fat tail stores energy and is part of the breed's adaptation, but it also influences mating and handling, so flock managers pay attention to body condition and ram soundness before breeding. Ewes are valued for survival and mothering under modest conditions rather than very high prolificacy. In improvement programs, crossbreeding can raise milk or growth, but maintaining pure White Karaman lines helps preserve a sheep suited to Anatolia's climate and grazing pattern.

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