Calico sheep is a type of sheep that has more than one colour within its coat. [1] The colouring is due to a piebald mutation, but the calico sheep is not a recognized breed.
These sheep tend to be very small due to intensive inbreeding and are often mislabeled as a true breed. Rather, they are mere crossbred sheep that have interesting colour patterns.
The calico mutation is due to an autosomal recessive gene, first reported by Roberts. [1]
Calico sheep are not related to the black and white sheep that are native to ancient Sudan [2] and to South Africa. [3]
The modern mutation was developed by breeding Shetland sheep with Barbados Blackbelly Sheep.[ citation needed]
Calico sheep is a type of sheep that has more than one colour within its coat. [1] The colouring is due to a piebald mutation, but the calico sheep is not a recognized breed.
These sheep tend to be very small due to intensive inbreeding and are often mislabeled as a true breed. Rather, they are mere crossbred sheep that have interesting colour patterns.
The calico mutation is due to an autosomal recessive gene, first reported by Roberts. [1]
Calico sheep are not related to the black and white sheep that are native to ancient Sudan [2] and to South Africa. [3]
The modern mutation was developed by breeding Shetland sheep with Barbados Blackbelly Sheep.[ citation needed]