Calico sheep

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.

Calico Sheep

## Contents

* 1 Genetics
* 2 History
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 Further reading

## Genetics

The calico mutation is due to an autosomal recessive gene, first reported by Roberts.[1]

## History

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]

## See also

* Calico cat

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "A Piebald Mutation in Sheep: And a Suggested Interpretation" Journal of Heredity (1950), Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 39-40; retrieved 2012-8-19.
2. ↑ Shaw, Thustan. (1995). The Archaeology of Africa: Food, Metals and Towns, p. 69.
3. ↑ British Museum. (1908). A guide to the domesticated animals (other than horses) exhibited in the central and north halls of the British Museum (Natural History), p. 21.

## Further reading

* Richardson, Tracey. "Sheep earn their keep at winery," Owen Sound Sun Times (Canada). July 17, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-19.

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