Île-de-France sheep

It was first developed at a French veterinary college in the 1830s through crosses of Dishley Leicester and Rambouillet, and was originally known as the Dishley Merino.

[1] A breed association was formed in 1933, and it was rigorously tested early on its breeding for meat characteristics and maternal qualities.

[2] Today the Île-de-France is one of the top meat breeds worldwide, and is present in South Africa, Australia and the Americas as well as in Europe.

It is primarily used as a terminal sire, but is also occasionally found as a dairy breed in the United States.

[2] It's a large, naturally polled breed with white fleece.