ovine

Ovine is an adjective used to describe anything relating to sheep, particularly the domesticated sheep in the genus Ovis. It is commonly used in scientific and agricultural contexts to refer to sheep-derived characteristics, products, or management. The noun form is uncommon outside non-technical writing.

Taxonomy: Sheep belong to the family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla. The genus Ovis includes the domestic sheep (often treated as Ovis aries or Ovis aries f. domestica) and several wild relatives such as mouflon and argali. Domestic sheep show extensive variation in size, wool type, and coat color across breeds.

Physical traits: In most breeds, mature males possess horns, while many modern females are hornless. Wool or hair coats vary by breed and climate, and the animal's appearance can range from short sleek coats to long, heavy fleeces. Eyes and mouth morphology are typical of ruminant artiodactyls.

Uses and management: Sheep are kept mainly for wool, meat (lamb and mutton), and milk. Wool quality and yield depend on breed and management. Global sheep farming supports economies in temperate regions, with practices including breeding, nutrition, vaccination, parasite control, and welfare considerations.

Reproduction and life cycle: Ewes reach reproductive maturity at varying ages by breed. They typically have an annual breeding season, with single or multiple lambs per birth. Weaning occurs after several weeks to months, and lactation supports lamb growth.

Etymology: The term ovine derives from Latin ovis, meaning sheep. In veterinary and agricultural writing, ovine is used to describe sheep-related traits, anatomy, or products.