Targhee

Breed Association NSIP Contact
and Data Coordinator
Tracie Roeder
950 County Line Road
Fort Shaw, MT 59443
Phone: 406/467-2462

Made in the U.S.A.

Targhee is a dual-purpose sheep with good meat type and a heavy fleece of high quality wool. They are hardy, and are especially suited to the ranges of the West where they were developed.  Targhee ewes have good mothering and milking ability. Mature Targhee ewes raise a high percentage of twins under range conditions. Targhee ewes excel in pounds of lamb weaned per ewe bred. Lambs at weaning should be thick and in good body condition.

Today’s Targhee sheep are hearty enough to withstand the elements while producing high quality lamb and wool for market.

The U.S. Targhee Sheep Association was founded September 27, 1951 in Dubois, Idaho. The goal of these pioneers was to develop profitable range raised sheep requiring minimal human intervention. Today’s Targhee sheep are hearty enough to withstand the elements while producing high quality lamb and wool for market.

History

Targhee is one of America’s youngest breeds having been developed this century. The Targhee sheep was developed by the U.S. Sheep Experiment station at  Dubois, Idaho, in response to the industry’s demand for a breed thick in  natural fleshing, capable of producing high quality, apparel type wool, and adapted to both the rugged range and farm flock conditions.  The Targhee breed started with breeding 3/4 Rambouillet and 1/4 long wool cross in 1926.  The foundation came from outstanding Rambouillet/Corriedale-Lincoln Rambouillet crosses.  The new breed was named Targhee after the National Forest where the animals grazed during the summer. The forest was named for a chief of the Bannock Indians who had lived in the area in the 1860′s. One can not get a more American name than that.