Meat
Columbia
B tier
Columbia sheep were the first breed developed entirely in the United States, crossing Lincoln rams over Rambouillet ewes to create large, polled, white dual-purpose animals for western range production. They yield heavier fleeces and larger lambs than fine-wool purebreds alone. Columbia lamb is mild and substantial—good family roasting joints and chops from animals that grow well on mountain summer ranges. Carcasses can be rangier than specialised terminals; many commercial ranches use Columbia ewes under black-faced rams for market lambs with better shape.
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Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
USDA and Wyoming experiment stations began Lincoln × Rambouillet foundation crosses.
The Columbia name was adopted for the large dual-purpose range type.
A breed association formalised pedigree Columbia breeding.
Columbias became a major western commercial ewe breed for wool and lamb.