The Canadian Arcott is one of the three Arcott breeds developed at the federal government research station in Ottawa between 1970 and 1985 and released to Canadian farms in the late 1980's.  Canadian Arcotts were the result of a crossbreeding program that included Ile de France and Suffolk, producing a new breed with strong meat characteristics.  It is a medium sized sheep, short and thick.  The lambs are fast growing, meaty animals that finish well for either the light or heavy lamb market.  They produce an excellent carcass with good meat to bone ratio.  The ewes are easy lambers and require low to medium maintenance.  They adapt well to either pasture or confinement management.  The rams make excellent terminal sires to improve meat characteristics on many other breeds. 


 Photo courtesy of Tracy Hagedorn