We raise moderate framed heritage American Tunis sheep. We are interested in preserving the moderate frame, thrift, and parasite resistance this beautiful breed is know for. We searched far and wide for a good genetic base for our breeding stock and are pleased to be a part of the effort to preserve this wonderful breed.
The Tunis is one of the oldest breeds of sheep having descended from ancient fat-tailed sheep referred to in the Bible. As the name indicates, the Tunis originated in Tunisia on the Northern coast of Africa.
Tunis sheep spread throughout the mid Atlantic and southeastern United States and were well adapted to the heat and humidity of these regions. The Tunis was the mainstay of sheep production in the upper South and mid Atlantic regions until the Civil War, when nearly all Southern stock was destroyed. Credit for saving the breed from extinction at this time is given to Maynard Spigener of South Carolina. During the war he protected the last flock of Tunis by hiding them on his land along the Congoree River near the city of Columbia. After the war the Great Lakes region and New England became strongholds for the breed. It is only recently that the Tunis has again been seen in the Southeast.
The Livestock Conservancy has Tunis listed in the Watch category of their Conservation Priority List, and although the breed has been steadily gaining in popularity in recent years there are certain lines which are not being maintained. These are the more traditional, old-style Tunis which have not been bred specifically for the show ring. While have several old-style Tunis on our farm–smaller framed, hardy– we are selecting for sheep that do well in our wet Appalachian climate. Foot health, parasite resistance, and thrift are highly valued traits in our flock. Hardiness, fertility, and foraging ability are what Tunis are known for, and we select for sheep that maintain those traits. Our moderate framed Tunis are easy keepers and thrive in forage based production systems. We are not a certified organic farm but we do follow organic practices. We do not use pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers of any kind on our farm.
We also breed for quality wool! We love our Tunis and are proud to join other farmers who are preserving is wonderful breed. We maintain a waiting list of those interested in raw fleeces. Our flock is uncoated, so we only sell carefully selected fleeces that both showcase the wonderful fiber qualities of the breed and that lend themselves to processing by hand.
Biosecurity is very important us. All foundation stock have been tested for OPP/CAE, CL , and Johnes. New rams are quarantined and tested prior to being introduced to the flock. We do not routinely use chemical dewormers to maintain flock health but we are committed to animal welfare and will use treatments, including veterinary care, to save the life of members of the flock. We have found that rotating pastures and maintaining a diverse mixture of plants in our pastures play a large role in flock health, and we offer a diverse mix of minerals, meals, and methods to minimize the use of chemical dewormers. Conscientious use is important for all sheep flocks, and we rarely need to use chemical dewormers with indivial sheep. All of our sheep receive a yearly CDT vaccine.
Our fiber is processed at small, family-owned mills. We use Round Barn Fiber Mill (IN) to process our fleeces into lovely yarn and roving. We also use Blue Mountain Fiber Mill in PA for small batches and to produce wool pellets. We are proud members of the Livestock Conservancy and participate in the Shave Em’ to Save Em’ challenge, an effort to promote the wool of endangered breeds of sheep.
Please feel free to inquire about breeding stock. We maintain a contact list and reach out to those folks when ewe lambs are available. Please note that all available ewe lambs are reserved for 2025. Please feel free to reach out if you’re interested in sheep in 2026!
Tarheelbilly Farm 