What is the Difference Between Sheep and Lamb?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between sheep and lambs is their age. A lamb is a baby sheep under the age of 1 year, while a sheep refers to an adult animal. Here are some key differences between sheep and lambs:
- Age: Lambs are less than 1 year old, while sheep are 1 year old or older.
- Size: Lambs are typically half the height of adult sheep or smaller. They weigh between 8 and 12 pounds, while adult sheep weigh 200 pounds or more and stand between 2 and 4 feet tall.
- Coat: Lambs have soft and fine wool with a luxurious feel and lustrous shine, while sheep have coarser and denser wool.
- Teeth: Lambs are born toothless and develop small milk teeth for nursing. Sheep have a full set of eight adult teeth by the age of 4.
- Behavior: Both lambs and sheep are friendly, but lambs are more docile, making them easier to handle. Adult sheep are social and move around in flocks.
In addition, the meat from lambs is tender and mild in flavor, while sheep meat (mutton) is tougher and has a stronger, gamey flavor. An adult female sheep is called an ewe, and an adult male sheep is called a ram.
Comparative Table: Sheep vs Lamb
Here is a table summarizing the differences between sheep and lamb:
| Feature | Lamb | Sheep |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Young sheep | Adult sheep |
| Age | Less than 1 year | 1 year or older |
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
| Wool | Softer, finer wool | Coarser, denser wool |
| Taste | Tender, mild flavor | Stronger flavor |
| Meat | Called lamb | Called mutton |
| Diet | Milk until weaned, then grasses, hay, grains, or commercial concentrates | Grasses, hay, grains, or commercial concentrates |
| Behavior | More docile | Social, friendly |
| Gender | Female = Ewe, Male = Ram | female = Ewe, Male = Ram |
Lambs are young sheep that are less than 1 year old, while sheep refer to adult sheep. Lambs are smaller in size and have a more delicate flavor compared to sheep. The wool of lambs is generally finer and softer than that of sheep. In summary, lambs are young, smaller, and have softer wool, while sheep are adult, larger, and have coarser wool.