Bond
Bond sheep are an Australian sheep breed that was developed around 1909 near Lockhart, New South Wales by Thomas Bond when he mated Saxon-Peppin Merino ewes to stud Lincoln rams for primarily wool production. The resulting progeny was selected on the basis that they would be more suited to the Riverina environment. Initially these sheep were known as ‘the Commercial Corriedale’. In 1979, the name was changed to Bond and the Bond Sheepbreeders Association was formed at Lockhart in 1984. Bond are easy care, plain bodied sheep that produce white, long stapled, high yielding wool of about with a diameter of 22 to 28 microns with a fleece weight of about 7–8 kg (15–18 lb). Stud rams may weigh up to 150 kg (330 lb) under good conditions. High lambing percentages are common. The breed is quite common in the south-east areas of Australia. Stud animals have been exported to China, New Zealand and Russia.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Bond
Finding a responsible Bond breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells sheeps commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Bond. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Bonds appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for a Bond breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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