Somali Arab
The Somali Arab is Somali breed of domestic sheep. It is one of two breeds of sheep reported by Somalia, the other being the Blackheaded Somali. It is a hairy coarse-woolled sheep, is polled, and belongs to the fat-tailed group of breeds. It is entirely white – white-woolled with a white face. It closely resembles the Radmani of Yemen, from which it may derive. No population data has ever been reported to DAD-IS. The conservation status of the breed was reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as "no data" in 2007, and in 2026 was listed in DAD-IS as "unknown".
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Somali Arab
Finding a responsible Somali Arab 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 Somali Arab. 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 Somali Arabs 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.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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