Najdi sheep

{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}

{{Infobox sheep breed

| name = Najdi

| image = Najdi sheep 5.jpg

| image_alt = A flock of Hampshires

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| country = Saudi Arabia

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| woolcolor = black

| facecolor = White

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The Najdi or Nejdi is a breed of domestic sheep primarily found in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula. Though it is primarily raised in Saudi Arabia, Najdi sheep are also present in Kuwait, Jordan and Oman.{{cite web |url=http://dad.fao.org/ |title=Breed Data Sheet |work=dad.fao.org |publisher=FAO Domestic Animal Diversity system (DAD-IS) }} They may also be found in many other locations, including Jeddah.

The Najdi has a distinctive appearance that has even been celebrated in Saudi "sheep beauty pageants" not unlike livestock shows and sales in the West. They are a very tall breed, averaging 76–86 centimeters (30–34 inches) in height at the withers. They have long, Roman nosed faces with drooping ears. Ewes are polled and rams may be either polled or have scurs. They are generally black with white faces and white on the legs and tail. Top Najdi ewes can sell for 20,000–30,000 Saudi riyals (US$5,300–8,000), while rams which can sire many more offspring can fetch hundreds of thousands.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27474105 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324051530/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27474105/wid/17621070/ |url-status=live |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |title=Breeders hold first pageant for Saudi-bred sheep |date=October 31, 2008 |work=MSNBC |publisher=Associated Press }}

Najdi are highly adapted to life in desert conditions, though it is less drought tolerant than some breeds, such as the Awassi.{{cite journal |url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=15919981 |title=Effect of water deprivation and season on feed intake, body weight and thermoregulation in Awassi and Najdi sheep breeds in Saudi Arabia |last=Alamer |first=Mohammed |author2=Adel Al-Hozab |journal=Journal of Arid Environments |year=2004 |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=71–84 |doi=10.1016/j.jaridenv.2004.01.003 |bibcode=2004JArEn..59...71A |doi-access=free |url-access=subscription }}{{cite book |title=People, land and water in the Arab Middle East |last=Lancaster |first=William |author2=Fidelity Lancaster |year=1999 |isbn=978-90-5702-322-4 |publisher=Taylor & Francis }} Though its meat may be consumed locally, it is especially valued for its milk, meat and long, straight wool.