Can a bighorn sheep bred with a normal sheep?
Wild sheep, including bighorn sheep, are actually relatives of goats. No one knows for sure how domestic sheep evolved, but probably several varieties of wild sheep were tamed and crossbred. Domestic sheep often carry diseases that are fatal to bighorn sheep. Wild bighorn sheep rams have been documented to breed with domestic sheep ewes in California in the mid 1940’s. No offspring were produced but the possibility of interbreeding of the two species could have dramatic effects on both domestic and wild sheep physiology and population genetics. Also, the attraction of wild rams to domestic ewes, or domestic rams to wild ewes, during the breeding season, could lead to an increased potential for disease transmission. I hope this information helps.
