Short answers, pulled from the story.
The domestication of sheep began between 11,000 and 9,000 BC in Mesopotamia. Archaeological evidence from Mehrgarh in the Indus Valley suggests this process may have started as early as 7,000 BC. These ancient herders did not initially seek wool but kept the animals solely for meat, milk, and skins.
Ewes typically weigh between 45 and 100 kilograms while rams weigh between 60 and 120 kilograms. The rate of growth and mature weight is a heritable trait often selected for in breeding programs. Most horned breeds have a single pair of horns but a few breeds may have several.
A Finnish Dorset sheep named Dolly became the world's most famous sheep in 1996 as the first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. In 1995, two ewes named Megan and Morag became the first mammals cloned from differentiated cells. As of 2008, the sheep genome had not been fully sequenced although a detailed genetic map had been published.
China, Australia, India, and Iran have the largest modern flocks serving both local and exportation needs for wool and mutton. Other countries such as New Zealand have smaller flocks but retain a large international economic impact due to their export of sheep products. The nations with the highest consumption of sheep meat are the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Uruguay, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Over one third of sheep deaths in the United States in 2004 were caused by predation. Worldwide, canids including the domestic dog are responsible for most sheep deaths. Other animals that occasionally prey on sheep include felines, bears, birds of prey, ravens, and feral hogs.