Roslag sheep

Roslag sheep

The Roslag sheep (Swedish: "Roslagsfår") is a breed of endangered domesticated sheep that originated in and is almost exclusively found in Sweden. [http://www.rala.is/beta/12%20Swedish%20Roslags%20sheep.htm North Shed: Swedish Roslag Sheep] ]

Roslag sheep originate from the remnant populations of Swedish landrace breeds that used to be rather common all over the countryside, ] but are generally believed to have come from Raggarön in Roslagen, Sweden. [http://temp.nordgen.org/husdyrdatabase/en_visrase.asp?id=157 Nordic Gene Bank Farm Animals] ]

Small and generally white or ivory colored (although 10% of the population are black or white-black bi-colored), they are a short-tailed breed who are usually used in the production of wool and meat. The wool of the Roslag sheep is a carpetwool type; with long, straight or curly guard hair and a thick cover of underwool, which can be up to 30 cm long. Only the rams of the breed are horned. ] ] Ewes can lamb throughout the entire year and usually have only one lamb, but twins do occur. ]

The average adult weight is only 35-40 kg (80-90 lb) for ewes and about 50 kg (110 lb) for rams.

Although there is considerable genetic variation in most of the northern European sheep breeds, Roslag sheep, as well as Dala Fur sheep (also originating in Sweden) and Estonian Ruhnu sheep exhibit the highest within-population inbreeding due to declining numbers of the breeds. [ [http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:FIEyYZKIhqUJ:herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514282353/isbn9514282353.pdf+ruhnu+sheep&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us Tapio, Miika: "Origin and maintenance of genetic diversity in northern European sheep". ACTA, Universitatis Oulensis, page 44. 2006] ] A contemporary estimated number for the population of Roslag sheep by the Nordisk GenBank Husdyr is 496 individuals. ] Several flocks can be found at the Bokö Nature Reserve on the islands of Bokö, Brånnholmen and Långholmen alongside endangered Swedish Ringamåla cattle. [ [http://www5.e.lst.se/reservat/lst/reservat.asp?id=83&sprak=eng Bokö Nature Reserve] ]

The Swedish Peasant Sheep Association represents the interests of individuals breeding Roslag Sheep and is responsible for the breed's conservation. Some owners of Roslag Sheep are members of the Swedish Sheep Breeders' Association, and thus follow the breeding plan for the breed determined by the Swedish National Board of Agriculture. The Swedish Sheep Breeders' Association registers those sheep holders who are entitled to environmental subsidies for the conservation of endangered breeds. ]

ee also

*Domestic sheep
*List of breeds of sheep

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Northern European short-tailed sheep — Shetland ewe showing characteristic short, hair tipped tail of northern European short tailed sheep. Northern European short tailed sheep are a group of sheep breeds and landraces from the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the area around the… …   Wikipedia

  • Estonian Ruhnu sheep — ( et. Eesti maalammas) are a breed of native domesticated sheep found on the small Estonian island of Ruhnu in the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. [http://www.rala.is/beta/33%20Estonian%20Ruhnu%20sheep.htm North Shed: Origin and diversity of… …   Wikipedia

  • List of sheep breeds — This is a list of domestic sheep breeds. Domestic sheep ( Ovis aries ) are partially derived from mouflon ( Ovis orientalis ) stock, and have diverged sufficiently to be considered a different species.Comprehensive list of domestic sheep breeds… …   Wikipedia

  • Roslagen — (Uppland/Gästrikland) red = Tiunda cyan = Attunda yellow = Roden green = Fjärdhundra The coastline has changed considerably in the last millennium due to post glacial rebound. Originally there was a sea bay coming in from the north all the way… …   Wikipedia

  • Ringamåla Cattle — (Swedish: Ringamålakor ) is a breed of domesticated cattle found, primarily, in southern Sweden. [ [http://neurocad.lva.lt/Breeds/SwedishBreeds.htm Swedish Breeds] ] The Ringamåla cattle are an old Swedish farm breed of cattle which were… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”