- Rya (sheep)
Rya, also known as Ryafår or Swedish Carpet Wool Sheep, is a breed of sheep that is native to
Sweden . The breed originated from the Swedish and Norwegianlandrace breedscite web | author=Eva-Marie Stålhammar, Zofia Kurowska | title=Sheep Breeding in Sweden |url=http://www.nordgen.org/ngh/download/nghnytt2_2005sverige_eng.doc |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] . The purpose of the sheep was to use the long, wavy, and shinywool to produce rya-wool, which is often used to make carpets cite web | author=North SheD | title=Rya sheep |url=http://www.rala.is/beta/07%20Swedish%20Rya%20sheep.htm |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] . In the early twentieth century, few long wool sheep remained in the province ofDalarna , sparking the restoration of the rya sheep breed. As of the year 2000, there is a stablepopulation of about 2000 rya sheep. They can be found in northern and central Sweden [cite web | author=Oklahoma State University Board of Regents | title=Rya |url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/rya/index.htm |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] . They are usually kept in small flocks cite web | author=Eva-Marie Stålhammar, Zofia Kurowska | title=Sheep Breeding in Sweden |url=http://www.nordgen.org/ngh/download/nghnytt2_2005sverige_eng.doc |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] .The rya sheep is a medium-sized sheep with relatively short
leg s, and has strong and shiny long wool fibers. Wool fibers of at least 15 cm in length with a maximum crimp of 3 crimps per 5 cm is the breeding goal cite web | author=Eva-Marie Stålhammar, Zofia Kurowska | title=Sheep Breeding in Sweden |url=http://www.nordgen.org/ngh/download/nghnytt2_2005sverige_eng.doc |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] . The sheep are white, but there are some black and brown individuals cite web | author=North SheD | title=Rya sheep |url=http://www.rala.is/beta/07%20Swedish%20Rya%20sheep.htm |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] . The adult wither height is 75 cm forram s and 70 cm for ewes. The live weight is 70 kg for rams and 50 kg for ewes.The rya sheep is also known to be highly
fertile . The mean litter size is 2.1 lambs at birth cite web | author=North SheD | title=Rya sheep |url=http://www.rala.is/beta/07%20Swedish%20Rya%20sheep.htm |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] .The sheep is also characterized by lambing ease and by their ability to forage in rough terrain cite web | author=Eva-Marie Stålhammar, Zofia Kurowska | title=Sheep Breeding in Sweden |url=http://www.nordgen.org/ngh/download/nghnytt2_2005sverige_eng.doc |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] .
ee also
*
Domestic sheep
*List of sheep breeds
*Rya References
External links
* [http://www.tiho-hannover.de/einricht/zucht/eaap/descript/612.htm Breed description: Rya Sheep]
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