Roslag sheep
Encyclopedia
The Roslag sheep is a breed of endangered domesticated sheep that originated in and is almost exclusively found in Sweden
.
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.
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 Europe
an 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. 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
.
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.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Roslag sheep originate from the remnant populations of Swedish landrace
Landrace
A landrace is a local variety of a domesticated animal or plant species which has developed largely by natural processes, by adaptation to the natural and cultural environment in which it lives. It differs from a formal breed which has been bred deliberately to conform to a particular standard...
breeds that used to be rather common all over the countryside, but are generally believed to have come from Raggarön in Roslagen
Roslagen
Roslagen is the name of the coastal areas of Uppland province in Sweden, which also constitutes the northern part of the Stockholm archipelago....
, Sweden.
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
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
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
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
(80-90 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) for ewes and about 50 kg (110 lb) for rams.
Although there is considerable genetic variation in most of the northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
an sheep breeds, Roslag sheep, as well as Dala Fur sheep
Dala Fur sheep
The Dala-fur is a breed of domestic sheep originating in Sweden. The Dala-fur is one of several sheep breeds that are remnents of the old Swedish landrace breed, and is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds....
(also originating in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) and Estonian Ruhnu sheep
Estonian Ruhnu sheep
Estonian Ruhnu sheep are a breed of native domesticated sheep found on the small Estonian island of Ruhnu in the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea....
exhibit the highest within-population inbreeding due to declining numbers of the breeds. 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
Långholmen
Långholmen is an island in central Stockholm, between Södermalm and Kungsholmen.Långholmen is a green oasis in the city, and a popular spot for walks, picnics and swimming. The small beaches, located right outside the former prison, are usually crowded in summer. However, up until 1975, Långholmen...
alongside endangered Swedish Ringamåla cattle
Ringamåla Cattle
Ringamåla Cattle is a breed of dairy cattle found primarily in southern Sweden.The Ringamåla cattle are an old Swedish farm breed originating in the village of Ringamåla in the southern Swedish county of Blekinge. They are descended from Swedish Red Cattle and Ayrshire cattle.Ringamåla cattle have...
.
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
Swedish National Board of Agriculture
The Swedish Board of Agriculture is a government agency in Sweden that answers to the Ministry of Agriculture. The agency headquarters is located in Jönköping....
. The Swedish Sheep Breeders' Association registers those sheep holders who are entitled to environmental subsidies for the conservation of endangered breeds.