Northern European short-tailed sheep
The first sheep brought to Europe by early farmers were short-tailed. These animals appeared during the Neolithic Age as small, double-coated creatures with naturally moulting brown fleece. The Soay sheep remains a relict of this ancient population today. By the Iron Age, these original breeds had been replaced throughout northern and western Europe by somewhat larger sheep. The new arrivals still possessed short tails but featured fleeces of more uniform texture and variable colors. Sheep imported later from southern Europe were long-tailed, white-fleeced, and significantly larger. These newer types displaced the short-tailed sheep in most areas. By the early nineteenth century, only remoter parts of the west and north retained the old breeds. Survivors persisted in Scandinavia, the area around the Baltic, Ireland, Cornwall, and the Highlands of Scotland. Long-tailed sheep eventually spread into these regions too. By the early twentieth century, short-tailed sheep were restricted to very remote islands and mountains.
These sheep generally possess characteristic short fluke-shaped tails that are broad at the base and taper to a hair-covered tip. Their tails typically contain 13 vertebrae compared to over 20 for other sheep. Individual tail vertebrae are also shorter than those found on long-tailed breeds. Faces and legs remain free of wool entirely. Horn structures vary between breeds and often within them as well. Some populations feature horns in both sexes while others have horned males only or polled individuals. Certain types like the Manx Loaghtan and Hebridean can develop more than one pair of horns. Coloration ranges from patterned to solid with common shades including white, black, or moorit brown. White markings may appear over other colorations. The Shetland and Icelandic breeds include a very wide range of colors and patterns. Some types moult naturally in spring allowing their fleece to be rooed rather than shorn. Twin births occur frequently with some breeds giving birth to litters of three, four, or even more lambs. Breeding is usually strongly seasonal with lambs born in spring or early summer.
Most types are very hardy and agile animals adapted to eating rough vegetation in wet and cool climates. They often display a strong preference for browsing trees and shrubs instead of grazing shorter vegetation. The North Ronaldsay breed survives by living largely on seaweed. This population forages mainly on seaweed outside a wall surrounding the island just above the high tide mark. Their ability to thrive in these environments distinguishes them from larger long-tailed sheep. These hardy animals survive in wet northern environments through specific dietary adaptations. Seaweed consumption allows survival where grass grows poorly. Browsing habits enable access to food sources unavailable to other livestock. Their small size helps them navigate difficult terrain found on remote islands. Natural moulting reduces the need for human intervention during harsh weather periods. These traits allowed populations to persist when larger breeds failed in similar conditions.
From the mid-nineteenth century many surviving short-tailed breeds became recognized as worthy of preservation. Recognition grew especially after the middle of the twentieth century. Owners valued these animals for curiosity, cultural reasons, or as ornamental creatures. Conservation of genetic diversity drove further efforts to protect remaining populations. The Hebridean type was established as an ornamental animal in northern England in the late nineteenth century. It subsequently became extinct in the Hebrides themselves. The Castlemilk Moorit originated from the Castlemilk estate in Dumfriesshire in Scotland. Breeders developed this type as ornamental parkland animals using Manx Loaghtan and Shetland stock. They also crossed it with wild Mouflon. The Boreray breed represents survivors of sheep kept by crofters of the St Kilda archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. These animals now live only on the island of Boreray but formerly inhabited the larger island of Hirta. Descended from earlier short-tailed Hebridean sheep they were crossed with Scottish Blackface. The Cladagh population survived longest in the Aran Islands before disappearing completely. A few individuals remained in existence in the early 1970s.
More than thirty of these breeds survive today across Northern Europe. The Åland or Ålandsfår originates from an archipelago forming part of Finland. Originally brought from Gotland, these horned or polled animals appear in various colors including white and grey. They remain very rare. The Faeroe Sheep comes from the Faroe Islands which means Sheep Islands. Similar to Icelandic sheep, males are usually horned while many different colors and patterns exist. The Finnsheep hails from Finland and features multiple births frequently reaching up to seven or even nine live lambs. North American populations are usually white while Finnish flocks display other colors. The Shetland breed comes from the Shetland archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. Males are usually horned only and the breed produces a very fine fleece that often moults naturally. The Ouessant or Breton Dwarf originates from the island of Ouessant off the coast of Brittany France. These very small sheep are usually black or dark brown and horned in males. The Swedish Finewool appears in three color variants: white, black, or brown. It possesses good maternal ability with high milk yield and fertility.
Several extinct lineages document the history of these ancient breeds before their disappearance. The Kerry Mountain population came from the south-west of Ireland and became extinct in the early twentieth century. Horned individuals existed in both white and other colors. The Lítla Dímun lived feral on the island of Lítla Dímun in the Faroe Islands until extinction occurred in the mid-nineteenth century. This type was similar to the Soay but very small and black with horns in the male only. Now replaced on the island by Faroes sheep, it represents one of the earliest European sheep types. The Scottish Dunface or Old Scottish Short-wool formerly covered all over the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Some areas featured horned males while others had horned females often with more than one pair. Brown faces and colored streaks appeared in short fine wool. The Shetland, North Ronaldsay, Hebridean, and Boreray probably derive from this group. The Cladagh breed from Ireland is now probably extinct after surviving longest in the Aran Islands. A few individuals remained in existence in the early 1970s. These populations highlight the fragility of isolated genetic pools facing modern agricultural pressures.
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Common questions
What are the Northern European short-tailed sheep?
The first sheep brought to Europe by early farmers were short-tailed animals that appeared during the Neolithic Age as small, double-coated creatures with naturally moulting brown fleece. These breeds possessed characteristic short fluke-shaped tails containing 13 vertebrae compared to over 20 for other sheep.
When did the Northern European short-tailed sheep disappear from most areas of Europe?
By the Iron Age these original breeds had been replaced throughout northern and western Europe by somewhat larger sheep imported later from southern Europe. By the early twentieth century short-tailed sheep were restricted to very remote islands and mountains where they persisted in Scandinavia, Ireland, Cornwall, and the Highlands of Scotland.
How do the Northern European short-tailed sheep survive in harsh environments?
Most types are very hardy and agile animals adapted to eating rough vegetation in wet and cool climates while displaying a strong preference for browsing trees and shrubs instead of grazing shorter vegetation. The North Ronaldsay breed survives by living largely on seaweed outside a wall surrounding the island just above the high tide mark.
Which Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds became extinct in the early twentieth century or mid-nineteenth century?
The Kerry Mountain population came from the south-west of Ireland and became extinct in the early twentieth century while the Lítla Dímun lived feral on the island of Lítla Dímun in the Faroe Islands until extinction occurred in the mid-nineteenth century. The Cladagh population survived longest in the Aran Islands before disappearing completely with only a few individuals remaining in existence in the early 1970s.
Where can you find surviving Northern European short-tailed sheep today?
More than thirty of these breeds survive today across Northern Europe including the Åland archipelago forming part of Finland, the Faroe Islands, Finland, the Shetland archipelago off the north coast of Scotland, and the island of Ouessant off the coast of Brittany France. Some populations like the Boreray breed now live only on the island of Boreray but formerly inhabited the larger island of Hirta.