Faroe sheep is a breed of sheep that is bred in the Faroe Islands .
Description
It is a representative of primitive North European short-tailed sheep , known as a small, hardy breed. Females of the Faroese breed of sheep weigh about 20 kg, and rams reach 20-40 kg. Sheep have horns, and sheep hornless. In the breed there are animals of various colors.
Faroe’s sheep, as a rule, have a very weak herd instinct and usually do not gather in large groups on pasture. The closest breeds to Faroese are Old Norwegian, Icelandic and Shetland breed.
Economic and Cultural Importance
The first sheep of this breed appeared in the IX century. Faroe sheep have long been an integral part of the island's traditions. The name “Faroe Islands” means “sheep’s islands” and this animal is depicted on the coat of arms of the islands.
Lamb dishes such as headlights. skerpikjøt , make up a significant part of the island's traditional cuisine. The breed is mainly used for meat production, but wool is also used for knitting traditional shawls in the Faroe Islands.