Icelandic sheep

Icelandic sheep is considered one of the oldest preserved pure breeds. After sheep were introduced to the island in the 9th-10th centuries by Viking settlers, relatively few attempts were made to improve the breed. Moreover, all attempts at breeding with other breeds were unsuccessful, causing epidemics of the diseases to which imported sheep were exposed, and as a result hybrids were mercilessly destroyed. In the end, Iceland passed a law prohibiting the import of other breeds of sheep onto the island, and the improvement of the Icelandic sheep breed was limited to the artificial selection of the best specimens, and the Icelandic sheep is currently no different from its 9th century ancestors ^{[1] [2]} .

The Icelandic sheep belongs to medium-sized breeds: the body weight of an adult ram is 90-100 kg , adult female - 67-73 kg . Both males and females are hornless, but horned individuals are more common.

The coat covering the entire body, except for the muzzle, udder and legs, is divided into a thin lower layer, known as Thel , shiny, springy and soft, like down; and a coarser long top layer ( Tog ), in consistency resembling mohair . The coat of the upper layer is straight or curled, but not curled. The fleece is open, not very oily (on average, fat is about 2 kg of the total weight of the fleece). Natural color from snow-white to coal-black, including several shades of gray, as well as brown from reddish to brown-black. There are also individuals with spotted hair, with a color similar to that of mouflons , or with a striped pattern resembling the face of a badger ^[1] . The Icelandic breed is considered one of the richest in the world in terms of the number of natural color shades ^[3] .

The Icelandic sheep is sensitive to danger and able to run fast, herd instinct is relatively poorly developed, and quite a few individuals are found. In relation to sheep of other breeds, Icelandic sheep can behave aggressively and usually occupy dominant positions in a mixed herd. The leader of the herd usually behaves especially aggressively, as a rule - a horned ram, which can be dangerous for people ^[1] . There are cases when Icelandic sheep attacked shepherd dogs, and the president of the Association of Icelandic sheep breeders of North America S. Somerville believes that such a sheep can withstand coyote ^[2] . At the same time, females of the Icelandic sheep are considered good mothers. On the pasture, the herd of Icelandic sheep widely diverges, which is useful in conditions where there is little grass. Low-growing shrubs also willingly eat Icelandic sheep ^[1] .

Seasonal reproduction, in females, the estrus period lasts from early November to April. By the end of October, males have a specific smell that attracts females and persists throughout the estrus period. Sheep of this breed can breed at other times of the year, but this feature is not used in Iceland.

Icelandic sheep are fertile; adult sheep are good inseminators. A sheep is able to inseminate sheep at the age of seven months, a sheep is able to bring lambs as early as 12 months and continues to bear offspring up to 12-14 years. The reproductive level is 170-180%. In the 1990s, a gene responsible for fertility was isolated in Icelandic sheep (a similar gene is also known in burul merino ); in sheep with this gene, in the offspring usually from 2.14 to 3.4 lamb, in those without a gene from 1.59 to 2.2.

Icelandic sheep are best known for their wool. The length of the fiber, the open nature of the coat, and the variety of natural colors have made Icelandic sheep’s wool popular with manufacturers of hand-made yarns. However, the relatively small volume of production makes Icelandic sheep wool unsuitable for large enterprises. At the beginning of the 21st century, income from the sale of wool was less than 15% of the total income from sheep farming in Iceland. The skins of Icelandic sheep, due to the low density of hair follicles, are well suited for fur sheepskins, they make fashionable expensive clothes, especially coats ^[1] . The coarser wool obtained from the spring haircut is used to make carpets. A traditional Icelandic lopapeysa sweater is knitted from lopi yarn, on which both the lower and upper layers of the Icelandic sheep’s wool obtained from the autumn haircut go ^[2] .

Icelandic sheep gives a lot of milk, and sheep’s milk was widely used in Iceland until the middle of the 20th century, but later meat was the main product obtained from sheep in Iceland. Icelandic sheep grow quickly, reaching 4–5 months of age reaching a body weight of 36 to 40 kg , after which they are excommunicated. Subsequently, the sheep are transferred to mountain pastures, without additionally feeding with grain or granular feed, and subsequently taken to the slaughter directly from grazing. Iceland is one of the first places in the world in terms of meat produced per unit number of sheep: when processing carcasses, about 45% of the weight is lost, the remaining meat has a fine-grained texture and good taste ^[1] . At the height of summer, before the annual slaughter, the number of sheep in Iceland reaches half a million. High-quality meat and wool have made the Icelandic sheep a popular breed outside its homeland; in North America alone, three hundred farms are engaged in the cultivation of Icelandic sheep ^[2] .

• Breeds of Livestock - Icelandic Sheep (Neopr.) . Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University (January 5, 2001). Date of appeal September 13, 2015.