Spælsau sheep are a breed of domestic sheep from Norway. It is also known by other names such as Old Norse short-tailed landrace and Old Norse Norse Game.
He descends from Old Norse with Icelandic and Faroese blood. The breed is bred primarily for wool and meat production.
The coat of these animals is usually white, but some animals have individuals with colored hair. It has been kept as a pet since the Iron Age and is well adapted to the local climate.
The Spulsau sheep breed accounts for about 22% of the total sheep population in Norway. Two breeding stations were created in 1992 to prevent the extinction of the breed.
Icelandic sheep were crossed in the 1960s and 1970s. Faroese and Finnish sheep breeds were also used in the breeding program.
Today, the breed is grown primarily for meat production. However, for more information on this beautiful breed of sheep, read below.
Characteristics of Spælsau sheep
The Spulzaw sheep is a medium-sized animal with a beautiful appearance. In fact, it is a compact animal with a light build that does not need a lot of concentrated food.
These animals produce thick milk and have strong pack instincts. They generally do very well outdoors most of the time throughout the year.
Their coat colors include black and white, but many variations and shades of gray and brown are common in older types.
They can be horned or polled. Wool is distinguished by the presence of two layers. One of them has a shiny wavy outer layer of long wool that protects the lower layer from rain and wind. And another lower layer that keeps the sheep warm.
The average live weight of sexually mature Spulsau sheep ranges from 60 to 70 kg. Photos and information from Wikipedia.
Advantages
The Spælsau sheep is a dual purpose animal. It is grown for both meat and milk production.
Special Notes
Spælsau sheep are a very hardy and strong breed of domestic sheep. They are well adapted to the local climate and have been present there for a long time.
As a dual-purpose animal, this breed is suitable for both milk and meat production. The meat and milk are of very good quality.
They have a long, protective wool that is used for weaving and is traditionally spun into a tightly spun two-row yarn instead of the usual three-ply yarn, which gives a nice sheen.
Previously, the thread was used in ancient Norwegian tapestries of the Renaissance and Baroque.
The sails of the Viking ship were made from Spælsau yarn. In ancient times, wool was also used in clothing. Wool was used in clothing because it is light, strong and absorbs little moisture.
Today, the breed is bred primarily for meat production. However, see the complete Spælsau sheep breed profile in the following table.
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| Breed name | Spaelsau |
| another name | Also known as Old Norse short-tailed landrace and Old Norse Norse Game |
| Purpose of the breed | Meat, milk and wool |
| Special Notes | Very hardy and strong animals, well adapted to the local climate, suitable for the production of quality meat, suitable for the production of milk, suitable for the production of wool. |
| Breed size | medium |
| The weight | 60 to 70 kg |
| horns | Either excited or interrogated |
| climatic tolerance | native climate |
| Color | The regular color is white |
| scarcity | general |
| Country/place of origin | Norway |
