Finnsheep
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| Country of origin | Finland |
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| Wool colour | usually white; also black, brown or grey[4] |
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The Finnsheep or Suomenlammas is a Finnish breed of domestic sheep. It is one of the large Northern European short-tailed group of breeds. The lambs mature early and can be mated at six months of age. Ewes commonly breed out of season and some may lamb twice in a year.[5]
History
Characteristics
Use
The fineness of Finnsheep wool has some individual variation, but the American Sheep Industry’s Wool Council ranks Finnsheep in the fine end of the medium wool category.[6]
Although not a large sheep, Finns produce a lean, succulent meat with a delicate and mild flavor, even as adults. [7]
Fertility
Finnsheep mature early and are known for their fertility. Rams can be bred at four to eight months of age, and ewes are expected to lamb at twelve months with multiple lambs. Although twins and triplets are most common, there have been litters born with as many as seven viable lambs. [7]
United States
Finnsheep were first brought to North America by the University of Manitoba, CA in 1966. A few years later, Finnsheep made their way down into the US by enthusiasts who hoped to improve maternal qualities in commercial flocks. [8] By 1971, The Finnsheep Breeders Association had formed, providing shepherds with a standard of documentation to maintain and improve the integrity of the breed. [7]
References
- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Breed data sheet: Suomenlammas / Finland (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2026.
- ^ Transboundary breed: Finnisch Landrace. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2026.
- ^ Suomenlammas (Finnsheep) (in Finnish). Vihti: Suomen Lammasyhdistys. Accessed April 2026.
- ^ Finnsheep In Finland, by H. Goot, 1973 (Special Publication No. 28, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
- ^ Wool Grades and the Sheep that Grow the Wool, from the American Wool Council, a division of the American Sheep Industry Association, 6911 South Yosemite Street, Englewood, CO 80112-1414 - http://www.sheepusa.org.
- ^ a b c "Finnsheep History and Characteristics". Finnsheep Breeders Association. Finnsheep Breeders Association, INC. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
- ^ "Finnsheep". Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science. Archived from the original on 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2009-04-17.