Pomeranian Coarsewool Sheep

The Pomeranian Coarsewool or simply Pomeranian (German: Pommersches Rauhwollschaf; Pommernschaf; Rauhwolliges Pommersches Landschaf) is an old domestic sheep breed from the Pomerania region.[1] The first records of similar sheep in Pomerania can be traced to more than 3000 years ago.[2][3] This breed is raised primarily for meat and vegetation management.[4]

Characteristics

This breed is polled (hornless), and has a black head with slate-blue or grey wool on the body – lambs are born wholly black. The legs are also covered with wool, and the tongue is blue. The fleece has shorter hairs amongst the longer wool.[2]

The breed is very hardy and is able to live outside all year, even raising lambs in the snow. The sheep thrive on poor forage.[3][5]

Ewes average around 55 kg (121 lb) in weight, and rams about 65 kg (143 lb). The fleece ranges from 3.5 to 7 kg (7.7 to 15.4 lb).[2]

History

Initially, this breed was called Grauwollschafe ("greywool sheep"), which in time changed to Rauhwollschafe ("coarsewool sheep") by dropping the first letter.[5] The breed almost vanished in the second half of the 20th century, when the population dropped below 100 and it was placed on the Red List of endangered livestock breeds.[2][3][5] The population has since recovered somewhat.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Phyllis G. Tortora, Robert S. Merkel, Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, Fairchild Publications, 1996, p.439, ISBN 0-87005-707-3, ISBN 978-0-87005-707-6
  2. 1 2 3 4 Site about Pomeranian sheep (in German)
  3. 1 2 3 Site about Pomeranian sheep (in German)
  4. ↑ "Rauhwolliges Pommersches Landschaf/Germany". Breed Data Sheet. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  5. 1 2 3 Ulrich Koglin, Achim Tacke, Landpartie: Im Norden unterwegs, 2001, pp.47,48, ISBN 3-87706-833-2, ISBN 978-3-87706-833-5
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