Breed: Gammelnorsk
Synonyms: Old Norwegian Sheep
Species: Sheep
Colour: gray
Country: Norway
Description: Old Norwegian Sheep is small and easy at foot. The colour scheme varies greatly. Unlike Spælsau, it is not desirable for the wool to be long, as this can cause issues during winter. The breed naturally sheds its wool, and so there should be little or no need to shear. Rams should have horns and ewes may have horns.
History: The Old Norwegian Sheep (Norwegian: Gammelnorsk sau) is likely the breed that most closely resembles the original Northern European short-tailed sheep in Norway. Although the breed almost went extinct at several points in the last century, conservation efforts have succeeded in growing the population to around 30,000 animals and the breed is no longer considered threatened. The breed is particularly suited for being kept outside all year, a practice that stems back to the Viking Age
The breed likely descends from bronze-age sheep from Western Norway. This was the most common breed in Norway until the end of the 19th century, when it was overtaken by breeds that had been imported from England since the early 1700s. In the beginning 20th century, only small and scattered populations of Norwegian short-tailed sheep remained. Today, all Old Norwegian Sheep descend from Austevoll.
Uses: wool, meat