Breed: Weiße hornlose Heidschnucke
Species: Sheep
Colour: White
Weight: male: up to 70 kg, female: 40-50 kg
Height: male: up to 60 cm, female: ca. 50 cm
Country: Germany
Description: Very small landrace with fine bones. All animals hornless, have angular upward turned ears and a small, narrow head. White coarse wool. Distribution: Niedersachsen. Main areas are upland moors and meager meadows in North and Middle Germany. 3000 ewes (1200 in herdbook). Slightly increasing numbers.
History: They come from the moor areas of Niedersachsen, where in 1936 they were represented with 94% of the total sheep population. They are in their current breeding area for centuries. The breed probably evolved through crossing of a coarse wooled landrace with the gray horned Heathsheep.
Specials: Meat as a gourmet product, Highly suitable for nature and landscape conservation (bog and other wet areas), Good mother and upbringing qualities, One of smallest and lightest sheep in Germany Highly suitable for nature and landscape conservation. Good mothering and upbringing qualities. Seasonal oestrus. Meat as a gourmet product on the market. Successfull breed for the pasturing of bogs and other wet areas for years. One of the smallest and lightest sheep breeds in Germany. Goal oriented selection on single births because of meager fodder-reserves in wetlands. Grazed were also mat-grass and young trees (e. g. Birch). Energy-rich grasses are leading to health disruptions in the long term.
Uses: Meat, Wool, Landscape management, Grazing