Many Icelanders are familiar with the Icelandic sheep. The Icelandic sheep is said to have been introduced to Iceland by the Vikings in the Middle Ages. Icelandic sheep have now become an irreplaceable presence for the people of Iceland.
habitat
Icelandic sheep live only in Iceland.
Features and history
The Icelandic sheep is a relative of the sheep introduced by the Vikings around the 9th or 10th century. Icelandic sheep are characterized by having much stockier legs than normal sheep, and may or may not have horns. This is because some sheep have no horns at all. Icelandic sheep have spiral horns. The wool is often white and double-coated, making it a very winter hardy sheep. The Icelandic sheep reached its peak population around 1980. At that time, the population reached 900,000. However, partly due to the fact that the population has increased too much, the population has been on a downward trend since the beginning of the 2000s, and is said to be around 400,000 at present.
Ecology
Female Icelandic sheep are said to be very fertile. Icelandic sheep can give birth to a large number of offspring unlike other sheep. Sheep reach breeding age in about six months. Icelandic sheep usually live in herds consisting of parents and children, and the leader-class sheep are often very intelligent animals that act with the safety of the sheep in the herd in mind. is.
What does it mean to keep an Icelandic sheep?
The point of keeping Icelandic sheep is because they are very useful for human life. The Icelandic sheep’s coat is stronger, shinier, and waterproof, making it well protected against the cold of the Arctic. The sweater that Icelandic locals call lopapeysa is actually made from Icelandic sheep wool. Icelandic sheep are also edible meat. The meat is finely textured, soft, and has a unique flavor, which is why it is so popular. Icelandic sheep are also dairy animals. Icelandic sheep produce about 1-2 liters of milk per day, which is used to make yogurt, butter and cheese.
Let’s go to Iceland
Icelandic sheep have undergone a unique evolution compared to sheep found in other regions. They have a very gentle personality, so they get attached to humans. If you are interested, please go to Iceland.
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