Pomeranian Coarsewool

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]

Pomeranian Coarsewool Sheep

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

• Conservation grazing