Icelandic sheep are a mix of adorable and fascinating. During the summer, you can find them roaming freely around the country. For months they are on what seems like the ultimate Icelandic summer vacation - eating, sleeping, and walking wherever they please. Before winter sets in, they are rounded up by the farmers that own them so they can be sheltered from the harsh Icelandic weather.
Regardless of the season, the Icelandic sheep farmer is always at work. If you are interested in hearing a first-hand account of what life on an Icelandic sheep farm is like, I recommend checking out my interview with Pálína Axelsdóttir Njarðvík, creator of the popular Instagram account (@farmlifeiceland). Her account showcases what life on an Icelandic sheep farm life is like from her perspective.
Contents
Quick facts about Sheep in IcelandIcelandic sheep history & heritageWhen is the lambing season in Iceland?What is Réttir?Sheep farms to visit or stay on in IcelandMeat Production of Icelandic sheepWool Production from sheep in IcelandHow to buy an authentic Icelandic sweater?Does Iceland have more sheep than people?
Quick Facts About Sheep in Iceland
There are more sheep in Iceland than the number of people that live hereThe color of their fleece can be white or a range of browns, grays, and blacksMultiple births, such as twins, triplets or more, are very common in this breed because of a gene called Þoka that many Icelandic ewes possessNorwegian Spelsau and Icelandic sheep descend from the same stockSheep in Iceland have been bred in isolation for more than a thousand yearsMeat production is the main reason for raising sheep in IcelandSheep milk was once more widely consumed than cow milk in Iceland
Sheep in Iceland have played an important role in the way of life in the country since the first settlers came to Iceland back in the 9th and 10th centuries. I was surprised to learn so many fascinating facts about them after talking to Pálína and doing some research.
Icelandic Sheep History & Heritage
They are classified as Northern short-tailed sheep and are the largest in their group, which includes Finn, Romanov, Shetland, Spelsau and Swedish Landrac. As mentioned in the quick facts above, the Icelandic sheep descends from the same breed as the Norwegian Spelsau.
While it is the case that sheep in Iceland today are pure breeds, at one time farmers did try crossbreeding with foreign breeds. However, those experiments ended because the cross breeding brought on disease. Eventually, all of the sheep that the result of cross breeding were killed, or what is known as culled. Culling is defined as reducing the population of an animal by selective slaughter.
Iceland is notorious for its harsh weather and over the centuries there have been many challenging times for livestock and their farmers. Due to being bred in isolation for more than a thousand years, the Icelandic sheep has been able to thrive in these conditions. Because of that, they are considered to be efficient herbivores.
While sheep are mostly bred for meat in Iceland now, they have contributed to Icelandic society in a variety of ways over the years. Up until the 1940’s, they were the predominant milk producing animal in the country. It was far more expensive to have a cow before that time, so people consumed sheep’s milk instead.
When is the Lambing Season in Iceland?
Lambing season in Iceland starts in May and lasts for about five weeks. During this month, farmers are working around the clock to monitor and assist the ewes (female sheep) who are birthing the cute lambs. Due to a gene that is named Þoka, pregnant Icelandic female sheep often give birth to multiple lambs at once. They can give birth to twins, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, and even sextuplets! It is quite amazing to think of that many lambs being born at once.
It isn’t always that the ewes need help with birthing their lambs but it happens often e...
