Finnsheep History

Origin

      The Finnsheep breed is considered to be several hundred years old, descending from the mouflon that live in the wild on the islands of Sardinia

      and Corsica. They are closely related to other short-tailed Scandinavian sheep, and are highly adaptable to the rugged climate and landscape           

      found in that area of the world.

United States Importation

       Finnish Landrace sheep were first imported into North America by the University of Manitoba, Canada in 1966. Since that time, only a few           

       importations have occurred through the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1968 and private breeders in Canada. Progeny from the Canadian

       importation were then brought to the United States by private producers.

Finnsheep Breeders Association

      The Finnsheep Breeders Association in the United States, directs the improvement of the breed, with an emphasis on litter size, mothering

      ability, growth rate, and wool production. According to Oklahoma State University, more research has been done in the United States involving

      Finnsheep and their crosses than any other sheep. Because of the small number of animals imported into the country, the purebred registry was

      open to all animals meeting the breed standard and being at least 15/16th Finn breeding. In 1991, the registry was closed to all but purebred

     registrations.

Semen Importation

     The majority of Finnsheep in the U.S. are white, though the registration of solid colored sheep is permitted. As handspinners and felters have 

     developed an interest in the soft, lustrous Finn fleeces, colored ewes and rams have become extremely popular. Very few color genes are present in

     the U.S. flocks, and those are mostly the recessive black, or dark brown.  In 1999, the Finnsheep Breeders Association arranged a semen

     importation directly from Finnland. These new genetics would introduce new colors, gray and moorit, a light chocolate brown.

Future of the Finnsheep

         In recent years, sheep farms in this country have been on a steady decline. Challenged by the extremely low prices of New Zealand and Australian 

      lamb and wool, U.S. producers have struggled economically.  Finnsheep have shown promise in commercial operations in increasing lamb production

      and keeping costs to a minimum, but large flocks are disappearing.  According to the Department of Agriculture statistics, however, small flocks are

      growing in numbers. Many of these belong to the handspinners and weavers who are keeping them for their wonderful fleeces and their pleasant

      disposition, not to mention the occasional lambchop!

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