Alpines Steinschaf is a breed of domesticated sheep found in southern Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 and Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

. This breed is used for wool

Wool

Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....

, meat and Vegetation Management

Targeted grazing

Targeted grazing is the use of domestic livestock to change the composition and structure of vegetation to meet management goals. This technique is often used in combination with other vegetation management treatments such as prescribed fire, seeding, chemical application, or mechanical means...

. As of 2006, there were less than 300 with the number increasing. The Alpines Steinschaf is a direct descendent of the extinct Zaupelschaf.

Characteristics

Known since the Middle Ages, the Alpines Steinschaf has adapted well to the wet and cold climates of the Austrian mountains. Both sexes are polled (honless) and display all colors and markings found with sheep. However, white markings on the tail and head are common. This breed is small to medium in size with mature rams weighing 55 kg (121.3 lb) and ewes weighing 40 kg (88.2 lb). On average, rams become sexually mature at five months and ewes at eight months of age.