The Coburger Fuchsschaf (also known as Coburg Fox Sheep) is a breed

Breed

A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...

 of domestic sheep

Domestic sheep

Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...

 from 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...

. From the 19th century to the early 20th century, this breed was abundant. However, after World War II, the Coburger Fuchsschaf was nearly extinct. Today, flocks of this breed are mostly employed for landscape preservation

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...

.

History

After World War II, a German breeder publicized the positive traits of the Coburger Fuchsschaf. This renewed interest laid the foundation for the breed's continued existence. In the early 1980s, there were only two registered breeds of Coburger Fuchsschaf. By 1993, there were 34 breeders and over 1,200 breeding ewes and over 50 breeding rams. The breed was officially recognized in 1996.

Breed standards

In 1982, the following breed standards were adopted.

• Rams - 80 to 100 kg (176.4 to 220.5 lb)
• Ewes - 60 to 75 kg (132.3 to 165.3 lb)
• Both sexes are to be polled (hornless)
• Legs are both golden or red-brown and free of wool
• Ears are broad and long
• Head is noble looking with a slight Roman nose profile.

Characteristics

The Coburger Fuchsschaf is brown (unicolored) with a red head. Mature rams weigh about 80 kg (176.4 lb) and ewes 70 kg (154.3 lb). Measured at the withers, rams grow to 80 cm (31.5 in) and ewes to 70 cm (27.6 in). On average, ewes have 1.5 lambs per litter. Rams produce 4 to 5 kg (8.8 to 11 lb) and ewes produce 3 to 4 kg (6.6 to 8.8 lb) of wool yearly.