Estonian Ruhnu sheep
Encyclopedia
Estonian Ruhnu sheep are a breed of native domesticated sheep found on the small Estonia
n island of Ruhnu
in the Gulf of Riga
in the Baltic Sea
.
The Estonian Ruhnu sheep population is thought to descend from sheep left on Ruhnu by Swedish-speaking
inhabitants who settled on the island in the 14th century.
In 1944 a population of 300 sheep was documented. The current population of the breed is around 30 animals. It is thought that Estonian Ruhnu sheep were originally raised for producing meat and wool
.
Physical adaptations of the Estonian Ruhnu sheep population to seaside pastures and small paddocks suggests that these sheep have had a rather long period to adapt to their environment. Most of the small population of Ruhnu sheep are white or cream colored with greyish head and legs and some have a distinctive "badger
face" pattern. The ewes are polled and approximately 10% of rams are horned. The sheep have short or medium length tails. Distinctive from many other breeds of sheep, some Estonian Ruhnu sheep have one or two beads under the jaw. The wool is double coated and of two fibre types and it is generally used for making hand knitting yarn and clothing, such as sweaters. Adult live weight of rams is maximum 80 kg (175 lb) and of the ewes 50 kg (110 lb).
Although there is considerable genetic variation in most of the northern Europe
an sheep breeds, Ruhnu sheep, as well as Roslag sheep
and Dala Fur sheep
(both originating in Sweden
) exhibit the highest within-population inbreeding. While the Ruhnu breed was found to be less variable than other Baltic sheep breeds, indicating the need for a breed management plan to prevent further loss of genetic variation, the population size of around 30 sheep is listed as stable. All remaining Estonian Ruhnu sheep on the island live in one semimanaged existing flock, with several individual sheep living on the Estonian island of Kihnu
.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n island of Ruhnu
Ruhnu
Ruhnu is an island situated in the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It belongs to Estonia and is an administrative part of Saare County. At 11.9 km2 it has currently less than 100, mostly ethnic Estonian permanent inhabitants...
in the Gulf of Riga
Gulf of Riga
The Gulf of Riga, or Bay of Riga, is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia. According to C.Michael Hogan, a saline stratification layer is found at a depth of approximately seventy metres....
in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
.
The Estonian Ruhnu sheep population is thought to descend from sheep left on Ruhnu by Swedish-speaking
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
inhabitants who settled on the island in the 14th century.
In 1944 a population of 300 sheep was documented. The current population of the breed is around 30 animals. It is thought that Estonian Ruhnu sheep were originally raised for producing meat and 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....
.
Physical adaptations of the Estonian Ruhnu sheep population to seaside pastures and small paddocks suggests that these sheep have had a rather long period to adapt to their environment. Most of the small population of Ruhnu sheep are white or cream colored with greyish head and legs and some have a distinctive "badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
face" pattern. The ewes are polled and approximately 10% of rams are horned. The sheep have short or medium length tails. Distinctive from many other breeds of sheep, some Estonian Ruhnu sheep have one or two beads under the jaw. The wool is double coated and of two fibre types and it is generally used for making hand knitting yarn and clothing, such as sweaters. Adult live weight of rams is maximum 80 kg (175 lb) and of the ewes 50 kg (110 lb).
Although there is considerable genetic variation in most of the northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
an sheep breeds, Ruhnu sheep, as well as Roslag sheep
Roslag sheep
The Roslag sheep is a breed of endangered domesticated sheep that originated in and is almost exclusively found in Sweden.Roslag sheep originate from the remnant populations of Swedish landrace breeds that used to be rather common all over the countryside, but are generally believed to have come...
and Dala Fur sheep
Dala Fur sheep
The Dala-fur is a breed of domestic sheep originating in Sweden. The Dala-fur is one of several sheep breeds that are remnents of the old Swedish landrace breed, and is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds....
(both originating in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) exhibit the highest within-population inbreeding. While the Ruhnu breed was found to be less variable than other Baltic sheep breeds, indicating the need for a breed management plan to prevent further loss of genetic variation, the population size of around 30 sheep is listed as stable. All remaining Estonian Ruhnu sheep on the island live in one semimanaged existing flock, with several individual sheep living on the Estonian island of Kihnu
Kihnu
Kihnu is an island in the Baltic Sea. With an area of 16,4 km² it is the largest island in the Gulf of Riga and the seventh largest island of Estonia. The length of the island is 7 km and width 3.3 km, the highest point is at 8.9 m above sea level.The island belongs to the Pärnu...
.