FLOCK MANAGEMENT |
| Adapted to low cost input management - raised
and fattened on grass alone if the pasture is excellent, for hundreds of years in a very short
growing season. With rising grain prices worldwide, breeds like
the Icelandic Sheep, that thrive on forage alone, will be breeds that will
stay economically viable. (Most modern meat breeds require
large inputs of grain to reach market weight.) No grain needed for
Icelandic sheep on excellent pastures. Sheep on Fescue pasture may need to
supplement to get good gains. |
| Climate range: not yet fully known - they
thrive in Iceland's cool, windy, rainy climate, with temperatures ranging
from 30 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also thriving in Canada,
the hot and humid Midwest, southern California, and Montana where the temperatures
range from -38 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Open fleeces - dry out quickly after a rain, making
them a good breed for rainy climates. |
Grazing Icelandic Flock |
Naturally shedding - Traditionally in Iceland, these animals were rooed
(plucked) in February or March when they started to shed. Or, the
fleeces were cut off in June in a process that was similar to skinning,
using a hunting type knife. This knife shearing is still the method
used in Iceland on some farms. Our flock is sheared twice a year
for best fleece quality. |
| Naturally short tailed - no docking needed. |
| Fencing needed: 32-inch woven field fencing topped
with one or two wires (barbed or electric) will keep the sheep in and the
predators out. Four strands of electric fence with the top three
strands hot, also works well. Train sheep first with electric netting.
Charge with a charger that puts out 5,000 volts minimum. |
| No Castration Needed - Because lambs on good pasture will
reach market weights of 90 to 100 lbs in 5 months, no castration is needed. Lambs reach slaughter weight and are butchered before they go into the rut. |
| Pasture Lambing - Ease of lambing, good mothering
instincts, and excellent milk supply make this breed suitable for low labor
pasture lambing. |
