Icelandic

The modern Icelandic Sheep is a direct descendant of the sheep brought to Iceland by the early Viking settlers in the ninth and tenth century. They are of the North European Short Tailed type, related to such breeds as the Finnsheep, Romanov, and Shetland. A major gene controlling prolificacy has been identified in the Icelandic breed. This gene exhibits action similar to the gene found in the Booroola Merino.

The fleece from Icelandic sheep has an inner and outer coat typical of the more primitive breeds, and it is the wool for which Iceland is known. It is illegal to import any sheep into Iceland.

Breed categories: double-coated, short-tailed / Distribution: North America, Iceland, United Kingdom