Sheep
Domestic sheep (Ovis aries domesticus) are one of the earliest domesticated animals known to man and were domesticated 11,000 years ago. In Sweden, sheep have been kept since the Stone Age.
The useful sheep
Sheep have always been very important to humans, as they can provide meat, milk, skins and wool. Sheep grazing in natural areas and forests also keep landscapes open and create habitats for a wide range of species – not least insects, fungi and birds – which is how sheep help biodiversity.
The quest for finer wool and more meat
Many types of sheep with different characteristics were bred across our oblong country. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the state promoted the import of foreign breeds of sheep because the wool of Swedish breeds was considered too coarse and unsuitable for fine clothing. Gradually, the old Swedish breeds were also replaced by breeds that produced more meat. The old breeds became rare and almost disappeared completely.
Valuable traits
If the old Swedish breeds of sheep were to disappear, it wouldn't just be a part of our cultural history that would be lost, but also the special traits of the animals. They are genetically valuable, and because they have been living in an area for a long time, they have adapted to the local conditions. They are often also resistant to the parasites and diseases found there.
We preserve endangered breeds
There are about ten old Swedish sheep breeds left today, but they are rather few in number. The fact that they still exist today is largely due to dedicated conservation efforts of livestock keepers. Slottsskogen is taking part of this effort by keeping the Gute sheep and Helsinge sheep breeds.
Quick facts
Food: Grass, herbs, bushes, undergrowth
Weight: 40–80 kg (the breeds present in the park)
Height: 60–75 cm at the withers (the breeds present in the park)
Young: Usually 1–2 lambs
Lifespan: About 10 years
Helsinge sheep
Comes in many colors
The color of the Helsinge sheep varies. Most are black, but they can also be gray, brown, mottled or almost completely white. The feel of the wool can vary, but it's always very greasy. It's excellent for spinning and felting. The rams usually have horns while the ewes have no horns.
Sociable forest animals
The ewes are good mothers and the breed is often sociable and affectionate with their owners. Helsinge sheep can survive on sparse forest grazing and are happy to eat undergrowth. This makes them excellent for maintaining landscape as they can keep lands open and help biodiversity.
A rare heritage sheep
The Helsinge sheep is a heritage sheep which used to be found all over the country, but is rarely kept today. At the end of the 20th century, a survey of Swedish heritage sheep was carried out with the aim of preserving different breeds. In 1999, a gene bank was established for the Helsinge sheep. All animals in the gene bank have a certificate of origin that ensures that there's no mixing with other breeds. The animals in Slottsskogen are part of this gene bank.
Why is it important to preserve different breeds?
The more diverse breeds with different traits we have, the better equipped we are to face changes and challenges in the future. This reduces the risk of harms such as the spread of diseases or eradications due to environmental changes.
We don't know what traits might be beneficial in the future. Perhaps the ability of the Helsinge sheep to survive on lean pasture could become very important if the conditions for importing animal feed change?
Gute sheep
A hardy sheep
Gute sheep has existed on Gotland and Fårö for as long as people have lived there. Much like other landrace sheep, these sheep are hardy and can live outdoors all year round. They eat not only herbs and grasses, but also shrubs, and they can move around easily even in relatively difficult terrain.
The wool comes off by itself
The Gute sheep are brownish gray, sometimes completely black, but never completely white. Some Gute sheep have an ancient trait where they shed their fur in the spring. Instead of cutting the wool, you can instead gently pull it off just as they did in the past. The Gute sheep's wool can be spun into yarn without first being combed or carded.
Slottsskogen has had Gute sheep for a long time
Like other old Swedish breeds, the Gute sheep was on the verge of extinction. In the 1930s, this was brought to the attention of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and Skansen, which in 1938 bought some animals from the only known herd at the time. Shortly afterwards, the sheep were sold on to Slottsskogen.
The conservation efforts continue
Today, several zoos and many private individuals are involved in the conservation efforts. The number of Gute sheep is considered to be stable, but to avoid the breed's traits disappearing, a gene bank has been established to ensure that Gute sheep don't get mixed with other breeds.
Please don't throw away your food unnecessarily. This is bad for the climate and increases the demand for highly productive breeds.