The Faroese sheep

Short background

The Faroe Islands are home to a single native sheep breed - Føroyskur seyður (the Faroese sheep). These sheep have adapted remarkably well to the harsh climate and poor soil conditions of Faroe Islands, where other flora and fauna often struggle. Throughout history, sheep have been one of the main pillars of Faroese society. The name Føroyar (Faroe Islands) derives from old Norse “Færeyjar”, which directly translates to “sheep islands”. The old Norse name of the islands, “Færeyjar”, was given by the Norse settlers during the Viking Age, reflecting the central role of sheep in Faroese life. Sheep have been highly embedded in the islands’ culture since the time of settlement.  The oldest known law  on the islands is a royal decree called “The Sheep Letter”. This law was established by Earl Haakon (later King Haakon of Norway) in the late 13th century and was passed by the Thing (parliament) in 1298. It functioned like a constitution, with its primary focus on regulating sheep husbandry. Today, sheep still play a vital role in Faroese society, outnumbering  humans on the islands: approximately 70, 000 sheep to 54, 000 people .

History and origin

The origin of the Faroese sheep breed is believed to trace back to animals brought to the Faroese Islands by Norse settlers during the Viking age. While recent archaeological findings suggest that the Faroe Islands may have been inhabited as early as the 5th century, the identity and timing of the first settlers remain uncertain.  What is clear, however, is that sheep have been the primary source of food among domesticated animals since  settlement began. Early topographical texts from the first known settlers describe the Faroe Islands as “full of sheep”,  indicating that sheep were already present before 825 A.D. Norse settlers later introduced additional sheep during the Viking age—and throughout history, sheep have played a key role in sustaining life in the Faroe Islands. The sheep population was later blended with Icelandic and Scottish sheep to improve the numbers after large stock decreases during the 17th century.

The Faroese sheep, belong to the Northern European short-tailed group and are most closely related to Norwegian Spel sheep and Icelandic sheep. It is a small and hardy breed with a light, yet strong bone structure that is well adapted to the steep and rugged terrain of the Faroe Islands. Faroese sheep are seasonal breeders, typically producing one lamb per season. Unlike many other Nordic breeds, the Faroese sheep usually graze freely in small groups all year. These small groups consist of around 10 animals (where one sheep is the leader of the flock) that establish different grazing territories on pasture. These territories are maintained by the sheep for several generations and keeps borders between outfield pasturelands without the need of fences.