Finnsheep
Finnsheep, or Finnish Landrace as they are known in their native country of Finland, were first imported to North America by the University of Manitoba, Canada in 1966. Progeny was then brought from Canada by private breeders in the USA.
The breed is considered to be several hundred years old, descending from the mouflon that live in the wild on Sardinia and Corsica. They are also said to be related to other Scandinavian short-tailed sheep. Their success as a northern landrace is a testament to their ability to adapt to Finland’s harsh climate and available rough forage.
While the fleece can be many colors and variations it is often white. This fine fiber is prized by hand spinners due to its ease of blending with other fibers and it’s ‘longer’ staple length. Knitters love finnsheep for its durability while also being ‘next to skin soft’. (24-31 microns, 3″-6″ staple, 5-6 lbs-fleece/yr.)
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