Spelsau

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Lamb from spelsau

Photo: Unknown

Yarn from spelsau dyed with plant dyes

Photo: Frode Inge Helland)

1 Spelsau (Old Norwegian Short Tail Landrace)
2 Properties
3 Utilization
4 Reference

[edit] Spelsau (Old Norwegian Short Tail Landrace)

Spelsau is a race of sheep. Ideal weight approx. 65 – 70 kg.

Many consider Spelsau to be the original race of sheep in Norway. It is well adapted to the climate and was a domestic animal from the iron age. The spelsau stock makes up about 20% of the complete number of sheep in Norway. In Island the spelsau makes up 100% of all sheep.

[edit] Properties

Originally it is compact and lightly built and does not need much concentrated food. The meat has relatively little fat. The Spelsau gives rich milk, sticks well together in the flock and manages well outdoors most of the year. But it is vulnerable to eye disease caused by eating the plant Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum).

[edit] Utilization

It gives milk and meat of good qualiy. The wool is special. It has two layers: An outer longhaired, glossy undulating layer of wool protecting the underlying layer against wind and rain, an underlying layer which keeps the sheep warm. The long, protective wool which is used for weaving has hard spun two chord strings, instead of the usual three chord type - and has a beautiful lustre. This spelsau yarn was used in our old tapestries from renaissance and baroque times. The Viking ship sails were made from spelsau yarn. The wool was also in the old days used in clothing because it was light, stable and absorbed little moisture.