Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep
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The Lithuanian Black-Headed Sheep is a multipurpose breed developed in Lithuania during the mid-20th century.
The breed was created through crossing local sheep with English Shropshire and meaty German black-headed rams, in an attempt to combine the best characteristics of both. These sheep mature early and supply homogenous semi-fine wool. They have short and white wool, while their head, ears, and legs are covered with black hair. The sheep has no horns.
In order to form productive herds of thoroughbred sheep, state-run Black-Headed sheep breeding nucleus farms were established in Pasvalys in 1952, and in Telšiai in 1956. In 1963 the Šeduva Experimental Farm was launched with to preserve the breed. Since its inception the farm has performed scientific research, including evaluation of sheep health and fertility, milking capacity, chemical composition of sheep milk, and quality of wool and meat.
The first Lithuanian Black-Headed breed herd book was issued in 1963, and the last in 1993. As of 2006, thoroughbred Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep were being raised in four farming herds totaling about 270 ewes. The genetic stock of Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep is being stored and analyzed, since it represents a genetic resource.
The stock may have been crossed with the sheep brought to Klaipėda by the English veterinarian Alf Wight (nom de plume: James Herriot), as described in a sequel to All Creatures Great and Small.
