The Spælsau (Old Norwegian Short Tail Landrace, Gamalnorsk spæl Norwegian) is a breed of sheep from Norway. Many consider Spelsau to be the original breed of sheep in Norway, and it is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds. 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 total number of sheep in Norway.
In 1912, to prevent extinction of the breed, two breeding stations were established. Icelandic sheep were crossed through semen import in the 1960s and 1970s. Finnsheep and Faeroe Island sheep were also used in the breeding program.[1] This breed is raised primarily for meat.[2]
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, has a strong flock instinct and manages well outdoors most of the year. But it is vulnerable to eye disease caused by eating the plant Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). Wool colours include black and white but common among older types (Gamalnosk and Villsau) are many variations and shades of grey (known as `blue`) and brown (known as `red`)
Adult ewes reach a live weight of 60 kg (130 lb) to 70 kg (150 lb).[3]
It gives milk and meat of good quality. The wool is characterised through having two layers: An outer longhaired, glossy undulating layer of wool protecting the underlying layer against wind and rain, and an underlying layer which keeps the sheep warm. The long, protective wool which is used for weaving is traditionally spun into two-strand, tightly-spun yarn, instead of the usual three-strand type, resulting in a beautiful lustre. This spelsau yarn was used in the Norwegian old tapestries from the 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.