The Pomeranian Coarsewool or simply Pomeranian (German: Pommersches Rauhwollschaf; Pommernschaf; Rauhwolliges Pommersches Landschaf) is an old domestic sheep breed from the Pomerania region.[1] The first records of similar sheep in Pomerania can be traced to more than 3000 years ago.[2] [3] This breed is raised primarily for meat and vegetation management.[4]
This breed is polled (hornless), and has a black head with slate-blue or grey wool on the body - lambs are born wholly black. The legs are also covered with wool, and the tongue is blue. The fleece has shorter hairs amongst the longer wool.[2]
The breed is very hardy and is able to live outside all year, even raising lambs in the snow. The sheep thrive on poor forage.[3] [5]
Ewes average around 55kg (121lb) in weight, and rams about 65kg (143lb). The fleece ranges from 3.5to.[2]
Initially, this breed was called Grauwollschafe ("greywool sheep"), which in time changed to Rauhwollschafe ("coarsewool sheep") by dropping the first letter.[5] The breed almost vanished in the second half of the 20th century, when the population dropped below 100 and it was placed on the Red List of endangered livestock breeds.[2] [3] [5] The population has since recovered somewhat.