The Gute ( sv, Gutefår) is a

landrace A landrace is a domesticated, locally adapted, often traditional variety of a species of animal or plant that has developed over time, through adaptation to its natural and cultural environment of agriculture and pastoralism, and due to isolatio ...

-based breed of

domestic sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated ...

native to the Swedish island of Gotland. The Gute is the most primitive breed native to Sweden, and is one of the

Northern European short-tailed sheep The Northern European short-tailed sheep are a group of traditional sheep breeds or types found in Northern Europe, mainly in the British Isles, Scandinavia, Greenland and the area around the Baltic. They are thought to be derived from the fir ...

. The modern Gotland ( sv, Gotlandsfår) breed is its direct descendant. Unlike the Gotland, the Gute is horned in both rams and ewes, and has a fleece that appears in a wider variety of colors and patterns, which may be shed in the summer. This breed is raised primarily for genetic conservation.

Color

The most common color of Gute are grey. The ones that are dark grey have black heads and legs. Light grey Gute have white and tan hair on their legs and head. Grey and Black sheep typically have light hair around the eyes and face. The white sheep are seldom all white. White sheep usually have tan patches on the neck and other parts of the body. Most all non-white sheep have markings that are white. The markings can vary greatly.

Size

Weight

*ram: 70-100 kg *ewe: 45-60 kg

Height

*ram: 64-84 cm *ewe: 65-71 cm

Horn length

*ram: 39-90 cm *ewe: 21-43 cm

Horn circumference at base

*ram: 20-29 cm *ewe: 12-14 cm

Tail length

*rams: 13-17 cm *ewe: 13-17 cm

References

External links

The Gute Sheep Society of Sweden
Sheep breeds originating in Sweden Sheep breeds {{sheep-stub