Norwegian Cheviot sheep, (21)

The Cheviot breed is originally from the Cheviot Hill on the border between England and Scotland. It is known as tough and unassuming breed. It has been bred pure in Norway since the middle of the 18th century, and is the smallest of the long tailed breeds in Norway. Cheviot sheep have been used in crossbreeding with other Norwegian breeds especially Dala-, Steigar-, and Rygja sheep. The Cheviot sheep are white with long tails and both rams and ewes are polled. The wool is uniform with mean fibre diameter 37.1 microns and 3.3 kg greasy fleece weight. The wool known for good quality and is used for many different products. Pelts are used for wool skins and nappa leather. Adult live weight is 72-90 kg for rams and 55-72 kg for ewes. The mean litter size is 1.73 lambs born and 1.47 weaned. Mean carcass weight of lambs is 17.2 kg when slaughtered at the age of 6 months. The majority of carcasses falls into grade O in the EUROP classification system. The population in Norway numbers a little under 5,000 breeding ewes (year 2000).
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Local name: Sjeviot
References: Mona G. Holtet. Norsk Landbruksmuseum, Pb 5104, 1432 Ås, Norway.
Photographs: Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation,1989, 3rd Edition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Created by ThEP and EE Edited by Emma Eythorsdottir for the North SheD group.
Agricultural Research Institute of Iceland.