Leadersheep

Some people may argue that sheep are not intelligent and clever. However,

it is well known that sheep have their own intelligence although not

comparable with that of people. We should not underestimate the wisdom

of domestic animals anyway.



The only breed of sheep in Iceland is the native North European Short

Tailed sheep brought by the settlers, the Vikings, 1100-1200 years ago

Without them Icelanders would not have survived throughout centuries of

hardship on an isolated island just south of the Arctic Circle. Even grazing

in winter had to be utilized to the utmost and somehow a unique, small

population of sheep developed which displayed outstanding abilities to help

the farmers and shepherds to manage the flock on pasture, namely

leadersheep. Although farming practices have changed and thus the role of

these highly intelligent sheep with special alertness and leadership

characteristics in their genes. There is still a population of 1000-1200 sheep

within the national population of just under 500,000.



Most of the leadersheep are coloured and horned, even four-horned in a few cases. They have a slender body

conformation, long legs and bones generally, yet of lighter weight than other sheep in the flock because they

have been selected for intelligence, not for meat traits. Leadersheep are graceful and prominent in the flock,

with alertness in the eyes, normally going first out of the sheep-house, looking around in all directions,

watching if there are any dangers in sight and then walking in front of the flock when driven to or from

pasture. They may even guard the flock against predators. There are many stories on record about their ability

to sense or forecast changes in the weather even, refusing to leave the sheep-house before a major snowstorm.

One wonders how better use could be made of such genes in the future.



We certainly want to preserve the Icelandic leadersheep. Interested individuals founded the Leader-Sheep

Society of Iceland in April 2000. Amongst the priorities is to improve the individual recording of these sheep

throughout the country and plan their breeding more effectively. We know that the best leadersheep are found

in flocks in NE Iceland but farmers in all parts of the country are interested in their conservation. Support is

also coming from individuals who are not keeping sheep. Icelandic sheep, not least leadersheep, have clearly a

special role in our culture. - Olafur R. Dyrmundsson



These images of Icelandic leadersheep are

reprinted here with permission from Dr.

Olafur R. Dyrmundsson. The photographer

is Jon Eriksson.

