Gotland Sheep come from the Swedish island of Gotland. The breed was established by the Vikings using Karakul and Romanov sheep (Russian) and the native Landrace Sheep. The Vikings were great seafarers as well as sheep farmers and took these animals on their extensive voyages to provide meat and skins along the route. Hence the spread of these Northern short-tailed sheep and the development into related breeds such as Goth sheep, Icelandic, Finnsheep, Shetland, North Ronaldsay and Manx. Primitive horned Gotland sheep still exist on the island of Gotland today. The Gotland Peltsheep (pälsfår) or modern Gotland has been developed in Sweden since the 1920’s through controlled breeding and intensive selection, producing a true multipurpose long wool sheep, yielding good flavoured close-grained meat, furskins and soft silky lustrous fleece.The breed were first brought to the UK in 1972 by the Antartex Sheepskin Co. There are now about 40 pure bred Gotland flocks throughout Britain, with a concentration in the South West.
We are very excited to have access some Gotland Mutton. The meat is dark and well flavoured. The Sheep are not fat.
