Interested in swedish sheep genetics for better quality of pelt, wool and meat? We have the world´s largest population of Gotland Sheep and our top rams and ewes will show you the best individuals available.

Swedish Gotland Sheep have been selected to give their offspring the best pelt quality. The unique pelt represent a high value for the breeder of Gotlands. In fact, it gives us a higher income from each ewe compared to any other breed. Still, the meatquality is also of high importance for us since we all produce dual-purpose lambs for pelt and meat.

Most Swedish sheeps are born and raised in the spring and must be able to grow fast on pasture. This is of certain interest for the Gotland breeders, since lambs must be ready for slaughter before they shift their lambwool during the autumn. The shift will make the pelt of less value for sale. The pasture for swedish sheep consists mainly of an extensive, non-intensive grassland which make the need for competitive growth rates also in the hard nordic climate of specific importance.

About Swedish Sheep Breeding & Lamb Production

During the last years, since 2004, there has been a significant increase of lambproduction in Sweden. More breeders have been involved and the interest for better sheep genetics has raised questions about the possibility of better tools for selection of breeding stock as well as a national semen collection facility to provide us with the best genetics available.

The interest to collect semen from the best national individuals available is especially true for our national breeds as for the Gotland Sheep. Many breeders work with another type of sheep, originally from the U.K or the European continental countries. These breeds, as Texel, Dorset, Suffolk and Leicester may have the best genetics available by the means of frozen semen collected from animals that cannot be transported to Sweden as live animals.

These breeds is also of high importance to our lamb producers, since they are often used as 50 % of any cross-breed ewes for lamb production and/or as terminal sires when looking for slaughter lambs with excellent growth rate and carcass conformation. We started off in 2010 with a new semen collection programme, when several breeders of Gotland Sheep outside Sweden asked for the possibility of buying frozen semen from Gotland rams. There are still more breeders interested for Swedish exports both in Europe, USA and Australia / New Zealand.
The goal today is to establish a central semen collection facility for national and international purposes. The idea is to provide a possibility for swedish sheep breeders to gain access to the best sheep genetics available. Our aim is to make this plan in close cooperation with the breeding associations, swedish sheep breeders and the sheep industry related to meat, wool and peltproduction. We are convinced that Swedish Sheep genetics have a potential value!

Anette Skoog, Leg. Veterinär/ D.V.M since 1998 has a special interest in sheep reproduction and breeding for production quality. Member of the Board in Svenska Fåravelsförbundet (Swedish Sheep breeding Association) responsible for breeding issues. Sheep farmer, run a sheep and cattle farm with 500 ewes in a STAR production system incl. breeding stock of Dorset, Texel and Gotland Sheep. Owner/ V.P of Skara Animal Hospital / Skara Djursjukhus.

Sheep Breeders in Sweden

More information around the Swedish Sheep Breeding and 
Links to breeders will be found here. You can also visit these pages published by our
breeding associations and others of special interest:

Svenska Fåravelsförbundet / Swedish Sheep Breeding Association
www.faravelsforbundet.se

Swedish Gotland Sheep Association www.silverlock.se
Swedish Texel Breed Association www.svensktexel.se
Swedish Leicester Breed Association
Swedish Finnsheep Breed Association www.finullsforeningen.com
Swedish Oxford Down Breed Association
Swedish Rya Breed Association www.ryaklubben.se
Swedish Suffolk Breed Association www.suffolk.se
First class Gotland Sheep Furs – www.silvercurls.se