An important feature of Finnsheep is their thin, wrinkle-free skin and bare breech. The breed has been used extensively for crossbreeding to produce sheep with various desirable characteristics, but particularly leanness, better wool production and improved fertility and fecundity (more lambs) and excellent " doing" ability. Further improving mothering, milk yield, and hardiness in paddock conditions, are the primary goals of the breeding program. Typical litter sizes are three or four lambs.
Lamb size and survival rates have increased. Considerable breeding efforts have since been undertaken to develop the strain to be better suited to the Australian climate. The breed was brought to Australia in two main importations: by the University of NSW in 1981 and by the Australian Texel Corporation in 1993. ( May 2009) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Although twins and triplets are most common, there have been litters born with as many as seven viable lambs. Rams can be bred at four to eight months of age, and ewes are expected to lamb at twelve months with multiple lambs. Fertility įinnsheep mature early and are known for their fertility.
In Australia, wool quality and length have improved greatly to the extent that there are now sheep which can be shorn twice per year and whose advantageous wool characteristics have been extensively incorporated into the Merino flock.Īlthough not a large sheep, Finns produce a lean, succulent meat with a delicate and mild flavor, even as adults. Markings such as white stockings, tail tips, white crown or facial markings including the panda-like eyespot pattern, are common in colored Finnsheep.Īustralian Finns are universally white the wool has superior length, softness, better radius of curvature and reduced prickle factor. Black and black piebald (spotted) sheep are also fairly common, while brown, grey and fawn Finnsheep are very scarce in the USA. White is genetically dominant and the most common color. Finnsheep have a similar range of fleece colors to that of Shetland and Icelandic sheep.
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