About Spaelsau Sheep

Spaelsau, also known as Spael, sheep are from Norway. They are named for their short, nearly wool-less tail (spaelen). They originate from old Norwegian landrace sheep. In 1912, two breeding stations were established to prevent their extinction. Icelandic sheep were crossed onto the Spaelsau sheep through semen import in the 1960's and 1970's. Finnsheep and Faeroe Island sheep were also used in the breeding of Spaelsau sheep.  

Spaelsau sheep are most commonly white, but they are also found in black, brown, grey, blue-grey and various forms of piebald. Most of them are polled, with about 10% occurrence of horned in both sexes. Their wool is double coated, with mean fiber diameter 31.5 micron of underwool and 57.1 micron of outer hair. Their wool is used for many different products and woolskins and nappa leather are made out of the pelts.