About German Whiteheaded Mutton Sheep

German Whiteheaded Mutton, or Deutsches Weisskopfiges Fleischschaf,was developed along the North Sea coast in the middle of the last century. English Leicester, Cotswold, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire were imported and crossbred with the local Wilstermarschschaf, a northern German marsh sheep. Breeders succeeded in retaining the wanted qualities of the marsh sheep, such as high fecundity, fast development, and large size. In the 1930s, a new breed, the German Whiteheaded Mutton started to roam the grassy areas next to the North Sea.

They are the perfect breed to withstand the rough, damp sea climate and suited for life on the dikes. The sheep fatten on the lush dike grass, pound down the earth and encourage new grass growth, thus helping to stabilize the North Sea dikes which makes them resistant against storm floods. The sheep need to be rugged and to protect them against the weather; they have a long, rough fleece with a fiber diameter of 37 to 41 microns. The white wool, also known as Eider wool, has a good crimp which is unusual for such rough wool.