Danish sheep breeds

Sheep have been in Denmark since the Neolithic Age and is considered one of the earliest domesticated livestock species in the country. During the Iron age and Viking period, the number of sheep in Denmark increased significantly, as they were important for milk, meat and wool. Today, the sheep industry in Denmark is small-scaled and specialised.

There are two sheep breeds that are viewed as national: Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep and Danish Landrace sheep (including Ertebølle-sheep), both of which are considered as endangered. The breeds are described as hardy and alert. Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep has wool on both their legs and head, and a thick woollen layer on their stomach, making them especially resilient to harsh and cold weather. The Danish Landrace sheep is known for their ability to survive on poor pasture.

Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep

Native name: Hvidhovedet marskfår.

Weight: 75–85 kg (female) and 85–110kg (male).

Height: 75 cm (females) and 80 cm (males).

Appearance/colour: Large sheep with a white head and white wool. The sheep grow wool on both head and legs, and thick wool on the belly.

Number of offspring: 1.3 (first lambing), 2 lambs (other lambings).

Birth weight: ~4.6 kg.

Type: Long-tailed sheep.

Number of breeding females in Denmark (2023): 620.

Not at Risk – Vulnerable – Endangered – Critically Endangered – Extinct

White sheep standing in tall grass.
Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep.

Danish Landrace sheep

Native name: Dansk landfår.

Weight: 50 kg (females) and 70–80 kg (males).

Height: 70 cm (females) and 75 cm (males).

Appearance/colour: Long-tailed, brownish, grey or mottled head, with long grey, mottled or dark legs with strong claws. Some have red-yellow, shiny hairs on their heads. They are a polled breed, but rams can grow small horns.

Number of offspring: 1–1.4 lambs.

Type: Long-tailed sheep.

Number of breeding females in Denmark (2023): 916

Not at Risk – Vulnerable – Endangered – Critically Endangered – Extinct

White sheep grazing on green pastures.
Danish Landrace sheep.

Origin

The Danish Landrace sheep has been crossed with various breeds throughout history, including Spanish Merino sheep (1600's), English sheep breeds (1800's) and the Norwegian Rygja sheep (1900's). Originally, there were two types of landrace sheep in Denmark (Hede-sheep and Klit-sheep), but today the breed consists of three different lines: Hulsig-sheep, Vesterbølle-sheep, and Ertebølle-sheep. The Ertebølle-sheep has been described as particularly suitable for cultural landscaping and nature care. It is also important to note that the Ertebølle-line is highly genetically separated from the other lines within the Danish Landrace sheep.

White-Headed Marsh sheep originate from the coast of the Northern Sea and have been established from the Friesian landrace sheep. They are therefore particularly adapted to withstand the harsh environment of the Northern Sea coastal areas.

Uses and important characteristics

Both Danish Landrace sheep and White-Headed Marsh sheep are used for meat and wool production. Danish Landrace lambs show moderate growth rates, gaining about 200 grams per day during the first two months after birth and between 160–170 grams per day over the following two months. The wool of this breed contains both ground hair and guard hair with a fibre thickness between 21–27 micron (µ) and is highly suitable for felting. The breed is also described as alert and lively with strong maternal instincts that are important for avoiding predators and lamb-survival.

White sheep standing under deciduous tree.
Danish Landrace sheep.

Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep is primarily a meat breed, characterised by good muscle development and a normal fat distribution. At birth, the lambs weigh an average of 4.6 kg, and their growth rate is about 283 grams per day during the first two months, decreasing to roughly 243 grams per day between two and four months of age. The breed produces a substantial amount of wool – individual sheep can yield more than 5 kg per fleece! The wool of this breed is long and coarse and is highly suitable for carpet or blanket production. The fibre thickness of the wool is between 34–40 micron (µ). Other important characteristics of this breed is its high resilience against intestinal parasites. Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep are also highly tolerant of a wide range of weather conditions and are particularly well adapted to the environmental challenges of the marsh landscape.

White sheep in tall grass.
Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep .

Conservation

Both breeds are classified as endangered based on the number of breeding females in the populations. In the Danish Landrace population, 916 breeding ewes were recorded in 2023, and the population was increasing. For White-Headed Marsh sheep, 620 breeding ewes were registered in 2023, and this population was in decline.

Danish Landrace sheep and Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep are both recognised as native Danish breeds that should be conserved and are therefore eligible for subsidies from the Danish government. The breeds are managed by their own breed association (listed below), which are responsible for the conservation and genetic management of the breeds. These associations maintain pedigrees, facilitate government subsidy schemes, and promote the breeds to the public. 

Breed associations

Danish Landrace sheep

Foreningen Dansk Landfår is responsible for Hulsig and Vesterbølle lines. No official website but is managed as a member association under Dansk Fåreavl (an umbrella organisation for all sheep breeds in Denmark).

Avlsforeningen for Ertebøllefåret is responsible for the Ertebølle-line.

Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep

Raceforeningen for Hvidhoved Marskfår manages the Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep.

Characterisation

Research activities aimed at breed characterisation are crucial in conservation work. Through characterisation we can learn whether the breed possesses unique characteristics that may be important for securing future food production. A review by Kierkegaard et al. (2020) showed that, as of spring 2019, only a limited number of easily accessible characterisation studies had been conducted on these breeds: three studies for Danish Landrace sheep and one for Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep.

Danish Landrace sheep has primarily been studied through molecular genetic diversity analyses, focusing on both within- and between-breed variation and the breed's genetic history (Chessa et al., 2009), as well as its contribution to overall sheep biodiversity in Europe (Tapio et al., 2005). Tapio et al. (2005) also included Danish White-Headed Marsh in their analysis. One of the three available studies on Danish Landrace sheep focused on the socio-cultural value of the breed.

In 2019, Schönerz et al. (2019) published a genome-wide characterisation of both Danish Landrace sheep and Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep, examining population structure and genetic diversity. They showed that both breeds are genetically distinct from other Nordic sheep breeds and exhibit moderate levels of genomic inbreeding. They were also among the ten most inbred populations included in the study, leading the authors to conclude that more sustainable management strategies are needed to safeguard their genetic diversity (Schönerz et al., 2019). Increasing the extent of characterisation will further support decision-making in the long-term conservation of these breeds. 

Danish Landrace sheep.
Danish Landrace sheep.

Fun facts

  • The Danish sheep breeds used to have short tails like other Nordic breeds, but are long-tailed due to past cross-breeding with long-tailed European breeds.
  • Genomic characterisation has revealed that there are two distinct lines within the Danish Landrace breed.
  • Danish White-Headed Marsh sheep grow wool on their face, stomach, and legs, and one sheep produces up to 5 kg of wool.
  • The White-Headed Marsh sheep is highly resilient against intestinal parasites.
References

Chessa, B., Pereira, F., Arnaud, F., Amorim, A., Goyache, F., Mainland, I., Kao, R.R., Pemberton, J.M., Beraldi, D., Stear, M.J., Alberti, A., Pittau, M., Iannuzzi, L., Banabazi, M.H., Kazwala, R.R., Zhang, Y.P., Arranz, J.J., Ali, B.A., Wang, Z., Uzun, M., Dione, M.M., Olsaker, I., Holm, L.E., Saarma, U., Ahmad, S., Marzanov, N., Eythorsdottir, E., Holland, M.J., Ajmone-Marsan, P., Bruford, M.W., Kantanen, J., Spencer, T.E., and Palmarini, M. (2009). Revealing the history of sheep domestication using retrovirus integrations. Science. 324(5926):532-6. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1170587

Norberg, E., Berg, P., and Pedersen, J. (2005). Genetic parameters for birth weight, growth, and litter size in Nordic sheep breeds. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science, 55(4), 123–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700500456081 

Bek-Pedersen, S. (2012). A historical perspective of Danish sheep farming. Small Ruminant Research. 106(1), 3-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.04.024 

Schönherz, A. A., Szekeres, B. D., Nielsen, V. H., and Guldbrandtsen, B. (2020). Population structure and genetic characterization of two native Danish sheep breeds. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science, 69(1–2), 53–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2019.1639804 

Shrestha, J.N.B. (2005). Conserving domestic animal diversity among composite populations. Small Ruminant Research. 56(1-3), 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2004.06.014 

Szekeres, B., Schönherz, A.A., Nielsen, V.H., and Guldbransen, B. (2016). GAMLE DANSKE HUSDYRRACERS GENOMER – RACERNES OPRINDELSE OG SLÆGTSKAB. DCA rapport Nr 082. Aarhus Universitet. ISBN: 978-87-93398-38-2. https://pure.au.dk/portal/files/103643341/DCArapport082.pdf 

Sørensen, L.H., and Nielsen, V.H. (2017). Danske husdyrgenetiske ressourcer. DCA rapport Nr 100. Aarhus Universitet. ISBN: 978-87-93398-78-8. https://pure.au.dk/ws/files/115640035/DCArapport100.pdf 

Sørensen, A. C., and Norberg, E. (2008). Inbreeding in the Danish populations of five Nordic sheep breeds. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science, 58(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700802079094 

Tapio M, Tapio I, Grislis Z, Holm LE, Jeppsson S, Kantanen J, Miceikiene I, Olsaker I, Viinalass H, Eythorsdottir E. Native breeds demonstrate high contributions to the molecular variation in northern European sheep. Mol Ecol. 2005 Nov;14(13):3951-63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2005.02727.x 

Read more about our other native breeds