If you want a spinner's flock and want a truly versatile and lovely wool to work with, consider the Icelandic fleece. Dual coated, this fleece can be prepared three different ways. If you already have a spinner's flock, consider crossbreeding an Icelandic ram on some of your ewes. The resulting fleeces, fast growing lambs and great personalities can make for some lovely animals and great new fleeces. If you don't want to bother with lambing and rams, Icelandic wethers make great additions to any spinners flock.
If you want to experience rare sheep that are highly intelligent, Icelandics are the only breed to have documented leadersheep. These rare, tall, elegant sheep with a dairy conformation are said to have a special gene for high intelligence and DNA testing is expected to validate the history and lore of this unique phenomenon.
If you have considered miking sheep, be sure to check out Icelandics. Icelandics are easy to milk, well behaved, and train easily to the milking parlor. Icelandic sheep have been used for centuries for cheese production in Iceland and interest in using them for milk and cheese in North America is fast gaining attention. They are especially well suited for homestead/farmstead cheese making operations because of the high fat content of the milk.
If you are raising sheep for the commercial market, consider an Icelandic ram for improving your market lambs. Icelandic lambs can gain .75 to 1 lb. (or more!) per day on grass and mother's milk alone. Icelandic meat is mild and sweet tasting, has a true gourmet flavor and excellent meat conformation to bone ratio. The carcass dresses out at about 45%. Additionally, Icelandic sheep are sexually mature by 7 months and can be bred as lambs if they have reached the proper weight.
