It is thought that Estonian Ruhnu sheep were originally raised for producing meat and wool.
[3] Physical adaptations of the Estonian Ruhnu sheep population to seaside pastures and small paddocks suggests that these sheep have had a rather long period to adapt to their environment.
Most of the small population of Ruhnu sheep are white or cream colored with greyish head and legs and some have a distinctive "badgerface" pattern.
The wool is double-coated and of two fibre types and it is generally used for making hand knitting yarn and clothing, such as sweaters.
All remaining Estonian Ruhnu sheep on the island live in one semimanaged existing flock, with several individual sheep living on the Estonian island of Kihnu.