Old Norwegian Sheep

[1] In the beginning 20th century, only small and scattered populations of Norwegian short-tailed sheep remained.

In 1912, two breeding programmes were started to conserve what remained of this original Norwegian sheep stock.

[3] The grazing habits of the Old Norwegian Sheep is adapted to the heather moorlands of Coastal Norway.

[1] In addition to common heather, Old Norwegian Sheep graze on leaves, herbs, kelp and other seaweeds.

[2] This, combined with the relatively mild winters in Coastal Norway, means that the breed is capable of being kept outside the entire year.

If reared traditionally, the taste is described as approaching gamey and is considered sweeter than normal mutton when cured.