Estonian Blackhead Sheep
Ovis aries
Also called Estonian Dark-Headed Sheep, Estonian Darkhead
From Estonia, developed between 1930 and 1960 by crossing local coarse-wooled ewes with Shropshire rams.1
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Rams 70-90 kg, ewes 40-85 kg.
Looks how to spot one
wool
Semi-fine, uniform white wool about 7-8 cm long, with a dark covering on the head. The fleece is elastic and lustrous, yielding about 60% clean wool after washing.12
Personality what they are like
Generally calm and docile, typical of domesticated sheep breeds. They are hardy and undemanding, with a strong maternal instinct.3
The story where it all began
The Estonian Blackhead was created in Estonia between 1930 and 1960 by crossing local coarse-wooled ewes with rams from English short-wooled breeds, mainly Shropshire. The aim was to produce a sheep with good meat and wool qualities suited to the damp Estonian climate. The breed is also known as the Estonian Dark-Headed Sheep.1
Recognised by the official bits
- Estonian state flockbook
- Listed as a recognised breed, zoned for raising in southern Estonia.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Estonian Blackhead Sheep. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh food and waterGrazing or hay, fresh water alwaysevery day
- Flock checkCount and look over the flockevery day
- Flystrike check summerCheck the back end daily in warm monthsevery day
- Foot checkevery month
- ShearingOnce a year, usually late spring, unless the breed sheds by itselfevery year
- Flea, tick and worm protectionAs your vet recommends, often after a faecal egg countas your vet recommends
- VaccinationsAs your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upFind a vet who sees sheepevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com: Estonian+Dark Headed+Sheep encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.comused for origin, weight kg, coat or body, colours, history
- fao.org: ah759e18 fao.orgused for coat or body, best traits, fun fact
- keskkonnaportaal.ee: 10035 keskkonnaportaal.eeused for temperament
- biccs.dh.gu.se: 14 Tuulik Matsin Kaljus Functional Sustainability Raising Awareness of biccs.dh.gu.seused for fun fact
Checked 2026-10-02. Text is written in our own words from these sources.