Sheeps - Lithuanian Black Headed

 In the mid-XX c., the Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep breed was created through crossing local coarse sheep with woolen English Shropshire and meaty German black-headed rams. Having inherited good wool and meat characteristics, these sheep are rather meaty, have short maturing period, and supply homogenous semi-fine fleeced wool. The sheep have short and white wool, while their head, ears, and legs are covered with black hair. This type of sheep has no horns. According to productivity trend, Lithuanian black-headed sheep belong to the group of semi-fine fleeced and short wool sheep of meat-wool type.

   In order to form productive herds of thoroughbred sheep, state Black-Headed sheep breeding nucleus farms were established in Pasvalis in 1952, and Telšiai in 1956. The aim of breeding nucleus farms is to improve this breed and increase the number of sheep. In 1958 the Ministry of Agriculture issued an order confirming sheep breeding farms; however, in 1961 the decreasing number of sheep caused decline in the amount of farms as well. In 1963 Šeduva Experimental Farm (now state enterprise ‘Šeduvos avininkystė’) was set up with the aim to preserve the Black-Headed sheep breed. From the very start, the farm launched individual sheep breeding and productivity control, and also performed scientific research. The results included thorough evaluation of sheep constitution and exterior, reproductive qualities, milking capacity of lamb-giving sheep, chemical composition of milk, and quality of wool and meat.
   Šeduva sheep breeding farm as well as breeding farms marked sheep by ear cuttings or badges hung on the neck. Meanwhile unified and general marking of Lithuanian sheep started. The best sheep and thoroughbred rams are included into herd books. The first Lithuanian Black-Headed breed herd book was issued in 1963, and the last (13th) – in 1993.
   At the moment thoroughbred Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep are raised in four farming herds (about 70 ews) and the only sheep breeding nucleus farm, Šeduvos avininkystė’ (about 400 ews). They preserve the genetic stock of Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep, control productivity, make up sheep breeding plans, and raise productive thoroughbred young sheep for farmers. About 140 doses of frozen semen from Black-Headed rams are stored at the Animal Reproduction Department of Lithuanian Institute of Animal Science.
   The state enterprise ‘Šeduvos avininkystė’ is responsible for the preservation of the genetic stock of Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep, while the Lithuanian Sheep Breeders Association takes care about the herd books.