Alpines Steinschaf
Alpines Steinschaf, or Alpine Stone Sheep, is a small to medium mountain breed from the eastern Alpine region, especially Austria and southern Germany. It is an old landrace-type sheep with coarse to mixed wool, lively movement, and variable coloring that can include white, black, gray, brown, or spotted animals. The breed was shaped less for heavy carcasses than for sure-footed grazing on steep slopes, marginal meadows, and mountain farms.
Today the Alpines Steinschaf is often discussed in conservation and landscape-grazing contexts. It suits breeders who value heritage genetics, low-input hill ability, and fleeces with craft character rather than uniform fine fiber. Management should protect the traits that made the breed useful: sound legs, hardy lambs, alert but manageable temperaments, and the capacity to use rough forage. Where registries or preservation groups are involved, color, horn status, and regional line should be recorded so rare family lines are not lost.
Colors: Badgerface, Black, Blackbelly, Broken, Brown, Gray, Grey, Gulmoget, Katmoget, Moorit, Piebald, Red, Roan, Silver, Solid, Spotted, Tan, White, White with Black Points, White with Brown Points
