SHEEP

The breeding flock at Nihtilä consists of purebred Rygja sheep and Rygja–Gotland sheep as well as Rygja–Texel crossbred ewes. The current rams are Rygja, Texel and Gotland sheep, and by combining these appropriately, high-quality breeding animals and slaughter lambs are maintained.

In purebred breeding with Rygja, a rotational line-breeding system is used and “line jumps” are avoided. If there is no suitable purebred ram available for the ewes, the ewes are used for two-breed dam production. The Rygja population in Finland is small, and a sufficiently diverse gene pool can only be maintained through systematic line rotation. At Nihtilä there are Rygja sheep from the BN, CN, DD, EN, F and GD lines. Sales offers are especially welcome for Rygja breeding rams, but also for ewes!

In the flock, both purebred Rygja and crossbred dams are bred for easy lambing, good maternal traits, good milk production capacity and fertility. Animals that are not exemplary in these respects are excluded from further breeding.

Sheep sold from Nihtilä are quality assessed, regularly examined through fecal samples, and are free from large stomach worms, large and small liver flukes, and foot rot. Co-grazing with cattle is not practiced. The farm’s dogs are also tested for neosporosis and toxoplasmosis and are dewormed for tapeworms when necessary.

Purchased animals are always kept in quarantine for at least one month and are examined for dewormer-resistant parasites and, when necessary, for foot rot before being integrated into the flock. If there are any questions regarding sheep health, contact is welcome!

At the moment, the farm’s sheep are not, as a rule, sold or rented as summer sheep or as pets.