Schoonebeker
Schoonebeker is a Dutch heath sheep, often known as the Schoonebeeker Heideschaap, from the Drenthe region of the Netherlands. It is a long-legged, rustic sheep associated with open heathland grazing and conservation landscapes. Animals may show varied colors and markings, with a rangy outline very different from compact meat breeds or fine-wool sheep.
The breed is useful where grazing is part of land stewardship. Schoonebekers can help maintain heath, rough grass, and semi-natural areas that would change character without controlled browsing and grazing. They are not designed for rapid finishing on heavy feed, so owners should value hardiness, mobility, mothering, and the ability to use poor forage. Conservation flocks need records, careful ram choice, and selection against weak structure. The wool is secondary, but the breed's landscape role makes it important far beyond the weight of lamb or fleece produced each year.
