Skudde

The Skudde is a small, primitive landrace sheep from the former East Prussia and Baltic region, now maintained mainly in Germany and neighboring countries. It belongs to the northern short-tailed group and has a light body, alert expression, and a coarse-to-fine mixed fleece that may be white, black, brown, grey, or spotted. Rams usually carry large spiral horns; ewes are often polled but can be horned or scurred. Skudden were never shaped into a heavy commercial meat breed, which is part of their value for heritage grazing and genetic conservation.

These sheep are useful on rough grass, orchards, heath, and conservation sites where a light animal can browse and graze without excessive soil damage. They are hardy and thrifty, but small size does not remove the need for secure fencing, handling facilities, and routine flock health work. Overrich feed can produce overfat ewes and lambing trouble, while neglected fleece or horns can create welfare problems. Preservation breeders pay close attention to horn shape, color, and unrelated bloodlines because local populations have been rebuilt from limited numbers.