Sheep (Ovis aries)

Humans have kept domestic sheep for thousands of years for their wool, milk and meat. Sheep are ruminants: they graze on grass and other soft-stemmed plants, then chew their food again later. They are social animals and feel safest in a flock. They can recognise other sheep and remember familiar human faces for a long time.

Many sheep breeds are raised around the world, differing in both appearance and purpose. The Racka is one of Hungary’s most distinctive breeds. Both rams and ewes of the Great Plain variety may have long, straight, corkscrew-shaped horns. Racka sheep occur in white and black varieties. Their coarser wool was traditionally used to make rugs and felted goods, among other things.

The Merino is known for its fine, dense wool, which is particularly well suited to making yarn and textiles. The Hungarian Merino, which is also bred here, is usually white, and wool may cover part of its head as well as its body. Although it was originally prized for its wool, lamb rearing and meat production are also important reasons for keeping it today.

The Tsigai can be recognised by its pale fleece and usually dark head and legs. It reached Hungary from the Balkans in the late 18th century and has long been part of the country’s sheep-farming traditions. It is a multipurpose breed, traditionally kept for its wool, milk and meat.