Ouessant sheep

{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2022}}

File:Grasende Bretonische Zwergschafe.JPG

The Ouessant ({{langx|br|Ushant}}) is a primitive, heritage breed of sheep originating from the island of Ouessant which is situated off the coast of Brittany.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/ushant/index.htm

|work=Breeds of Livestock

|title=Ushant

|publisher=Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science

|access-date=2009-04-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826084148/http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/ushant/index.htm

|archive-date=2009-08-26

|url-status=dead

}} It has a naturally short tail and therefore categorised as a Northern European short-tailed sheep breed together with several other breeds originating from the UK, Scandinavia and Germany. Also occasionally called the Breton Dwarf, it is reputed to be the smallest naturally occurring breed of sheep in the world.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.sheep101.info/breedsO-P.html#ouessant

|work=Sheep Breeds - St-U

|title=Ushant

|access-date=2009-04-24

|publisher=Sheep101.info}} Rams are around {{Convert|49|cm|in|sigfig=2}} tall at the shoulder, and the ewes about {{Convert|45|cm|in|sigfig=2}}.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.ouessantsheep.net/breed.html

|title=The Ouessant Sheep

|publisher=The Ouessant Sheep Society of Great Britain

|access-date=2009-04-24}} The Ouessant existed exclusively on its home island until the beginning of the 20th century, and though no longer to be found there, they are widespread throughout Europe, with Ouessant breed societies in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. {{Cite web |title=Ouessant Links – Ouessant Sheep Society |url=https://ouessantsheep.org.uk/ouessant-links/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |language=en-US}}The breed is also gaining in popularity in the US and NZ.

Ouessant are a solid black, white or brown (moorit) colour. The rams have two relatively large horns, and ewes are polled. Ewes characteristically are single lambing and the breed is primarily used for wool production. In Paris, the city government recently began using a small herd of Ouessant sheep to graze public lands.{{Citation|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/world/europe/sheep-tend-lawn-outside-city-archives-in-paris.html?_r=0|work = The New York Times|date = April 3, 2013|title = Paris Employs a Few Black Sheep to Tend, and Eat, a City Field}} They are also used to graze vineyards and orchards.