Leadersheep
The Icelandic Breed of Leadersheep were previously described as a rare sub-breed of the Icelandic Breed of Sheep, but recent physical, behavioral, and molecular research has led to the elevation of this unique group of sheep to full breed status. They make up less than 0.5% of the Icelandic flock, and are distinguished by distinctive physical and behavioral traits that are genetically based. There is evidence that they arrived in Iceland with the original settlers as they are mentioned in some of the earliest records, and over the centuries were selected for their intelligence and their ability to lead the flock, sense danger, etc., rather than for meat (brains not brawn!). While no longer used as extensively on the farms as in the past, the sheep continue to lead the flocks, especially at the fall gathering. The numbers of leadersheep in Iceland have remained fairly constant for several decades, with approximately 1400 purebred leadersheep and approximately 500 "hybrids" - those sheep with between 50% and 99% leader genetics. In appearance, leader sheep will be taller and thinner than the “typical” Icelandic sheep, and are generally solid colored with white socks and a blaze, although the badgerface pattern was formerly quite common. Leadersheep are highly intelligent: individual leader rams held by the Southram Breeding Center in Iceland are described as “calm and sensible,” “alert,” “gentle and eager to please people,” “eager to learn.”
As with any genetically-based characters, the physical and behavioral traits of leadersheep are easily lost through cross-breeding. In Iceland, retaining leadersheep below 67% is discouraged as these lower percentage sheep do not show the range of leader behaviors, and do not improve the conformation of the commercial "typical" sheep. In North America, the only imported leadersheep was a leader great-grand-daughter (Yeoman Blessa); she is described as showing noticeable traits of flock protection. However, with usual breeding, the leader genetics and traits she displayed would soon be diluted. The availability of pure leadersheep semen from Iceland for artificial insemination (AI) has made it possible to up-breed leadersheep in the United States.
At Trinity Farm, we are dedicated to conserving leadersheep genetics. To date, we have introduced eleven leader lines (Florgodi, Geri, Golsi, Joakim, Karl Philip, Kjartan, Loftur, Nikulás, Strumpur, Torfi, and Ungi) new to North America, thus increasing the genetic diversity of North American leadersheep. We have also attained high percentage leaders (to date, to 97% leader), the highest outside Iceland, and we have supplied these leader genetics to other farms committed to preserving these rare animals. We are very proud of this achievement, and anticipate further progress in our project of conserving the genetics of these unique animals.
Below are illustrated the AI leader sires represented in the leader genetics of Trinity Farm sheep, the "foundation" leader ewes and genetic lines they possess, and a selection of the leader lambs born at Trinity Farm.
AI leader sires
(full descriptions may be found on the AI Sires page)
ARI 91-969
BISKUP 96-822
BLESI 98-884
He is the sire of Tigull 04-939, and grandsire of Leifur 02-900.
FLORGODI 11-886
A little bit related to Karl Philip (AI leader) as his grandfather, Mori 04-255, was Karl Philip’s father.
GERI 03-986
Ari 91-969 is a great-great grandsire.
GOLSI 09-916
Golsi has no other AI leader sires in his ancestry but is the great-grandsire of Torfi.
JOAKIM 08-863
Leifur 02-900 is his double great grandfather.
KARL PHILIP 05-827
Generations back in his bloodline Skumur 01-885 can be found as well as Blesi 98-884.
KJARTAN 16-860
Son of Strumpur,
LEIFUR 02-900
Grandson of Blesi and double great-grandsire of Joakim.
LOFTUR 04-970
Loftur is not related to any of the other imported AI leader sires.
NIKULAS 15-977
Maternal grandfather is Jóakim 02-272; distantly related to Florgodi 11-886 and Biskup 96-822.
SKUMUR 01-885
Son of Blesi 98-884.
STRUMPUR 14-815
Distantly related to Geri 03-986 and Biskup 96-822. Sire of Kjartan.
Strumpur was voted the most handsome ram in his province!
TIGULL 04-939
Son of Blesi 98-884 and grandson of Ari 91-969
TORFI 17-816
Distantly related to Golsi 09-916 (Father’s Mother’s Father)
UNGI 13-938
Related to Leifur 02-900 (double great grandsire) and more distantly to Joakim 08-863
FOUNDATION LEADER LINE EWES
KATLA (BLW 267U) 52% leader
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/BB Ss/Ss
Tigull, Biskup, Ari, and Yeoman Blessa
ULTRA (INGL 025U) ~17% leader
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb SS/Ss
Leifur, Ari, and Yeoman Blessa
REYJKA (DL 141A) ~28% leader.
Genotype: Ag/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Ari and Yeoman Blessa
SURTSEY (CSIC 7C) ~6% leader
Genotype: Agt/Aa BB/BB SS/Ss
Skumur
SURTLA (SSW 319D) ~75% leader
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/B- Ss/Ss
Blesi, Joakim, Prestur, Tigull, Biskup. Ari, Yeoman Blessa
FLUGA (SSW 338D) ~59% leadee
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/B- Ss/Ss
Leifur, Ari, Joakim, Tigull, Biskup, Yeoman Blessa
A SELECTION OF THE
LEADERSHEEP
BORN AT TRINITY FARM
EWES
LAKI (BEL 214X) 76% leader
Geri x BLW 267U (Katla)
Genotype: A/aAa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Geri, 1/8 Tigull, 1/16 Biskup, 1/16 Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
HEKLA (BEL 503A) 88% leader
Karl Philip x BEL 214X (Laki).
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Karl Philip, 1/4 Geri, 1/16 Tigull, 1/32 Biskup, 1/32 Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
HÁLSA (BEL 506A) 50% leader
Karl Philip x DL 754W (Vatna)
Genotype: AgAa Bb/Bb SS/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Karl Philip
BLÁHN (BEL 622B) 88% leader
Loftur x BEL 214X (Laki)
Genotype: AaAaBB/B- Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Loftur, 1/4 Geri, 1/16 Tigull, and 1/32 each Biskup, and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
THEISTA (BEL 716C) 88% leader
Florgodi x BEL 214X (Laki)
Genotype: Ab/Aa Bb/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Florgodi, 1/4 Geri, 1/16 Tigull 1/32 each Biskup and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
KATLA (BEL 817D) 94% leader
Geri x BEL 622B (Bláhn)
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 5/8 Geri, 1/4 Loftur, 1/32 Tigull 1/64 each Biskup and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
KERLING (BEL 907E) 88% leader
Florgodi x BEL 214X (Laki)
Genotype: Ab/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Florgodi, 1/4 Geri, 1/16 Tigull 1/32 each Biskup and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
HUSA (BEL 926E) 88% leader
BEL 815D (Thordar) x BEL 503A (Hekla).
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/4 Karl Philip, 1/4 Golsi, 1/4 Geri, 1/16 Tigull, 1/32 Biskup, 1/32 Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
RAMS (A SELECTION)
LOKI (BEL 514A) 76% leader
Joakim x BLW 267U (Katla)
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Joakim, 1/8 Tigull, 1/16 Biskup, 1/16 Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
SKAFTÁ (BEL 708C) 94% leader
Florgodi x BEL 503A (Hekla)
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Florgodi, 1/4 Karl Philip, 1/8 Geri, 1/32 Tigull 1/64 each Biskup and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
GÍGAR (BEL 715C) 88% leader
Florgodi x BEL 214X (Laki)
Genotype: Aa/Aa Bb/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Florgodi, 1/4 Geri, 1/16 Tigull 1/32 each Biskup and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
ALFTAN (BEL 726C) 76% leader
Karl Philip x BLW 267U (Katla).
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Karl Philip, 1/8 Tigull, 1/16 Biskup, 1/16 Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
THORDAR (BEL 815D) 88% leader
Golsi x BEL 214X (Laki)
Genotype: Aa/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Golsi, 1/4 Geri, 1/16 Tigull 1/32 each Biskup and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa
LUGJA (BEL 816D) 94% leader
Golsi x BEL 503A (Hekla)
Genotype: Ab/Aa BB/Bb Ss/Ss
Leader genetics: 1/2 Golsi, 1/4 Karl Philip, 1/8 Geri, 1/32 Tigull 1/64 each Biskup and Ari, and some Yeoman Blessa