Alpines Steinschaf
Old eastern Alpine sheep breed used for wool, meat, and vegetation.
The Alpines Steinschaf is a domestic sheep breed native to the Eastern Alps in Austria and southern Germany. Farmers raise it for wool, meat, and to manage vegetation.
This breed belongs to a group of four known as the Steinschaf, which also includes the Krainer Steinschaf, Montafoner Steinschaf, and Tiroler Steinschaf. Experts believe these sheep may descend from the medieval Zaupelschaf type or the older Torfschaf, making them some of the oldest breeds in the eastern Alps. No one knows the origin or meaning of the word "steinschaf," though several theories exist.
In the early 1900s, the Alpines Steinschaf was widespread across the eastern Alps. In Austria, it lived mainly in Salzburg, but also in Carinthia, North and East Tirol, and Vorarlberg. In Germany, it was common in the Bavarian districts of Berchtesgaden and Traunstein, as well as the southeastern part of Rosenheim. In Italy, it was found in the Eisacktal, Passeiertal, upper Pustertal, and upper Vinschgau in the province of Bolzano. By 1964, the Italian population had dropped below 1,000 animals.
In 2009, the German association for conserving historic and endangered breeds (Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen) named the Alpines Steinschaf its "endangered livestock breed of the year." By 2014, the group listed it as "extremely endangered" on its Red List. Austria reported a total population of 491 to 650 in 2012, while Germany reported 791 in 2013.
This breed is a fine-boned mountain sheep, small to medium in size. Rams weigh 55 to 80 kg, and ewes 40 to 60 kg. All coat colors occur. The face and lower legs lack wool; the legs are thin but strong, and the hooves are hard. Rams often have horns, while ewes are less likely to. The ears sit horizontally or droop slightly, and the face and ears may have black markings.
Quick Facts
- Country
- Austriadad · Germanydad2
- Maleweight
- 55–80 kgarche
- Femaleweight
- 40–60 kgarche
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Alpines Steinschaf is one of four breeds in the Steinschaf group, the others being the Krainer Steinschaf, the Montafoner Steinschaf, and the Tiroler Steinschaf. They are variously thought to have derived from the mediaeval Zaupelschaf type or from the older Torfschaf, and are believed to be the oldest sheep breeds of the eastern Alps. The origin and meaning of the word steinschaf is unknown, though various theories have been advanced.
At the start of the twentieth century the Alpines Steinschaf was widely distributed in the eastern Alps. In Austria it was found mainly in Salzburg, but also in Carinthia, North and East Tirol, and in Vorarlberg. In Germany it was common in the Bavarian districts of Berchtesgaden and Traunstein and in the south-east part of Rosenheim. In Italy it was present in the Eisacktal, the Passeiertal, the upper Pustertal, and in the upper Vinschgau, in the autonomous province of Bolzano; by 1964 the population in this area had fallen to below 1000 head.
The Alpines Steinschaf was the 'endangered livestock breed of the year' of the German Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen in 2009, and was listed on its Rote Liste as 'extremely endangered' in 2014. A total population of 491–650 was reported by Austria in 2012; Germany reported 791 head in 2013.
Reader's Guide
The Alpines Steinschaf holds significance as one of the oldest sheep breeds of the eastern Alps, with a history that may trace back to medieval or even older types. Its traditional distribution across Austria, southern Germany, and northern Italy reflects its adaptation to mountainous environments. The breed's fine-boned, small-to-medium frame, hard hooves, and varied coat colors suit it for rugged alpine terrain. By the mid-20th century, its numbers had declined sharply, particularly in Italy, where the population fell below 1000 head by 1964. Conservation efforts gained attention when the breed was named 'endangered livestock breed of the year' in 2009 by a German association for historic breeds, and it was classified as 'extremely endangered' in 2014. The reported populations in Austria and Germany in the early 2010s—under 800 head in each country—underscore its precarious status. The breed's legacy lies in its role in traditional alpine agriculture, providing wool, meat, and vegetation management, and in its representation of genetic diversity among ancient European sheep. Its uncertain etymology and disputed origins add to its historical interest.
More in Sheep breeds 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced