Sheep Farming in IcelandEyþór Einarsson1, Eyjólfur I. Bjarnason1 &

Emma Eyþórsdóttir2

1The Icelandic Agricultural Advisory Centre2The Agricultural University of Iceland

Sheep farming has been a major part of

Icelandic agriculture since the settlement of

Iceland. It is the second most important sector

in Icelandic agriculture contributing 22% to the

total agricultural income in 2016.

Lamb meat is the major source of income to

farmers. In 2015 lamb meat accounted for 23%

of the meat consumption (20 kg per capita), but

had fallen from over 50% in 1990.

The number of winter fed sheep has been

stable at 440-480,000 for the last 25 years.

Maximum numbers were around 900,000 in

1978.

Size of flocks Number of

flocks

Average flock

size

< 200 sheep 1520 63

200-399 sheep 493 291

400-599 sheep 286 485

> 600 sheep 123 758

All flocks 2422 195

Figure 1. Sheep farming provides the basis for

year around habitation in many rural areas.

Table 1. Distribution of flock size (winter

fed sheep) on sheep farms in Iceland.

The production breed is the North European short-

tailed Icelandic sheep.

• Mature ewes weigh 150-160 lbs. and rams 200-

220 lbs.

• Double-coated fleece with outer hair and fine

inner wool.

• Diverse colours although most sheep are white.

• Polled and horned individuals of both sexes.

Other related breeds are the Greenland sheep and

the Norwegian short-tailed sheep, Spælsau.

©Birgitta Lúðvíksdóttir ©Birgitta Lúðvíksdóttir

©Farmers Association in Iceland