Lithuanian Black-headed
The Lithuanian Black-Headed Sheep (Lithuanian: "Lietuvos vietinės šiurkščiavilnės") is a multipurpose breed developed in Lithuania during the mid-20th century. The breed was created through crossing local sheep with English Shropshire and meaty German black-headed rams, in an attempt to combine the best characteristics of both. These sheep mature early and supply homogenous semi-fine wool. They have short and white wool, while their head, ears, and legs are covered with black hair. The sheep has no horns. To form productive herds of thoroughbred sheep, state-run Black-Headed sheep breeding nucleus farms were established in Pasvalys in 1952, and in Telšiai in 1956. In 1963 the Šeduva Experimental Farm was launched to preserve the breed. Since its inception the farm has performed scientific research, including evaluation of sheep health and fertility, milking capacity, chemical composition of sheep milk, and quality of wool and meat. The first Lithuanian Black-Headed breed herd book was issued in 1963, and the last in 1993. As of 2007, thoroughbred Lithuanian Black-Headed sheep were being raised in four farming herds totaling about 470 ewes. Its genetic material is being stored as a resource, and a 2005 United Nations-sponsored initiative purchased the sheep in support of traditional Lithuanian textile arts.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Lithuanian Black-headed
Finding a responsible Lithuanian Black-headed breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells sheeps commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Lithuanian Black-headed. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Lithuanian Black-headeds appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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