Oessant sheep - first in an Irish theme-park, now in a French book
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325758)
Rockingham, Australia
July 29, 2017 1:23am CST
Most of the camp-sites we’ve been have ‘little libraries’ where you can exchange books you’ve finished with for ‘new’ ones. Quite often, there are a least a few in English as well as German and Dutch. One I picked up yesterday is really enjoyable and tells the story of an English man who buys an old house and few acres in France.
He purchases some Oessant sheep. I remember seeing these at a theme park in Ireland and thought they were really cute. They are named after the island where they originated which is off the coast of Brittany. They are a short-tailed breeds, sometimes called the Breton Dwarf as they are one of the smallest breeds around. Rams are around 49 cms (19 inches) at the shoulder and ewes very slightly smaller.
Most are black or dark brown but white ones are also found. The rams usually have impressive horns. It is regarded as a rare breed and usually just a single lamb is born. Wikipedia say that the Paris city government is now using a small herd of these quaint sheep to graze public lands.
The photo is from the theme park in Ireland and it looks like they are a self-shedding breed. And the book is called ‘C’est La Folie’ by Michael Wright.
17 people like this
16 responses
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jul 17
@JohnRoberts I love how you find out about something then it turns up several times within a short period.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Jul 17
@JudyEv Those sheep are lights out!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
29 Jul 17
The use of sheep and goats to graze lawn and public areas are becoming more and more popular, in France they call this "écopâturage" (ecologic grazing). In Switzerland goats are used instead of sheep, due to the steep hills and mountains.
4 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Jul 17
@JudyEv That one is just staring at you.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jul 17
@JohnRoberts The two on the right look very strange with the wool still on their backs.
good one! 
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
29 Jul 17
I haven't seen such breed before. It is amazing to know that there are different species of animals that I know of except sheep or probably other animals that I may not know of.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
31 Jul 17
Wow, that is one unique breed! And I find it really interesting that they have those little libraries at the camp sites. That's new to me.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
29 Jul 17
That is nice that people share books! They look so nasty when they self shed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Aug 17
They don't shed their wool nicely and all in one go do they? They look very bedraggled.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
29 Jul 17
I love the Little Free Libraries. We have a few here in town.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Aug 17
@teamfreak16 There is quite a big one where we're staying tonight so perhaps I'll find some English ones for Vince before he runs out.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
29 Jul 17
@JudyEv - We have one across the street from us.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
30 Jul 17
@JudyEv I still remember when my demanding little girl saw a program on TV about some cute miniature horses. She begged and she begged, 'please mom, can we have one as a pet!'. I am glad she understood at the time that we couldn't afford it, and that even if we had afforded one, it would be pinched so fast by someone else.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Jul 17
That is a book Herc could really get into.
1 person likes this
