Zackelschafe Tiergarten Bernburg 06-03-2008

The Racka (pronounced Hungarian �rɒts.kɒ, or Hortobágy Racka Sheep, is an

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

breed A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...

sheep Sheep (: sheep) or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are a domesticated, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to d ...

originating in

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

, known for its curly and crimped

wool Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...

and unusual

spiral In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving further away as it revolves around the point. It is a subtype of whorled patterns, a broad group that also includes concentric objects. Two-dimensional A two-dimension ...

-shaped horns, which are seen on both the rams and the ewes (albeit slightly shorter on the females). These unique appendages are unlike any other domestic sheep horns, and may grow up to long, growing at a roughly 45-degree, diagonal angle; the shortest standard length is for rams and for ewes. Although the Racka has been kept by Hungarians for several centuries, once being the most common sheep breed in the country, it is now considered a rare species, with an estimated 2,500 animals remaining. Today, the largest flocks are found in the Hortobágy steppes of Hungary and, to a lesser extent, in Caraș-Severin,

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

. However, due to its unique features, it has seen popularity abroad, being exported in growing numbers to the United Kingdom, United States and France; while in its home range interest remains limited. It is a hardy, multi-purpose breed used for

milking Milking is the act of removing milk from the mammary glands of cattle, water buffalo, humans, goats, sheep, and, more rarely, camels, horses, and donkeys. Milking may be done by hand or by machine, and requires the animal to be currently or rec ...

and

meat Meat is animal Tissue (biology), tissue, often muscle, that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted and farmed other animals for meat since prehistory. The Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of vertebrates, including chickens, sheep, ...

. Their wool is long and coarse, and appears in two general types: a cream or off-white (on animals with light brown to apricot skin), and a black to dark brown variation (with black skin). Ewes weigh around and rams . The breed's unique appearance and quiet disposition make it a desirable animal for hobbyists. The British Racka Sheep Society has stated that the breed has a high sensitivity to its environment, being especially wary of perceived "threats" like loud noises or machinery, as well as being alert for predators; these characteristics make the breed somewhat flighty, easily spooked and potentially difficult to contain or capture, if needed.

Characteristics

This breed is unique in appearance, with both sexes possessing long, spiraling horns, which protrude almost straight upwards and out, at a slight angle, from the top of the head. There are two color patterns with the Racka, the most common being brown wool covering the heads and legs with the fiber varying in color from dark brown to light brown and white. Individuals can also be solid black, with black skin and wool, or a dark chocolate brown. The wool tips on black sheep fade to a reddish-black with exposure to sunlight; as they mature, the points of the fiber turn grey. The fiber diameter varies within this breed, and generally is found to be 12 to 40 micrometres with a yield of 38% to 65%. Staple length is approximately . Fleece weight must be at least for rams. The softness and crimp of the wool would indicate its interest with hand spinners. The minimum acceptable mature body weight for ewes is and for rams . The rams average in height. The sheep were traditionally kept for both milk and meat. The fleece is coarse. A similar subspecies is the Gyimes Racka (Hungarian: ''gyimesi racka''), native to the Ghimeș-Făget region of Romania.

References

Sheep breeds originating in Hungary Sheep breeds {{sheep-stub