{"id":42302,"date":"2022-11-08T12:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T11:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parcsaintecroix.com\/?post_type=animal&p=42302"},"modified":"2026-06-03T14:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:15:31","slug":"ouessant-sheep","status":"publish","type":"animal","link":"https:\/\/parcsaintecroix.com\/en\/animaux\/ouessant-sheep","title":{"rendered":"Ouessant Sheep"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Homepage<\/a><\/span> Ouessant Sheep<\/span><\/span> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> <\/div>\n\n
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Ouessant Sheep<\/h1>\n \n \n\n

At the Sainte-Croix Animal Park, the Ouessant sheep\u2014one of the smallest sheep in the world\u2014can be observed in a natural setting, where visitors of all ages enjoy watching them graze, rest, or interact with the other farm animals.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

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A charming miniature sheep<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Native to Brittany, and more specifically to the island of Ouessant, this sheep is an ancient breed that has survived the test of time. It stands barely 45 cm at the withers, making it the smallest sheep in Europe and setting it apart from other breeds of its kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its dense, woolly coat, usually black but sometimes white or brown, provides excellent protection against various weather conditions. Among Ouessant sheep, only the males have large, spiral horns. This reinforces their iconic and striking appearance.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Description<\/h2>\n \n

Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus<\/p>\n \n

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\n Family<\/span>\n

Anatidae<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n Weight<\/span>\n

4 to 5 kg<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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70 to 80 cm<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Alsace, (France)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n Status<\/span>\n

Least Concern<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n Lifespan<\/span>\n

10 to 15 year<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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A peaceful and independent animal<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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The Ouessant sheep is a calm, unassuming, and undemanding breed. Highly independent, it prefers to live in small flocks. It spends its days grazing on grass, which makes it an animal that actively contributes to the ecological maintenance of natural areas through its selective grazing.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Did you know?<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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The Ouessant sheep nearly went extinct in the 1970s!
It was saved thanks to enthusiasts who launched conservation programs. Even today, the breed remains rare and precious, and it is protected by breeders committed to preserving this living heritage.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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The Ouessant sheep is a strict herbivore. It feeds mainly on grass, leaves, and low-growing vegetation. It thrives in natural pastures and can make do with sparse vegetation, making it ideal for eco-grazing.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>","protected":false},"featured_media":37851,"template":"","animal_family":[329],"animal_univers":[],"animal_others":[],"class_list":["post-42302","animal","type-animal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOuessant Sheep | Parc Animalier Sainte-Croix<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the Ouessant sheep at the Sainte-Croix Animal Park: a hardy and rare breed, ideal for eco-grazing.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/parcsaintecroix.com\/en\/animaux\/ouessant-sheep\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ouessant Sheep | Parc Animalier Sainte-Croix\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover the Ouessant sheep at the Sainte-Croix 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