User:Magnús Hjálmarsson/sandbox

The Leadersheep known for its unique characteristics is a strain that evolved withing the native breed of Icelandic sheep. Different from the stumpy and stocky native breed, the Leadersheep has longer legs and are extremely lean having little to no fat, they are multicolored and some have four horns, as cattle they have little to no economic value except as leaders. They often lead flocks by walking or running at the front of the flock setting its speed and deciding the path they take, they are generally alert and attentive, they lead the flocks even in bad weather conditions and may foresee climatic events. The intelligence expressed by these sheep is known to be strongly inherited without being linked to sex, age, color or other external traits.

Little is known about their genetics and they only have a small breeding population of hardly over 1000 purebreds. Enthusiastic breeders and scientists in the spring of 2000 founded the Leadersheep Society of Iceland with the main aim to conserve and maintain leadersheep.