The Braunköpfiges Fleischschaf is a Swiss breed of domestic sheep. It derives from cross-breeding of the Grabs of the Canton of St. Gallen with Oxford Down stock imported from the United Kingdom. It is one of the nine principal surviving Swiss sheep breeds; others are the Bündner Oberländerschaf, the Red Engadine, the Saaser Mutte, the Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf, the Spiegelschaf, the Valais Blacknose, the Walliser Landschaf or Roux du Valais and the Weisses Alpenschaf.
History
The Braunköpfiges Fleischschaf derives from cross-breeding of the Grabser Schaf of the Canton of St. Gallen with Oxford Down stock imported from the United Kingdom, as a result of which the Grabser ceased to exist as a separate breed and is listed as extinct. A herd-book was established in 1919.
The total population reported in Switzerland for 2025 was between , with a breeding stock of ewes and 373 rams; the conservation status of the breed is listed as 'at risk/vulnerable'.
Characteristics
It is a medium- to large-sized sheep: average weights are about for ewes and for rams, with heights at the withers of approximately and respectively. It is a short-wool breed, with a thick white fleece extending over the upper face and down the legs; the face is brown or black.
Use
The Braunköpfiges Fleischschaf is reared principally for meat. Fleeces commonly weigh from , with an average staple length of approximately .
References
Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . Archived 23 June 2020.
Tiergenetische Ressourcen der Schweizer Landwirtschaft (in German). Bern: Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft. Archived 18 April 2026.
Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. .
Breed Data Sheet: Braunköpfiges Fleischschaf / Switzerland (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2026.
[s.n.] (2016). Nutztierrassen und -schläge der Schweiz (in German). Basel: ProSpecieRara Schweiz. Archived 7 December 2016.