KNOWSHEEP
Developing a Knowledge-based Sheep Industry on the Baltic Sea Islands
- Thematic cluster:
- SMEs
- Programme:
- Archipelago and Islands Sub-programme
- Priority:
- 2. Economically competitive and innovative region
- Direction of support:
- Developing archipelago and islans specific economic activities - tradtional small scale farming, fishing, handicrafts, maritime heritage etc
- Duration:
- Nov 2010 - Dec 2013 (3 years, 2 months)
- Total funding:
- 1 175 190 €
- ERDF funding:
- 955 551 €
- EUSBSR Priority area
- Reinforcing sustainability of agriculture, forestry and fisheries
- Website:
- http://www.knowsheep.eu
Development idea
The diversity of the traditional sheep of the Baltic Sea islands is not widely appreciated, though small-scale sheep keeping is a traditional activity for islanders and perfect for nature protection areas, where extensive farming is forbidden due to environmental considerations. Sheep are a fairly undervalued simultaneous source of meat, wool, and landscape design. Typically, sheep farming is polarised, targeted either at meat or wool production: thus, foreign or local meat/wool lamb breeds are preferred. It is not widely known that native sheep can offer high-quality wool, several shades of yarn and delicious meat.
Aim of the project
The KNOWSHEEP project set itself the task of raising awareness and appreciation for sheep farming, which in turn adds value to the local archipelago-based living environment by creating jobs in processing, marketing and tourism and promotes the preservation of biotopes and biodiversity.
Main project activities
Project activities included the research and review of the status of sheep farming and an assessment of its capacity and potential on the Baltic Sea islands. The project organised seminars and published books for sheep farmers, experts and the public. Three sheep resource centres have been established to exchange information, organise events and training sessions and serve as a meeting place for likeminded folk involved in sheep farming.
Partners
Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 289 311 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 51 055 €
University of Turku
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Varsinais-Suomi
- ERDF funding:
- 12 300 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 4 100 €
University of Tartu - REMOVED
- Country:
- Region:
- ERDF funding:
- 0 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 0 €
The town of Pargas
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Varsinais-Suomi
- ERDF funding:
- 177 642 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 59 214 €
The Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lõuna – Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 50 491 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 8 909 €
Saaremaa Wool Association
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lääne-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 131 462 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 24 107 €
MTT Agrifood Research Finland
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Kanta-Häme
- ERDF funding:
- 111 526 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 37 174 €
Hiiumaa Sheep and Cattle Society
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lääne-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 45 895 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 8 105 €
HAMK University of Applied Scienses
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Kanta-Häme
- ERDF funding:
- 17 945 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 5 981 €
Estonian Crop Research Institute
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 118 979 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 20 996 €
Results
Handbook on traditional sheep keeping
Handbook "Come sheepy, sheepy! Cute sheepy, sheepy! Experiences of Traditional Sheep Keeping"
Traditional sheep keeping differs from modern industrialised sheep keeping in many ways. This book contains some basic information about traditional sheep keeping, both practical advice and also folklore. Information about traditional sheep keeping is useful for all new sheep keepers but especially for small farmers who want to keep sheep in a traditional way.
COME SHEEPY, SHEEPY! CUTE SHEEPY, SHEEPY! Experiences of Traditional Sheep Keeping ENG
UTE! UTE! UTEE! Traditsioonilise lambapidamise kogemusi EST
PIITI, PIITI, PIITIIII! Kokemuksia perinteisestä lammastaloudesta FIN
TACKONA KOM, KOOOOM! Erfarenheter av traditionsenlig fårhushållning SWE
Handbook on woollen handicrafts on the Baltic islands
The book presents an overview of the development of technology and treatment of wool in the Baltic islands.
The Baltic Sea islands under discussion in this book belong to the countries of Estonia, Finland and Sweden. What do the islanders have in common? A strong relationship to the Baltic Sea and raising sheep. Throughout history, the islanders have been influenced by many cultures and they have served as a conduit of culture themselves. This is reflected in their handicraft patterns. The book presents an overview of the development of technology and treatment of wool in the Baltic islands.
Woollen handicrafts on the Baltic islands ENG
Villakäsitöö Läänemere saartel EST
Villakäsityöt Itämeren saarilla FIN
Ullhantverk på Östersjöns öar SWE
| www.knowsheep.eu/index.php |
Handbook on sheep farming
The handbook contains a collection articles on the results of research and development activities carried out in the KNOWSHEEP project.
The articles discuss ways of feeding sheep, grazing sheep on semi-natural grasslands, the security of sheep pastures, the spread of sheep parasites and the characteristics and uses of wool. There is also an analytical overview of the resources, needs and potential development opportunities of sheep farming on Estonian and Finnish islands and in coastal areas.
Traditional sheep keeping ENG
Traditsiooniline lambakasvatus EST
Perinteinen lampaankasvatus FIN
Traditionsenlig fårhushållning SWE
Films on the themes of sheep farming, food and handicraft
A collection of films about the benefits of sheep farming
The films are available on the project's YouTube channel.
| www.youtube.com/user/KnowSheepVideos |
Sheep resource centres
Sheep resource centres in Estonia and Finland
The project created two physical Sheep Resource Centres in Saaremaa (Estonia) and in Hiiumaa (Estonia) and a virtual centre in Pargas (Finland).
Skärgårdens fårklubb, Pargas/Finland SWE, ENG, FIN
