Wet weather may explain uneven sheep weights this year

Sheep slaughtering is under way across the country, but weights are uneven and average weight is slightly lower than last year, KVF reports. Jens Ivan í Gerðinum, an agricultural adviser at Búnaðarstovan in Kollafjørður, said the average weight recorded there was just under 33 pounds, more than two pounds below last year.

Reports from farmers around the country suggest results vary this year, he said. He noted that last year was very good for most farmers in terms of average weight.

Heavy rain may be one reason for the difference. September brought exceptionally high rainfall across almost the whole country, and August also turned out badly. This came at the time when ewes should stop producing milk and lambs need to learn to eat grass and gain weight from the last of the summer grass. With so much rain, sheep eat less than usual, í Gerðinum said.

Weight is not everything, he added: a sheep can be in good condition despite weighing less. Most farmers likely want an average weight above 30 pounds.