The herders of Ithaca Hold range on the outside of the Hold in a 5 to 10 mile radius during the summer and stay within the Hold grounds during the winter. They are a closeknit group, because thieves, disease, and natural predators strike all ovines equally and out on the pastures they can only depend on one another. They know the land intimately and know how to survive in the rough, protecting their ovines to the very best of their abilities.

Often during the winter the herders will stay on the fenced lands within the Hold and house the ovines in three-walled stone housings called "folds", that stay warm and dry even during the harshest of blizzards.

Ithacan ovines grow to be about 150-160 lbs for ewes and 175-210 lbs for rams. Each ovine has a distinct personality but they are generally docile and easy to work with, making good yard animals for families in the Hold who just want to control the greenery and let the kids have a pet. Both sexes grow horns unless the owner doesn't wish it, in which case the horns can be removed without trouble. They can flock or be free-range.

Their fleece is silky and comes in a variety of colors. It grows long and straight, not curly, and can be used for everything from thick window hangings to coats, vests, and trim. The fleece naturally shed so they are "rooed" (plucked) not sheared.

Ithacan flocks also make an excellent flavourful meat that goes good with a red wine. Their milk is very sweet and is good for creams, soft cheeses, yoghurt, and ice cream.

During the first three months of the Turn the ovines start to shed their wool starting about the middle of month 1 and ending month 3. They are then sent out to pasture during the next 3 months to get nice and strong for breeding and/or slaughter during the fifth and sixth months. Lambs are dropped in the eleventh month and are suckled until they wean themselves at 60 to 90 days.

Information gathered from: http://www.icelandicsheep.com