Sheep are not needlessly killed for their fur

If we go back in time some fifteen thousand years, we would already find sheep being herded into flocks. Man soon understood that maintaining a whole flock of sheep for a long time was much more beneficial to him than killing them en masse for a one-time benefit. He could rely on the natural and strong social instinct that encourages most species of sheep to live in herds.

Very early on, humans learned to utilize everything sheep had to offer. Meat was undoubtedly the first reason humans turned their attention to sheep. Obtaining meat from livestock was much easier and safer than hunting. However, sheep meat is quite specific in its consistency, taste and smell, and although it has become popular in several world cuisines, it cannot be compared to the popularity of pork, poultry or beef on a global scale.

When sheep had to be slaughtered for meat, humans managed to get the most out of them. For example, the intestines were long used as a strong material for sewing (surgery) or strings (tennis rackets). The horns were made into knife handles, jewelry or buttons, and the fat into candles. Sheep and goat dung is still used for heating in some areas, it is a good fertilizer, and sheep urine can also be a source of potassium nitrate used to make gunpowder. Sheep are so deeply rooted in human culture that we cannot forget their ritual and liturgical significance in many world religions.

After meat, the most valuable resource obtained from sheep was its fur. Having something to eat and staying warm were necessary conditions for the survival of the human species. Sheep could provide plenty of both. However, in order for sheepskin not to lie fallow, it was necessary to develop a relatively demanding process for its processing. This still includes skinning, soaking, tanning, greasing and possibly dyeing. Sheepskin became the main source of materials for warm and durable clothing.

Over time and through targeted breeding, meat and fur were surpassed by a completely different raw material that sheep could offer to humans. Wool . The great thing about wool is that although it is one of the most widespread textile materials with a huge range of uses, the most important condition for obtaining it is to maintain large and healthy flocks of sheep . For experienced shearers, shearing sheep takes a matter of tens of seconds and obtaining wool does not endanger the life of the sheep.

Because raising sheep for meat is not nearly as profitable a business, raising sheep for their wool has become dominant in the world. In addition, humans have learned to use another resource that live sheep can provide. Milk . However, sheep's milk is similar to meat. It has a specific taste and smell. The main reason for processing sheep's milk is to produce high-quality cheese and similar dairy products. If you have ever observed a flock of sheep for a long time, you have probably also noticed how effective they are at grazing grass . They are actually living mowers. With the difference that they can reach places where even the most advanced technology cannot be used. That is why flocks of sheep can most often be found in the Czech Republic on the steep slopes of the Beskydy or Šumava. Maintaining the landscape thanks to sheep is not just a romantic idea, it is a fact proven over the years. Moreover, it benefits everyone - man, sheep and nature.

In order to obtain sheepskin, a sheep must die. But it is not the case that the primary reason for killing sheep is their fur. The sheep that are slaughtered today are breeds specially bred for meat. The same is true of any farm animal (pigs, cows and poultry included). Raising sheep only for their fur is economic nonsense, and that is why it does not happen. It is only good if we can and can use the maximum of what the slaughter of an animal can be useful to us and thus fulfill the legacy of our ancestors.

Genuine sheepskin