Gyimesi Racka

The Gyimesi Racka is a sheep breed that developed within historical Hungary, mainly in Transylvania and the Carpathian ranges. It had almost completely disappeared from present-day Hungary; it returned to Hungarian flocks in the early 1990s, and the population then grew through imports of breeding stock.

Taxonomically it belongs, together with the Hortobágyi Racka, to the Racka group, but it differs markedly from it in body size, colour, horn shape and fleece structure: the Hungarian Racka is a lowland sheep, the Gyimesi a mountain type. Originally kept for milk and meat, its breeding goal is to preserve a robust constitution, hardiness, good maternal traits and milking ability under extensive conditions.

Its body is well proportioned, its movement quick and its temperament moderately lively. The fleece is mixed wool of outer hairs and down fibres: fairly long, soft to the touch and adapted to harsh weather. The udder is well developed and bare.