History
Kymi Sheep are bred in central Euboea Island in the area of Kymi, after which they are named. It was already mentioned in the 1960s as a breed derived from crosses of the Glossa Skopelos sheep which it resembles. A pure herd of Kymi Sheep was bred from 1980 to 2002 at ‘Agios Mamas Agricultural Research Station’ in Chalkidiki. Between 2010 and 2020 a number of Kymi sheep breeders joined the ‘Kymi Agricultural Co-operative’ under the supervision of the Athens CAGR.
Morphological Traits
Kymi are a medium-sized, even-woolled, thin-tailed sheep. Average weight for rams is 73 kg and ewes 66 kg. Average height at the withers for rams and ewes is 69 cm and 65 cm respectively.
Rams are either polled or carry strong spiral horns. Very few ewes have thin, feeble horns. The head is conical, of medium length with a slightly convex profile. The ears are of medium size and carried on the sides. The limbs are of medium length. The tail is of average length and width.
The entire body is covered with dense wool, except the head, legs and the greater part of the belly. Heads normally have limited forelocks. The colour is uniform with most animals having a white body and black or black-gray areas around the eyes, ears, mouth and often on the cheeks.
Population
According to 2019 data from the Athens CAGR, in 2009 the herd book registered 850 animals. Today, only 439 animals are registered, while the total population of the Kymi breed does not exceed 900 animals.
The status of the breed is considered ‘Vulnerable’.