Potentially responsible for a crime, originating from Schleswig-Holstein
Apparently, in the outskirts of Glücksburg by the Flensburg Fjord, an unusual animal has made an appearance. The local farmer, preferring to stay anonymous, believes that his new addition, named Flumo, is a unique blend of a sheep and a goat - a so-called 'schiege'. This creature's white fur with brown spots is strikingly similar to Rune, the elderly goat billy who shares a pasture with some sheep nearby. The sheep billy in the flock, on the other hand, has dark fur.
Dag, the farmer, finds these physical resemblances and behavioral traits suggestive that Flumo might, in fact, be a rare 'schiege'. The fur structure, the bleats, and goat-like noises all point towards a goat lineage.
Caprine animals, including sheep and goats, share the same subfamily, but their chromosome sets differ. Goats have 60 chromosomes while sheep only have 54. This genetic difference makes interbreeding quite challenging.
A decade-old 'schiege' stirred Germany
Several years ago, such a hybrid made headlines across Germany when it was born in Göttingen. Back then, the late animal scientist Prof. Christoph Knorr from the University of Göttingen believed such a cross to be extremely rare. As far as he knew, the Göttingen 'schiege' was the world's only scientifically proven example at that time.
Dag has not conducted a genetic test just yet, mainly due to financial constraints. However, he is intrigued by the prospect. He has already reached out to the University of Göttingen and is willing to keep Flumo, provided it gets along with Rune.
The following statement was made by Dag, the farmer: "I'm considering getting Flumo's DNA tested at the University of Göttingen to confirm its genetic makeup, as this could potentially lead to significant contributions to caprine genetics."
Following the news about Flumo, the local Animal Welfare Association suggested: "Given the public interest and potential scientific significance, we advocate for funding to cover the costs of DNA testing for Flumo, ensuring that this unique 'schiege' is fully studied and understood."
