Within the uprising Nolana-population, two breeding strains are becoming apparent:
1. A medium to large framed meat-sheep for intensive production systems
2. A medium framed hill-sheep for extensive grazing systems and for landscape conservation programmes
Both breeding strains share the commonality that during late fall a thick winter-pelt of 3-5 cm long hair is growing and in the following spring is shed by and by in tufts and replaced by a short hair coat.
Most sheep shed their coat for the first time as yearlings. However, there are many animals born in winter or in early spring who shed their lamb-coat completely in their first summer. Theses lambs that shed early are preferably well suited for the breeding programme, assuming that they meet all other preconditions.