Our Sheep
Our breeds include..
Boreray
A primitive breed, they are small and slender. Most have acream fleece with grey, black or cream face and legs, often with darker areas on the rump. Rams frequently have a dark 'collar'. Both sexes are horned with rams growing impressive large and spiralled horns. The Boreray are incredibly hardy thriving on sparse grazing and in harsh conditions where other breeds may struggle.
Zwartble
Although not a rare breed, zwartble sheep are a distinctive breed known for their striking appearance and desirable traits. Large, rich black in colour with a prominant white blaze on their face and often 2-4 white socks. The are renowned for prolificacy, milky ewes producing fast growing lambs with lean meat. Originating from an area of Holland called Friesland their main use was for milk and cheese production. The zwartble sheep were introduced to Great Britain in the 1980's.
Grey faced Dartmoor
The grey faced dartmoor, a sturdy longwool breed with a lustrous fleece. Distinct black or grey speckling around the noce and only the face is free of wool. They are a hardy breed suitable for grazing uplands and able to cope with most weather conditions. The breed is placid and easy to bucket train. Anecdotal evidence suggests a resistance to footrot.
White faced Woodlands
This breed is incredibly hardy and able to thrive on poor grazing and harsh terrain. Ewes can produce lambs well into their teens and are prolific for a hill breed. The breed has a narrow face so are usually easy to lamb and make excellent mothers, They are one of the largest hill breeds and are overall well balanced.
Norfolk Horn
The Norfolk horn was developed to thrive in dry, cold conditions on sparse vegetation where other breeds may struggle. They are prolific breeders. Appearing as a long-legged rangy breed with a thick white fleece. By nature, they cover large areas in search of grazing so are ideal for maintaining large sites. They are an excellent mother and the example of the commercial Suffolk shows the potential of the Norfolk horn in a crossbreeding system.
North Ronaldsay
Similar in appearance to other primitive breeds such as the Shetland and Soay with colours of white, grey, black or moorit (brown), this breed is capable of surviving wet and windy conditions but does poorly at high altitudes. They need good quality and varied foliage. Anecdotal evidence suggests a good level of resistance to footrot and flystrike. They happily produce lambs into their teens, lambs are born small, presenting few lambing complications, they are lively and quick to rise but precaution against foxes is essential.