Breeds of Livestock - Herdwick Sheep — Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science Breeds of Livestock - Herdwick Sheep Breeds of Livestock - Herdwick Sheep Herdwick The Herdwick is found in the Lake District of northwestern England, on the Fells of Westmorland and Cumberland. They are a carpet wool and meat breed. The lambs are born with black faces, legs and blue-roan fleeces which lighten in the adults. The males are horned and the females are polled or naturally hornless. Reference: Breeds - Farmison Breeds Breeds Breeds It's good to eat and enjoy native and rare breed meat, showing farmers that there is a market for these heritage breeds and encourage them to rear them. Without a demand for their meat, many breeds would die out altogether. When intensive farming reigned unchallenged in the second half of the last century, many of our traditional breeds all but disappeared because they don't take kindly to factory farming.

We want to change this and help more people realize that we need to safeguard the natural biodiversity of our farm animals and to demand meat with intrinsic flavour that comes from higher welfare systems. All of our meat fits that bill perfectly. Native Breed Britain's Favourite Native Breed Beef Unparalleled in reputation, the Aberdeen Angus is Britain’s favourite breed, but is equally revered in the steak cutting traditions of Argentina, the United States, and South Africa. Its popularity is a direct consequence of the marbling that evenly runs through the meat to give the beef its renowned rich and indulgent flavour. Due to its quality and popularity, we hang prime Angus beef the year round, always sourced from grass fed, free range herds. Tasting Notes: Rich, Creamy, Indulgent Native Breed Instantly Recognisable Farmer's Favourite The Belted Galloway might not be the biggest of breeds, nor the quickest to mature, but what they do offer is juicy, lean beef with very savoury character. That’s because their shaggy, thick coat means they need less fat to keep warm. Their hardiness means they’re often found on the limestone valley tops of the Dales, as the farmers know they’ll be safe and sound come rain or snow.

Tasting Notes: Grassy, Savoury, Natural Rare Breed A Roan Beauty from Northumberland The Blue Grey is a beautiful beast. As a cross breed, it brings together the juicy savoury flavour of the rugged Galloway, and the creamy character and marbling of the Shorthorn, traditionally a dairy cow. Originally bred in Northumberland, they’re often found grazing with bigger herds of other breeds, and are happiest on the valley bottoms of the Dales, grazing on lush fertile pastures. Tasting Notes: Herbal, Mellow, Rounded Rare Breed Medieval Cattle from the Forest of Bowland The British White represents an opportunity to try one of the true heritage breeds of the British Isles. The breed can be traced back 800 years to the ancient forests of Bowland in Lancashire, but this lineage probably predates the Norman Invasion. Its history matches the beef’s character. Expect a leaner finish, with neat cuts of beef, that boast buttery flavour and fantastic eating quality. Tasting Notes: Classic, Matured, Deep Charolais A French Breed for Exquisite Buttery Beef The Charolais was, and remains, the toast of Parisian restaurant kitchens.

They’re often to be seen grazing in herds in flat fields, such as in the fertile Vale of York. Like the Angus, their popularity owes to its consistency, converting pasture into flavoursome beef with the essential marbling that promises great taste. The Charolais is well suited to a range of cooking styles, and you can expect a distinctive juicy and buttery texture without the meat being overly fatty. Tasting Notes: Caramel, Indulgent, Balanced Native Breed A Rugged Breed of the Scottish Borders The Galloway, likes its ‘belted’ cousin, is a hardy heritage breed that promises a leaner finish to its beef. The breed’s ability to thrive in tough climes has seen herds spread to all corners of the globe, but they are most at home in the pristine upland landscapes of Northern England and the Scottish Borders. Here they mature at their own pace on wild grazing. That means flavour is given a chance to develop naturally, with their diet giving the meat its juicy character, and gamey flavour.

Tasting Notes: Creamy, Traditional, Grassy Native Breed The Symbol of the Welsh Marches The Hereford is most at home on lush grass meadows, like those to be found in the fertile Welsh Marches. In the Dales this heritage breed is more often than not found grazing on the flat valley bottoms, where they convert pasture into the luscious beef that made the breed so popular during the agricultural revolution of the 1700s. The Hereford’s winning quality is the neat layer of fat to be found on its cuts, which gives the beef succulence and its hearty and beefy flavour. Tasting Notes: Classic, Beefy, Deep Native Breed The Flower of Scottish Cattle Breeding The Highland is an instantly recognisable Scottish favourite, and a true heritage breed. Its shaggy coat and short legs mean it is well suited to grazing on steep valley sides or on windswept moors, in often tough conditions. Its unqiue long in the mouth flavour results from the Highland taking longer to mature. This lets the flavour develop naturally, giving it an almost gamey character. This, and the fact the Highland is well marbled but not excessively so, makes this beef very popular with chefs.

Tasting Notes: Long, Umami, Unique Limousin An Ancient French Breed of Lean Beef The Limousin boasts a striking similarity in appearance to cows found in Neolithic cave paintings. They hail from the granite landscapes of central France, but are now equally at home on the limestone of Northern England, where grazing can also be sparse. This beef is especially lean, though you can expect distinctively buttery textured meat, well suited to a range of cooking styles. Tasting Notes: Rich, Buttery, Savoury Lincoln Red Rare Breed One of Britain’s most ancient breeds, the Lincoln Red was probably brought to our shores by Viking invaders as they settled in the North and East of England. The breed was then ‘improved’ during the 18th and 19th centuries by various breeders looking to increase both meat and dairy yields. Listed as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, today they are making something of a comeback by virtue of their ability to convert pasture efficiently into excellent meat, the standout quality of which is the rich marbling that gives the beef its juicy succulence.

Tasting Notes: Mineral, Savoury, Classic Rare Breed The Great White Hope of British Breeds The White Park is a truly ancient beef breed, farmed in Britain for more than 2000 years, but now rare. Early references to native white cattle go back to the time of the Druids and the Celts. This breed struggled to survive until 1973 when the Rare Breeds Survival Trust was formed and chose the White Park as its logo. Currently, the number of adult breeding cows is increasing as chefs and food critics sing the praises of the fabulous meat, which is lean, full of flavour, and well-marbled with fat. Tasting Notes: Unctuous, Rich, Refined Rare Breed Our Rarest Beef Breed Although the origin of this breed is somewhat obscure, the extremely rare Whitebred Shorthorn is mainly bred in the border counties of England and Scotland. It began to be increasingly reared over 100 years ago and was referred to as the 'Cumberland White'. Despite the name, they are a wholly different breed from the Shorthorn and are hardier and more thrifty than their namesake.

This rare breed was added to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Watchlist in 2004 as a 'critical' status breed. We source the beef of this breed whenever possible, as we know that by demanding their well marbled, flavoursome beef, farmers will be encouraged to rear more of this fantastic animal. Saanen Laid Back Swiss Marshmallows Well known for their pure white fleeces, Saanens are Swiss in origin, but now found across the world. That’s because they’re sought out for their incredible efficiency at turning pasture into milk, coupled with a laid back temperament that has earned them “marshmallows” as a nickname. As goat milk and meat becomes more popular in Britain, these Alpine beauties are seen increasingly here, with their bells clanging as they wander about. Expect neat cuts of lean goat kid meat, with a complex yet sweet flavour. Tasting Notes: Complex, Sweet, Intense Toggenburg Curious & Cheeky Bearded Beauties Commonly referred to as “Toggs,” the Toggenburg may well eat your togs given half a chance.

Known for their curious and often cheeky personalities, these goats are instantly recognisable from their beautiful beards and brown coat. Though this Swiss breed is the world’s oldest classified breed, they are quite rare, though numbers are increasing. Toggenburgs are well known for their milk, but their goat kid meat is definitely worth trying, boasting lean character, and deep, complex flavour. Tasting Notes: Rich, Sweet, Complex Native Breed Blue Skinned Beauties from the Midlands The Blue Faced Leicester is well loved for its curly, threadlike wool, and its ability to produce outstanding lamb. Their large frame and tremendous fertility means the Blue Leicester is often the ‘tup’ of choice for farmers cross breeding their flocks of breeds more suited to surviving on the windswept tops of Britain’s uplands, such as the Swaledale. Expect mildly flavoured lamb, which is typically well marbled and succulent, making it a perfect all rounder for steaks, chops, and roasting joints. Tasting Notes: Meaty, Aromatic, Herbal Charollais A Stocky French Favourite from the Saone Loire The Charollais is a favourite of Parisian chefs, and its popularity has crossed the channel.

British farmers like them, as the lambs they produce with our own native breeds are given the best of both worlds – hardy builds and outstanding meat. Ours mature on pastures in flat countryside, often from the Vale of York, where they grow big on wild flowers, herbs, and lush grass, informing the meat with the robust flavour that makes the lamb of Northern England so special. Tasting Notes: Herbal, Mellow, Rounded Native Breed A Dales Beauty & Country Show Star A country show star, the Masham is a common sight in the eastern Dales of North Yorkshire, and are showed off every year at the world famous Masham Sheep Fair. They’re a mixture of the Swaledale and the Teeswater breeds, both hardy hill sheep, and it’s from them the Masham has gained its trademark good looks. The lamb is typically of well proportioned quality, with a sweet edge to its natural character, and as a heritage breed, is well worth trying for its unique taste. Tasting Notes: Balanced, Traditional, Creamy Native Breed A Farmers Favourite Cross Breed Sheep The North of England Mule is hugely popular with sheep farmers.

If you’re ever in the Dales, and think that a sheep looks almost like a particular breed, it’s probably a Mule. They are a cross between a lowland ram and a pure bred upland ewe. For our farmers this marries up the best traits of each, that is natural hardiness and the quality of the lamb. Mules promise excellent meat, with generous layers of fat, and deep flavour ideal either for sweet, succulent roasts, or warming slow cooks. Tasting Notes: Sweet, Mellow, Rounded The Sheep Breeds in Cumbria and the Lake District – Visit Cumbria The Sheep Breeds in Cumbria and the Lake District Sheep at Crag End Farm, Embleton Huge numbers of sheep are reared on the hill farms and moorlands of Cumbria. The sheep population of Cumbria is around three million. The Herdwick, the Rough Fell and their close neighbour the Swaledale have been bred and reared to withstand the climate. The Herdwick and Rough Fell in particular have been shepherded generation on generation, possibly back to early medieval times, to their own hill territory or “heaf”, to which they will always return.

Many hill farms have “fell rights” on which to pasture sheep, cattle and occasionally ponies. The North Country Mule is a cross breed common in Cumbria. Sheep produce their lambs in spring and the youngest tenderest meat is available from June to August. Lambs born later do not reach the shops until further on in the year and have a more mature flavour. Mutton, the meat of a fully grown sheep, once staple fare throughout the country but no longer produced in any quantity, can still occasionally be bought in the Lake District, where it comes from Herdwick sheep. Many regional dishes use lamb. Cumbria without sheep would not be Cumbria. They have been the mainstay of the economy from time out of mind. The main income from sheep today is the sale of their lambs, but in times past the wool was equally important. The Chancellor of the Exchequer in Parliament is still seated on “The Woolsack” in recognition of wool’s historic value. The upland breeds of sheep found in Cumbria The Herdwick . Herdwick sheep are the native breed of the central and western Lake District and live on the highest of England’s mountains.

The Herdwick They are extremely hardy and are managed in the traditional way on the lake District fells that have been their home for generations. the word “Herdwyck” meaning sheep pasture, is recorded in documents going back to the 12th century. Herdwick sheep are the most hardy of all Britain’s breeds of hill sheep, grazing the Central and Western dales of the Lake District with fells running to over three thousand feet. The Swaledale . The Swaledale sheep has proved itself to be a bold, hardy sheep, well fitted to endure the hardships of exposed and high lying situations. The Swaledale It is of an alert nature and is a good thriver. The ewes make most excellent lamb shearers. The wool is admitted to be more durable in wear and of even texture. Being excellent feeders and of strong constitution, as mutton producers they are second to none. The Rough Fell . Although the breed is litle known nationwide it is enormously popular on its native mountain and moorland farms, embracing a large proportion of South Cumbria. The Rough Fell Rough Fell lambs are exceptionally fine looking large majestic horned animals with black and white marked face and deep body carcass.

Mostly they are used by farmers on their native fell land farms for pure breeding, yet many go for crossing, instilling the virtues and qualities of the Rough fell sheep in other breeeds. Lowland sheep breeds of sheep in Cumbria The North of England Mule . The North of England Mule is unsurpassed as a profitable, easy care ewe. It is sired by the Bluefaced Leicester and its dam is a Swaledale or Northumberland type Blackface, both breeds known for their hardiness. The North of England Mule. The breed is in demand by farmers looking for a ewe to breed and rear large crops of quality lambs in the lowlands. The Suffolk . The Suffolk evolved from the mating of Norfolk Horn ewes with Southdown Norfolks, these sheep being known as Southdown Norfolks, or locally as “Blackfaces”. The Suffolk. Originally renowned as a producer of mutton, the breed has developed over the years to match consumer demands. Suffolks are now found throughout the world’s sheep producing countries. They are the flagship breed in the British Isles and recognised as the leading terminal sire on a variety of ewes to produce top quality prime lamb. The Texel .

The Texel sheep originates from the Island of Texel, one of the North Western Islands off Holland, where it has been known since Roman times. The Texel. The Texel has primarily been developed as a meat breed. Its harsh native environment has led to the development of a sheep that thrives on poor pastures and requires only modest amounts of feed in the run-up to lambing and whilst suckling. Texel lambs have a tremendous get-up-and-go attitude, searching hard for milk as soon as they are born. Protected status for Lakeland Herdwick sheep - BBC News BBC News Protected status for Lakeland Herdwick sheep 16 May 2013 Close share panel Image caption Herdwick sheep graze at heights of up to 3,000ft A rare breed of Cumbrian sheep has been awarded protected status putting it in the same category as Champagne, Cornish pasties and Melton Mowbray pies. Lakeland Herdwick sheep were first recognised as a breed in the 1790s and are now bred on 120 hill farms in the central and western Lake District.

A bid for Protected Designation of Origin status was made by the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association. The European Commission has now approved the application. Herdwicks, which often graze at heights of about 3,000ft (915 metres), are recognised as one of the hardiest British sheep breeds. The distinctive tasting meat was sampled by the Queen at her 1953 Coronation banquet. Meat from the estimated 50,000 animals can now only be classed as Lakeland Herdwick if they are born, reared and slaughtered at one of three registered abattoirs in Cumbria. They were a favourite of Peter Rabbit creator Beatrix Potter, who kept her own herds. 'Tough life' When she died she bequeathed 15 farms, covering almost 4,000 acres, to the National Trust on the understanding they were allowed to continue to breed Herdwicks. It has taken 10 years for protected status to be granted, after the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association first made an application in 2003. Pure bred Herdwick lambs are born largely black, often with tips of white on their ears.

As they age, the heads and legs become white and the fleece assumes a colour ranging from blue-grey to light grey. Only pure bred Herdwick lambs display this dark colouration, making them easy to identify compared to other local hill breeds such as the Swaledale. Amanda Carson, secretary of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this news. "It means we can now assure the consumer of a quality product that is traceable and has a full audit trade. "In light of recent food scares, this is really important. "It is also vitally important to the hill farmers of Cumbria who have a very tough life indeed." Guardians of England’s Finest Landscape Herdwick Sheep HERDWICK SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION 1916 – 2016 CENTENARY YEAR 2016 Herdwick sheep are the native breed of the central and western Lake District and live on the highest of England’s mountains. They are extremely hardy and are managed in the traditional way on the Lake District fells that have been their home for generations.

The word “Herdwyck”, meaning sheep pasture, is recorded in documents going back to the 12th century. Herdwick sheep are the most hardy of all Britain’s breeds of hill sheep, grazing the central and western dales of the Lake District with fells running to over 3000 feet. Herdwick farms have typically less than 100 acres of lower, more productive land and rely on the common grazings of the high Lake District fells. The lambs graze with their mothers on the “heaf” belonging to that farm instilling a life long knowledge of where on the fell they should be grazing. This is crucial as the central Lake District fells are inaccessible and a sheep which strays from Borrowdale to Eskdale will involve a 100 mile round trip by road for the farmer to collect it. The Herdwick’s hardiness and ability to graze over a wide area of fell is key to the maintenance of the Lake District landscape as we know it. By purchasing Herdwick products you are giving the farmers that manage this candidate World Heritage Site a sustainable future.

Please note that the images used on these pages were provided by members of HSBA and by David Stephenson and should not be reproduced without permission » Products Products The Illustrated Herdwick Shepherd Tel: I am the luckiest man alive, because I get to live and work in the most beautiful place on earth: Matterdale in the English Lake District. When I was a child we didn’t really go anywhere, except a week in the Isle of Man when I was about ten years old, and I never left Britain until I was twenty. Even now, years later, the best bit of any travelling is coming home. Bringing us into the world of shepherd’s baking competitions, sheep shows and moments out on the fell watching the sheep run away home, James Rebanks interweaves thoughts and reflections on the art of shepherding with his photographs of the valley, people and animals that make up the daily life of the fells. A life lived by the three hundred surviving fell farming families, this is a book of photos and words filled with reverence and love.

Robinson Place Farm, Great Langdale, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9JS Tel: 015394 37214 Owned by the National Trust, Robinson Place Farm is a traditional Lakeland Hill farm situated in the heart of the beautiful Langdale Valley. The farm was build around the 17th Century and runs a stock of 1300 Herdwick fell sheep. Using wool from her husband’s sheep, Vicky Edmondson knits a wide range of clothing of different designs and different sizes, including hats, lined cardigans, children’s jumpers … Her knitwear can be made to order. Please call for further information. Helvellyn Herdwicks: Herdwick Rugs & Throws Fornside Farm , St. John’s in the Vale, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4TS Tel: 017687 79173 A range of the highest quality rugs and throws using the finest wool from sheep grazing the Helvellyn fells in the heart of the Lake District. These sheep provide a stunning range of natural colours which provide wool for spinning a rich dark grey yarn and a light rocky grey.

We also use white wool from our Cheviot and Swaledale breeds. Some of the light grey Herdwick yarn is dyed in colours which reflect the magnificent Helvellyn landscape; mossy green, russet bracken, heather pink and deep lake blue. The rugs are woven using the Herdwick wool in both natural colours and dyed shades. The art of the weaver blends this wool, creating rugs in a range of textures and an infinite variety of colours, reflecting the landscape of the Helvellyn Range. Please call either Pam Hall or Mary Bell for a brochure. Crookabeck Herdwicks Herdwick Wool & Knits Crookabeck, Patterdale, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0NP Tel: 017684 82742 Crookabeck Farm is in Patterdale by Ullswater in the English Lake District. The farm is home to our flocks of Angora goats and Herdwick sheep. The fleece from our goats and sheep is used to produce a range of mohair and wool products. These include mohair socks, Scarves, and floor rugs, Natural and hand dyed yarns.

These are all available to buy online, by mail order, or from our own Farm Shop. Thermafleece Insulation Soulands GateDacrePenrithCumbria CA11 0JF Tel: 017684 86285 Thermafleece Insulation made from Herdwick wool Second Nature UK Ltd is the maker of “Thermafleece” sheep wool thermal insulation, an innovative recyclable product improving the energy efficiency of buildings made from fell wool including Herdwick. Wools of Cumbria Carpets Ltd Tel: (0)15396 28120 Wools of Cumbria Carpets is proud to be able to offer wool grown, sheared, scoured, spun and made into carpet within 100 miles of the centre of Cumbria. Broadloom carpet and tiles, from our ‘Graphite, ‘Designer Graphite Stripe’ and ‘Colourwash’ ranges can be sold and delivered direct to the consumer anywhere in the UK. Every square metre sold provides funds for the HSBA.

Chimney Sheep Ltd 25A Solway Trading Estate Maryport Cumbria CA15 8NF - See more at: #sthash.tYIsRrHa.dpuf Tel: 01900 269427 The Chimney Sheep is made from 100% Herdwick wool The Chimney Sheep draught excluder for chimneys comes with its own dangle, and it is very important that this is visible at the top of the fireplace so no-one forgets it is there and lights a fire. There are also a range of dangles that can be hung from the handle to decorate your fireplace and make it look more cheerful when the fire is out. If you want to light the fire the Chimney Sheep is easily removed – pop it in a gorgeous wrap to hang from the mantelpiece or put it in a bag in the cupboard, then push it back in when the fire is completely out.

Fornside Farm, St John's in the Vale Keswick Cumbria Tel: 017687 79173 A range of the highest quality rugs and throws using the finest wool from sheep grazing the Helvellyn fells in the heart of the Lake District. These sheep provide a stunning range of natural colours which provide wool for spinning a rich dark grey yarn and a light rocky grey. We also use white wool from our Cheviot and Swaledale breeds. Some of the light grey Herdwick yarn is dyed in colours which reflect the magnificent Helvellyn landscape; mossy green, russet bracken, heather pink and deep lake blue. The rugs are woven using the Herdwick wool in both natural colours and dyed shades. The art of the weaver blends this wool, creating rugs in a range of textures and an infinite variety of colours, reflecting the landscape of the Helvellyn Range. sheep Breeds Sheep Breeds There are over 60 distinct breeds of sheep in the UK. This section on the website includes basic information concerning the most common breeds of sheep you are likely to find in the British Countryside along with inclusion of some of our rare breeds.

In time I will include information about breeds worldwide. Important: The information below is for interest only and a basic guide to sheep breeds. I am not an authority on sheep breeds and often it is difficult to distinguish pure breeds from those which are interbreed. I have done my best to be as accurate as possible but absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If you know of any mistakes please let me know. Copyright: Not all photographs below belong to this website and may be subject to copyright and conditions of use. Most are licensed under a Creative Commons license and you should check for conditions of use. Whenever possible I have credited the photographer along with a link to any conditions of use. All other photographs are subjected to the same terms and conditions as stated in the photograph gallery instructions and terms of use Cheviot Cheviot sheep originate and get their name from the hills which form the border between Scotland and England, although they thieve anywhere in the UK and elsewhere in the world. The Cheviot is a handsome sturdy looking animal and have fine white hair on their faces, legs and head. The fleece is white and firm with no coloured wool and is dense and think. Some of the rams have horns. The ewes make excellent mothers.

Cheviot sheep live at altitudes of over 3,000 feet above sea level, they are a hardy sheep used to inclement weather. The photographs where taken in the Cheviot hills at the approach to the beamish valley and is of a ewe and her daughter, a lamb of about five months old. Blue Faced Leicester The Bluefaced Leicester developed over a period of two hundred years and became commonly known as the Hexham Leicester due to it's early concentration and origins in the North of England. Today Blue faced Leicester are found mostly in Northern England, Scotland and Wales. A very proud looking creature, distinctive by the appearance of a blue face through white hair with a fine fleece which looks as though it has been twirled into tight curls. Neither rams nor ewes have horns Herdwick Sheep The Hardwick sheep is an ancient breed of sheep originating in the central and western regions of the lake district in Cumbria. They are an integral part of the splendid mountainous terrain in this region. Hardwick sheep are the hardiest of British sheep, they are well adapted and robust able to survive the inclement mountainous terrain where the fells are in places over three thousand feet.

The Hardwick is a familiar sight to visitors, an fundamental part of this popular scenic place. Often a visit to the Lake district will be perhaps the first time you will have seen these sheep. They are small of stature and at first glace you might think that the adult is a lamb, as was the case when we visited the Lake District for the first time. The tiny lambs are always born black and the fleece changes to grey or brown as he or she gets older. Jacob Sheep Jacob sheep get their name from a book entitled "Jacobs Flock" written in the early part of the twentieth centaury by a lady simply referred to as Mrs Maude. The book, describing her father's flock of sheep, suggests a resemblance to the spotted sheep mentioned in the book of Genesis in the bible which describes the kind of sheep that Jacob tended. In fact DNA evidence indicates their origins in the Eastern Mediterranean. This kind of sheep with its characteristically spotted or variably coloured fleece, may have as many as 6 horns. A similar sheep which could well be the Jacob sheep where found depicted on Egyptian wall paintings from 1800bc, this breed of sheep may have therefore been important to middle eastern farmers.

Jacob sheep where once popular in Britain before and during the middle ages but declined in Victorian times replaced by more modern breeds. Also like the Soay they enjoy popularly in North America. Manx Loghtan The Manx Loghtan is a primitive and now a rare breed which originated from the Isle of man. The four large formidable looking horns are a distinctive feature but he is nonetheless a very timid creature, at least in our experience of this particular sheep who is one of a flock of rare sheep cared for at the university of Durham's Botanic Gardens. Both sexes have horns. A strikingly handsome creature he is small in stature and has a dark drown fleece which looks paler on the outside after exposure to the sun. Merino Merino sheep where first developed in Spain, they are sheep of medium in stature, with a white face. The rams have horns. Merinos are sheep which have fine wool, the fleece grows from 2.5 to 4 inches long each year of growth. There is a long line of breeding dating back to over 1200 years of sheep bred for the purpose of wool and the Merino's is perhaps the finest wool in the world.

There are three distinctive types of Marino two of which referred to as types A and B have been selectively breed to have loose skin which hangs in folds. The "C" type or Delaine have smooth skin free of wrinkles. Marino sheep are found mostly in Australia where today there are 67 per pure bred. A large percent of the worlds domesticated sheep have some Marino blood. Mouflon All modern sheep are the descendents of the Asiatic Moulflon, which today is an endangered species surviving in Asia minor and southern Iran. There are also small populations of European Moulflon on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica but these are thought to be descended from the Asiatic Moulflon after domestication in Europe as a result of domesticated sheep being allowed to become feral. Males have large impressive curved horns. There is a slight variation in colour between the Asian and European Moulflon; both are brown, however the Asian Moulflon is more reddish. There is also a difference in the formation of the horns.

Credit: Photograph by Jessica Dennett, 2006 Ouessant sheep A rare breed of sheep the Ouessant sheep, also occasionally called the Breton Dwarf, is the smallest breed of sheep in the world and comes from the island of Ouessant off the western tip of Brittany (French Bretagne) north west France where until the twentieth century they existed exclusively. This tiny island, about 15 square kilometres in size, has been inhabited by Ouessant sheep since the 1700ï¿½s. They once numbered about 6000 in the mid 1800s, however today there are only about 3000. It is said that this small breed where favoured by the women of the island who mostly tended the flocks while the men were away fishing. Despite their sturdy natures and their ability to withstand the rigours of their natural habitat these sheep are incredibly small. The rams are about 49 centimetres (19 in) tall at the shoulder, and the ewes about 45 centimetres (18 in).

Mostly brown or black with the occasionally white sheep, the rams have horns and the ewes are polled, the ewes give birth to only a single lamb only very occasionally producing a twin. It is commonly considered that Ouessant sheep look after lambing by themselves, however this is a generalisation and there are of course exceptions as you will learn by clicking the link below which will take you to a Telegraph article about a struggle to save a ewe and her lamb during birth complications. Rough Fell Sheep Although they are a particularly docile creatures Rough fell Sheep are one of the biggest mountain sheep in the UK, they are extremely hardy sheep well suited to live in the inclement mountainous and hilly moor land and can be found throughout southern Cumbria, Yorkshire, Lancashire and in recent years in parts of Devon. Ewes easily rear their lambs whilst feeding on the poor upland grasses and heathers. Rough fell sheep have an excellent constitution and are protected from the extremes of weather by a thick white fleece. The rams have horns and both genders are particularly strikingly handsome creatures. The lambs, like all lambs are adorably cute.

Soay Sheep Soay sheep are one of the oldest breed of sheep and have lived upon the Island of Soay in Western Scotland for at least 4,000 years. They where probably introduced to the island from Europe, where they were once more common, by Bronze age settlers. In modern times the Soay is popular throughout the world particularly in North America. The Soay sheep is an animal of small statue, the rams have impressive horns, some of the females have horns also but smaller. A primitive sheep it is tougher than modern domesticated sheep and also unlike modern sheep the Soay easily shed their own wool. Credit: Swaledale Sheep Swaledale sheep get their name from the peaceful Swaledale valley in the northern Yorkshire Dales. They are also found in various hill or mountainous locations throughout the UK, mostly in Cumbria, County Durahm and of course throughout Yorkshire. The Swaledale sheep is a robust hardy creature supposedly well adapted to cope with the exposed high windswept inclement moor land. Swaledale sheep are of medium size with a black face with white a stripe over the eyes and whitish muzzle and white wool, a most familiar sight throughout the Yorkshire dales.

Both Ewes and rams have horns, although the rams are larger and curlier. Swaledale ewes are excellent mothers. Also see photographs and videos of Swaledale lambs: Suffolk A sturdy muscular sheep with a distinctive all-black head and legs that are free of wool, they thrive in wet conditions having immunity to foot diseases. First recognised as a pure breed in 1810, suffolk's are now distributed world wide in most sheep producing countries and are most popular in the USA. Originally, called Southdown Norfolks or just "Black faces" they are the result of crossing Southdown rams and Norfolk Horn ewes. Cotswold The Cotswold breed originated in the Cotswold Hills of Gloucester, a south midland county of England. On the brink of extinction in the early 20th century, they have now regained their popularity and are to be found world wide. The Cotswold is one of the ancient breeds of England, from sheep that grazed the Cotswold Hills at the time of Caesar's conquest of Britain. A longwool sheep the cotswold sometimes referred to as the cotswold Lion, is related to Leicester and Lincoln breeds.

In the middle ages their wool was a major export of England, which not only played a role in the economy of the nation but also in the development of the cotswold villages and towns The name Cotswold is derived from earlier times when sheep where kept in shelters called "cotes" in an area called the "wolds" Their fleece grows in long braids of wavy curls and just before shearing time they have a long fringe over their eyes Photo Credit Wiltshire Horn Thought to have been brought to the UK by the Romans, the Wiltshire Horn was considered to be the most popular sheep breed of sheep in the 17th and 18th centuries. However by the beginning of the twenty century numbers had dwindled and this breed was on the verge of extinction. Fortunately numbers have recovered. A strikingly handsome animal , who have impressive curling horns, both ewes and rams are horned but the horns of ewes are smaller. This breed is one of only a very few who naturally shed their wool in the spring revealing a light coat of hair underneath Photograph Gallery: Sheep Photograph Gallery Sheep and Lambs Before downloading please read instructions and conditions of use if you have not already done so.

Click on the graphics for a selection of photographs of the following breeds of sheep: Swaledale, Herdwick, Rough Fell and various other breeds. Also a section devoted entirely to lambs and a section which conveys Sheep Sentience. In addition there is a selection of photographs of sheep and lambs sized for desktop Wallpaper and several videos of spring lambs. More photographs and videos will be included in due course. Both here and on the home page you will find notifications of updates and new photos. Beautiful Sheep This webpage is part of a series that I hope will portray the fact that farm animals just like any other animal are beautiful creatures. Lambs 2009, 2010, 2011 2012, 2013 and 2015 Sentient Sheep This section of the gallery is a little different as I have selected photographs which I hope convey the fact that sheep, like all animals, are sentient. Adopt a Sheep, Tarn House, Cumbria Troutfly Internet Swaledale The name Swaledale originates from the valley of Swaledale in Yorkshire.

Swaledales are hardy sheep that can withstand the harsh climatic conditions found on the upper fells in Cumbria, County Durham and the Yorkshire Dales.They are therefore ideal stock to populate hill farms such as Tarn House. Swaledales have a black head with a white area around the nose and mouth. They have curled horns, produce resilient wool and are a first class source of mutton. The ewes are excellent lamb rearers, nurturing and protecting their young even in the harsh conditions that sometimes prevail on the Cumbrian fells. The Swaledale is one of three breeds that dominate sheep farming in Cumbria. The other two breeds are the Rough Fell and the Herdwick.

Question: Herdwick and Swaledale are breeds of which animal?
Answer: Sheep