Hebridean
This ancient breed of sheep originating from Scotland and the Western Isles may be descended from stock brought over from Scandinavia by the Vikings. It belongs to the northern short-tailed group of breeds from the western and northern fringes of Europe. Historically, a popular parkland breed, it is an easily managed, cost-effective and hardy sheep.
It is a small, fine-boned sheep. Ewes typically weigh 36-40 kg, and rams circa 60 kg. It is a multihorned (polycerate) breed, and some animals have four or six horns. The short, woolly tail does not extend below the hocks. The wool is black but fleece tips may become sunbleached, to brown. Some sheep go grey with age, particularly on the hind-quarters and hand-spinners and weavers seek selected fleeces on this basis.
Hebrideans will outwinter in harsh conditions and tolerate the wet extremely well. They are good mothers and produce thrifty lambs. The meat is exceptionally lean with a distinctive flavour. Their foraging ability and capability to thrive on poorer pasture makes them ideally suited to conservation grazing projects.
Website: www.hebrideansheep.org.uk