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Sheep
Portland
2008 Watchlist; Category 4, At Risk.
The Portland sheep is a heathland breed that has been found in its native Dorset area for several hundred years, and it is a representative of the Wessex tan-faced group of sheep. It is a small, attractive, thrifty and hardy animal, the average adult ewe weighing 38-40 kg. The legs are fine-boned and free from wool, with an even tan colour. The face is a tan colour but may have lighter areas around the eyes and muzzle, and a little wool on the forehead. It is horned in both sexes, and those of the ram are heavily spiralled.
The fine, creamy fleece is much sought after by handspinners. Lambs are born with a foxy-red coat which changes in the first few months to a creamy white though some red kemp fibres may be found on the britch. The wool is of good quality with a fibre length of 6-9 cm.
The breed has been noted since the time of George III for the delicacy of its mutton, and it continues to produce high quality meat with fine texture and excellent flavour. Portland ewes are good milky mothers, and the breed has the unusual ability to lamb out of season, but are not prolific averaging only about 100% lambing.