Love a Longwool

In 2020 RBST is focussing on native longwool sheep breeds.

While the Watchlist has shown sheep numbers generally being stable or increasing, some of the longwool breeds have had a sustained decline in numbers over the last decade.

UK Native Longwool Breeds 

• Border Leicester
• Cotswold
• Devon & Cornwall Longwool
• Greyface Dartmoor
• Leicester Longwoold
• Lincoln Longwool
• Teeswater
• Wensleydale
• Whiteface Dartmoor

Our aim is to secure the future of our longwool sheep breeds.

Our objectives are to:

• Increase the diversity within each breed, making them more resilient
• Limit inbreeding in each of the breeds through bespoke breeding programmes
• Use cutting-edge conservation techniques and technology to make sure we safeguard each of the breeds for the next generation

• Encourage the establishment of new flocks in new locations to improve geographical spread of each breed.

We will do this by:

• Quantitatively recording the current conservation status of each of the breeds 
• Carrying out pedigree evaluation analyses for each breed 
• Establishing breeding programmes in order improve the genetic basis of the breeds
• Establishing new breeding groups in geographically distinct locations
• Adding selectively determined germplasm to existing semen stocks in the RBST Gene Bank
• Promoting their uses for fibre, meat and conservation grazing
• Applying a multidisciplinary approach in defining the breeds within the wider remit of Natural Capital and public good
• Supporting breeders in combining modern breeding and conservation techniques with policy in order to identify new market and publicity opportunities 

 

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