Sheep breed recommendations, UK

[NeFa]

I live on 15 acres in the UK (regular green field), and am looking at different sheep breeds. I have owned sheep in the past a good number of years ago (I can't quite remember what breed, I think they may have been texel crosses?) and looking to get some more again.

My preferences -

• Hardy and disease resistant if possible.
• I prefer heavy/stubborn/difficult to move sheep over light-footed and flighty sheep.
• I am just a smallholder so I'm not needing a commerical breed, meat/wool production is not so important to me. I'd much rather a breed that is relatively easy to own and is fine for a hobby smallholding.
• I would much rather a sheep that doesn't grow much wool like a hair sheep, or sheds its wool. But I have heard these sheep are quite flighty. Soay sheep interest me a lot. Lack of wool, or even shedding is probably one of the most important factors to me.
• Must be a breed available in the UK.
• And least importantly, I prefer sheep without a roman nose, and preferably kind of rough looking. I think breeds like hebridean, boreray, moorit, soay, etc are so neat.

Any recommendations are much appreciated

 

[NZDan]

I live on 15 acres in the UK (regular green field), and am looking at different sheep breeds. I have owned sheep in the past a good number of years ago (I can't quite remember what breed, I think they may have been texel crosses?) and looking to get some more again.

My preferences -

• Hardy and disease resistant if possible.
• I prefer heavy/stubborn/difficult to move sheep over light-footed and flighty sheep.
• I am just a smallholder so I'm not needing a commerical breed, meat/wool production is not so important to me. I'd much rather a breed that is relatively easy to own and is fine for a hobby smallholding.
• I would much rather a sheep that doesn't grow much wool like a hair sheep, or sheds its wool. But I have heard these sheep are quite flighty. Soay sheep interest me a lot. Lack of wool, or even shedding is probably one of the most important factors to me.
• Must be a breed available in the UK.
• And least importantly, I prefer sheep without a roman nose, and preferably kind of rough looking. I think breeds like hebridean, boreray, moorit, soay, etc are so neat.

Any recommendations are much appreciated

All the breeds you've mentioned by name except the Texel are flighty and light footed. If you want lack of wool then your choices are Exlana, Wiltshire or Easycare. @Tim W Might be able to set you up with a wee breeding group of Exlanas?

 

[NeFa]

All the breeds you've mentioned by name except the Texel are flighty and light footed. If you want lack of wool then your choices are Exlana, Wiltshire or Easycare. @Tim W Might be able to set you up with a wee breeding group of Exlanas?

Interesting, are Exlanas, Wiltshires and easycares not as flighty then?

Shame all the ones I mentioned are flighty, they seem like such neat sheep

 

[Old Tip]

Wiltshire Horns are the sheep for you

 

[NZDan]

Interesting, are Exlanas, Wiltshires and easycares not as flighty then?

Shame all the ones I mentioned are flighty, they seem like such neat sheep

Soays and Castlemilk Morrits are just like owning mini deer!!!!

 

[Ysgythan]

Wiltshire Horn sounds about perfect

 

[AGN76]

Jacob? Nice to look at?

 

[Tim W]

I live on 15 acres in the UK (regular green field), and am looking at different sheep breeds. I have owned sheep in the past a good number of years ago (I can't quite remember what breed, I think they may have been texel crosses?) and looking to get some more again.

My preferences -

• Hardy and disease resistant if possible.
• I prefer heavy/stubborn/difficult to move sheep over light-footed and flighty sheep.
• I am just a smallholder so I'm not needing a commerical breed, meat/wool production is not so important to me. I'd much rather a breed that is relatively easy to own and is fine for a hobby smallholding.
• I would much rather a sheep that doesn't grow much wool like a hair sheep, or sheds its wool. But I have heard these sheep are quite flighty. Soay sheep interest me a lot. Lack of wool, or even shedding is probably one of the most important factors to me.
• Must be a breed available in the UK.
• And least importantly, I prefer sheep without a roman nose, and preferably kind of rough looking. I think breeds like hebridean, boreray, moorit, soay, etc are so neat.

Any recommendations are much appreciated

1) Forget the ''breed/pedigree '' thing, just look for shedding sheep that suit your purpose
2) How you treat the sheep will to a large extent determine how flighty/tame they are
3) Wilts look great and ''tell a good story'' if you want to do private lamb box sales
4) Easycare/Exlana will be better mothers
5) Exlana have had many generations of breeding for worm resistance

If you message me your location i can try to recommend flocks to look at
Good luck!

 

[John Chance]

Hebrideans are the Tasmanian Devil of the ovine world. They generally look after themselves, but every so often you have to get hold of them and they don't take kindly to it.

 

[yellowbelly]

Lack of wool, or even shedding is probably one of the most important factors to me.

In the words of the Dragon's Den, I guess,"I'm out" then?.....

 

[Al R]

In the words of the Dragon's Den, I guess,"I'm out" then?.....
View attachment 849788

3 doses of antibiotic would be cheap way of keeping it, oh wait, impractical use of antibiotics

or make sure it’s got scab

 

[Tim W]

In the words of the Dragon's Den, I guess,"I'm out" then?.....
View attachment 849788

Your day will come ----

 

[yellowbelly]

Your day will come ----

I think it's been - it was one day in about 1892

It's a pity really, I ticked all of @NeFa's boxes except the wool one

 

[yellowbelly]

3 doses of antibiotic would be cheap way of keeping it, oh wait, impractical use of antibiotics

A/B's are no good on Lincolns - they don't make needles long enough to get to the sheep

 

[Ysgythan]

I think it's been - it was one day in about 1892

It's a pity really, I ticked all of @NeFa's boxes except the wool one

you wait until we hit peak oil...

 

[spin cycle]

beltex/texel x wilt are lovely sheep.....clean bellies......some shed fully.....placid/friendly

 

[Agrivator]

I live on 15 acres in the UK (regular green field), and am looking at different sheep breeds. I have owned sheep in the past a good number of years ago (I can't quite remember what breed, I think they may have been texel crosses?) and looking to get some more again.

My preferences -

• Hardy and disease resistant if possible.
• I prefer heavy/stubborn/difficult to move sheep over light-footed and flighty sheep.
• I am just a smallholder so I'm not needing a commerical breed, meat/wool production is not so important to me. I'd much rather a breed that is relatively easy to own and is fine for a hobby smallholding.
• I would much rather a sheep that doesn't grow much wool like a hair sheep, or sheds its wool. But I have heard these sheep are quite flighty. Soay sheep interest me a lot. Lack of wool, or even shedding is probably one of the most important factors to me.
• Must be a breed available in the UK.
• And least importantly, I prefer sheep without a roman nose, and preferably kind of rough looking. I think breeds like hebridean, boreray, moorit, soay, etc are so neat.

Any recommendations are much appreciated

Make life simple and retain a bit of self-respect, just buy some Herdwicks.

 

[CollCrofter]

Hebrideans. They can live off heather and rock. The wool can open up another business venture too.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have them near the place

 

[MRT]

Make life simple and retain a bit of self-respect, just buy some Herdwicks.

Sheep of the devil.

 

[devonbrion1998]

The biggest mistake I made when I bought my first flock, picking breeds I liked the look of ect, even a small flock must perform to its maximum, or you will be out of pocket, and still get the same headaches, with difficult to sell lambs
got to be a good strong mule Ewe to the right Ram.