SHEEP

Britain probably has the largest range of native sheep breeds in the world and Mudchute is home to several of our native breeds, capturing just some of the wide variation in this species.

Our flock make up a large proportion of our livestock and much of our farming year revolves around their care, from annual shearing in the summer to the excitement of lambing in early spring. Learn more about the Mudchute Sheep on our farm blog.

  • Oxford Down Sheep

    Our Oxford Down sheep are easily recognisable from their dark faces and wooly white fleeces. The Oxford is the largest of all the Down Breeds with some Rams weighing more than 150kg. A multipurpose breed, the Oxford Down has been bred for both its meat and wool.

    The Oxford originated in the 1830s after crossing Cotswold rams with Hampshire Down and Southdown ewes. Over the next 50 years the breed stabilised and, as many of the early flocks were centred around the town of Witney in Oxfordshire, the name Oxford Down was adopted. Discover more about the breed from the Oxford Down Sheep Breeders Association.

  • White Faced Woodland Sheep

    A rare hill breed, the White Faced Woodland comes from the borders between Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Cheshire. Also known as the Penistone sheep, they have a fine white fleece, which is quite short for a British hill breed The faces are broad and white, free from black markings. Both sexes are horned, with the males being very heavily spiraled. The tail is long and muscular, and legs and feet white. Woodlands have a large, strong boned frame, which is long in the body.

    The White Faced Woodland are one of the largest hill breeds, with mature ewes weighing over 60kg and rams 130kg. They are widely used to cross with hill ewes to impart size and vigor. You can find out more about the White Faced Woodland from the White Faced Woodland Sheep Society.

  • Soay Sheep

    A hardy, primitive breed of sheep, Soay can survive in tough conditions. They take their name from Soay island in the St Kildas off the west coast of Scotland, where they were first found in the UK. Soay actually means ‘sheep island’ in Norse, the Viking’s language.

    Soay sheep are a rare breed in the UK, with horned rams, while the ewes can be horned or polled (hornless). Their fleece is dark coloured and they have short tails.

    Ewes weigh around 25kg and rams around 40kg, making them one of the smaller sheep breeds. Unusually, they shed their fleeces naturally in summer, giving them an untidy look until the old wool is completely discarded. Find out more at the Soay and Borerary Sheep Society.