Breed of the Week – Hebridean Sheep

This years’ Festival will see a dedicated class for Hebridean Sheep in association with the Breed Society. The Hebridean is a breed of small black sheep from Scotland, and are a multi-horned breed. Both ewes and rams may have two, four, or even more horns, and some ewes are occasionally polled.

The two horned sheep are more numerous than the four horned.  The horns of mature two horned rams are sought after by stick makers.

Hebridean sheep are relatively small, fine-boned and particularly attractive sheep.  Fully grown ewes weigh around 40kg with rams being proportionately larger.

Hebridean fleeces are popular with hand spinners who appreciate the subtle mixture of shades in the fleece.

They are a prolific breed: ewes generally bear twin lambs, while shearlings mostly have singles.  The lambs are keen to live and get up and suckle quickly.

Today, when low intensity, low input farming provides the only viable option for many of our harsher regions, the Hebridean ewe is, once again, finding a role in modern agriculture and for environmental land management. Trials have shown Hebridean flocks produce greater profit per hectare than mainstream commercial ewes.

Come along to the Festival and learn more about this fascinating breed.

Information courtesy of the Hebridean Sheep Society