Topic: Ahhhh! Baa Baa

[Andy H]

[sally_cinnamon]

What a strange looking sheep!  Any idea what variety it is? (Nearly typed "brand" then!  Ha!)  It looks kinda like a cros between a dog and a sheep!  (A sheepdog, perhaps?!?!?)

[Andy H]

I`m not sure? They were up above the quarry in Lewis that I discovered whilst geocaching.

[sandersj89]

It is a Herdwick, very hardy sheep with great flavour.

Jerry

[Heldi]

Naaaah thats way too weird looking. It's got furry pants and a furry gilet,it looks like it's about to say something too.

Is that a zip up the front?

 ;D

[Andy H]

It is a Herdwick, very hardy sheep with great flavour.

Jerry

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Love it! facts about sheep then about the taste ha ha ha ha ha

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's the whole point of a sheep; it's dinner on the hoof.

[sandersj89]

Herdwicks are great sheep but we have never run them on the farm in Devon as they are a breed native to the Lake District really. Foot and Mouth caused the breed numbers to take a huge dip and there were concerns over loosing the breed for good.

This would have been a huge shame as they are perfectly suited to life on the hills and very hardy.

Beatrix Potter was a passionatre suporter of the breed.

http://www.peterrabbit.com/beatrixpotter/beatrixpotter2c3.cfm

They are also what is called "hefted". This means they instinctively know which farm they belong too and will always endeavour to stay on their patch of hill. Very hand as there are few fences on the hills but not so handy when you see breeding stock that will walk back home given half a chance!

Commercially they have fallen out of favour a bit as they are slow growing, but that is what makes them such good eating.

Jerry
Farmers son and one time shepherd

[busy_lizzie]

They are so cuddly.  My sister used to keep a flock of rare breed sheep that looked a bit like these, their little faces looked just like teddy bears because of their little round ears.  So cute!  :) busy_lizzie