Rare Breed North Ronaldsay Sheep
North Ronaldsay Sheep Listed as Endangered on the RBST Rare Breeds Watch list. The North Ronaldsay is one of group of primitive Northern Short-tailed sheep and represents a very early stage in the evolution of domestic sheep. DNA studies have shown a close relationship to sheep found in the Stone Age village of Skara Brae on mainland Orkney, which dates from 3000 BC. In 1832 a wall was built around their native island to confine the animals to the foreshore for most of the year in order to conserve the inland grazing. Since then the breed has developed its distinctive metabolism due to its diet of seaweed, which also renders it susceptible to copper poisoning under standard sheep management systems. The North Ronaldsay is small and fine-boned with a slightly dished face. Rams often have a heavy mane and beard and are heavily horned but ewes can be horned, scurred or polled. Adult ewes weigh around 25kg and are excellent mothers, giving birth to small lively lambs. Animals need to be at least 15 months old to reach marketable weight, but the meat is lean and full of flavour.
Size: 5175px × 3450px
Location: England
Photo credit: © David Chedgy / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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