BORERAY SHEEP
What are Boreray sheep ?
Boreray sheep are the UK’s rarest breed of sheep, with just over 500 registered breeding ewes. They are a primitive breed, one of the family of North European Short-Tailed sheep. These sheep were bought to Northern Europe with the first Neolithic farmers and seem to have been spread by Norse Vikings to several countries and islands in the North Atlantic area.
Boreray sheep, once found throughout the Scottish Highlands as the now extinct Scottish Tan-Face sheep, are now confined as a feral flock to just one small island in the St Kilda archipelago.
Why do we have Boreray sheep at Forty Hall Farm ?
Rare breeds of animals have to be spread out over several locations to avoid any disasters, mostly diseases, wiping out the whole population. If you asked any of our vegetable growers they would question why we have Borerays at Forty Hall Farm. They are excellent at jumping any fence and love young newly planted salads and vegetables…. many a morning a cry went out ‘the bleeding sheep are in the market garden’.
I have a big soft spot for them. They are strong, independent minded, little sheep. They lamb without any help and the tiny lambs put their nose in the wind as soon as they are born and are up feeding within minutes.
Why would you eat a rare breed of sheep?
The reason why farm animals become rare are that they grow more slowly and do not have the confirmation and size that more intensively farmed animals have. In case of the Boreray sheep it takes 1 to 2 years to grow them to the right size, which makes the flavour more mature .
The size of the joints is small and will be suitable for smaller family sizes and individuals and we are also offering half a body for those that would like to fill a drawer in the freezer.