Boreray (sheep)

The Boreray is a breed of sheep originating on the island of the same name within the St Kilda archipelago of Scotland. Also known as the Boreray Blackface, or Hebridean Blackface (not to be confused with the Hebridean sheep breed), and is the most endangered breed of sheep in the United Kingdom. It is the "only" sheep breed to be listed in "Category 1: Critical" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, [cite web|url=http://www.rbst.org.uk/watch-list/sheep.php |title=Sheep |work=Rare Breeds Watchlist |publisher=Rare Breeds Survival Trust |accessdate=2008-07-10 ] entailing that less than 300 Borerays exist. [cite web|url=http://www.rbst.org.uk/watch-list/main.php |title=Rare Breeds Watchlist |publisher=Rare Breeds Survival Trust |accessdate=2008-07-10 ]

History

Borerays are closely related to the Soay breed, and both are native to the St Kilda archipelago of the Outer Hebrides. But while Soays are an ancient breed that has been subject to little cross-breeding, the Boreray is the result of a late 19th century crossing of Scottish Blackface with a now-extinct Hebridean sheep called the Old Scottish Shortwool or Scottish Dun Face. [ansi.okstate.edu (2008)] It was developed as a distinct breed largely through geographic isolation, rather than intentional selective breeding. Since the evacuation of the archipelago's original inhabitants in the 1930s, Borerays have largely been feral. In the 1970s, half a dozen of them were exported to form the basis for a breeding population on the mainland, but the majority of Borerays remain on the island. [rbst.org.uk (2008)]

Characteristics

Despite being partially formed from an improved breed (the Scottish Blackface), Borerays display characteristics which group them with other primitive types of Northern sheep. They are the smallest sheep in the British Isles, with mature ewes weighing 28 kilos (68 pounds) and standing 55 centimetes (22 inches) at the withers. They have naturally short tails, which do not require docking. They also naturally shed their fleece, rather than having to be sheared annually. Fleeces are gray or creamy white on the body, though darker individuals can occur. Rough in quality, the wool is mostly used in the creation of tweeds or carpet yarns. The face, legs, and neck are usually black. Faces and legs are wool-free. Both sexes of the Boreray display horns. The especially large, spiraled horns which rams exhibit may be used to make shepherd's crooks or other crafts. [rbst.org.uk (2008)]

Footnotes

References

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ee also

* List of sheep breeds
* Fauna of Scotland

External links

* [http://www.bcsba.org.uk/coloured-sheep/boreray-sheep.html Borerays] , British Coloured Sheep Breeders Association