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| Description | ||
The Exmoor Horn is a sturdy, hardy and handsome sheep, with large curling horns, a white face, and a white fleece of medium length and fine quality. This hill breed is an excellent grass sheep, thriving up to 1,500ft, cheaply maintained, with long lasting teeth, and of a quiet temperament. Ewes are excellent mothers, and very good milkers, producing quality upland lamb. |
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| Area | ||
This breed is found in upland areas of the South West of England, particularly Exmoor, but will thrive at any level up to 1,500ft, draft ewes being taken down the hill to produce a higher lambing percentage. |
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| General Information |
Photograph courtesy of the |
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| Average bodyweight of mature ewe: | ||
| Average bodyweight of mature ram: | ||
| Meat |
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| Lamb carcass weight (when crossed with terminal sire): | 18-22kg | |
| Wool Characteristics |
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| Average fleece weight: | 2.25-3kg | |
| Staple length average: | 8-12cm | |
| Bradford count: | 48-56 | |
| Main uses: | knitting yarns, felts, hosiery | |
| Average Prolificacy |
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| Shearling ewes: | 120-130% | |
| Mature ewes: | 135-150% | |
| Main Uses of the Breed | ||
The Exmoor Horn is important in the stratification of the sheep industry, as ewes are excellent for crossing, the halfbred ewes produced being much in demand by lowland sheep farmers looking for a prolific ewe capable of giving prime lamb for market. Using a Bluefaced Leicester sire with this breed produces the Exmoor Mule, the ewes of the halfbred produced considered to be among the finest in the United Kingdom. The Exmoor Horn can also be mated to the Border Leicester with great success. This breed can rightly be described as a dual-purpose sheep, as they are also very hardy and easily maintained on grass, and thus an excellent breed to keep pure for upland use.
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| Shows and Sales | ||
Major autumn sales of locally bred sheep are held at several Exmoor markets. |
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| Society Details | ||
Exmoor Horn Sheep Breeders Society Secretary: Alison Bullet, School Farm, East Down, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4LX Breed Description compiled with help from The National Sheep Association |
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Company Number 4284999, Charity Number 1094514.
Registered office University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK.