What is a Hebridean sheep

“ General description

A small, fine boned sheep with black wool and two or more horns, belonging to the North European short-tailed group. Ewes typically weigh about 40kg with Rams being proportionately larger. The legs are proportionately long and are thin and delicate below the hocks. The feet are small with exceptionally hard horn. The sheep are not inclined to fatness nor to carrying excess condition; mature adults even on good keep rarely have a body condition score greater than 3. The body is relatively long for an animal of the size with well sprung ribs; the back should be level throughout

Head

The face is slightly dished, particularly in ewes and is of generally delicate appearance. The ears are small and borne almost horizontally. the head is free of wool ( except often there is a small patch on the forehead) and the hair is black. In animals with four horns the upper pair should not tilt forwards , the lower pair should not curl around the face. The upper eyelids of these animals should show no sign of splitting and should present a notch free curve. In two horned animals the horns sweep upwards from the head before flowing backwards and outwards; those which simply curl laterally outwards are undesirable. In two horned rams more than 1 1/4 spirals are rare. Polled sheep ( which are genetically 4-horned are discouraged.

Tail

The tail is short and well covered in wool. the bones should not taper to much and, although they should approach the hocks, they should not extend below them.

Wool

A good dense weather proof fleece, true black in colour is most desirable but fleece tips may become bleached by the sun giving a brown appearance. Some sheep go grey with age and this shows particularly on the coarser wool of the hind quarters. No other colouration, spots, or patches should be present in animals of more than a few weeks of age. Selected fleece is very sought after by hand spinners and weavers. It is purported to have a Bradford count of 48-50 and a staple length of 6-8 inches, the average fleece weight is about 2 kg.

Breeding

Mature ewes normally produce twins, even under less than ideal conditions. They are excellent mothers , lamb very easily, even when crossed with meat sires, and produce relatively large amounts of milk. They have the ability to adapt successfully to a wide range of managements." 

-The Hebridean Sheep Society.

link to the hebridean sheep society