Norfolk Horn (sheep)
Encyclopedia
The Norfolk Horn is one of the British
black-faced sheep breeds. It differs from other black-faced breeds which are mainly found in high-rainfall upland areas, and from most other modern lowland British sheep breeds in being lightly built and very hardy. This breed is raised primarily for meat.
The Norfolk Horn developed on the sandy heathlands of the Breckland
area of Norfolk
, although similar black-faced sheep were formerly more widespread in lowland Britain. It is adapted to surviving on poor forage
in a cool but dry environment. The breed is long-legged with a black face and legs. Both sexes have horns
, although these are larger in the male. At maturity a ewe weighs about 70 kg (154.3 lb). The breed is described as "flighty" and is likened to a goat in its ability to jump over obstacles such as fencing.
It was popular in Norfolk until the middle 19th century when "improved" breeds such as the Leicester and Southdown
appeared. Norfolk Horn ewes were mated to Southdown rams to produce high quality meat-producing lambs, and this cross became established as a separate breed, the Suffolk
.
The Norfolk Horn breed fell to only one flock in 1919 and then to only 10 registered ewes and two rams by 1950. The breed was revived through the efforts of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust
(RBST) at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh
and at Aldenham Country Park
, Hertfordshire
. With a shortage of pure-bred fertile rams (the last pure-bred ram died in 1973), related breeds including Suffolk, Wiltshire Horn
and Swaledale
were used to produce animals that were over 90% (15/16ths) Norfolk Horn. In 1986 the breed was recognised by the RBST, appearing on their Priority List at that time as "Category 1, Critical". The breed has since increased in numbers, and was rated in the 2007 RBST watchlist as "Category 4, At Risk".
United Kingdom
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black-faced sheep breeds. It differs from other black-faced breeds which are mainly found in high-rainfall upland areas, and from most other modern lowland British sheep breeds in being lightly built and very hardy. This breed is raised primarily for meat.
The Norfolk Horn developed on the sandy heathlands of the Breckland
Breckland
The Breckland as a landscape region is an unusual natural habitat of England. It comprises the gorse-covered sandy heath that exists in the north of the county of Suffolk and the south of Norfolk. An area of considerable interest for its unusual flora and fauna, it lies to the south east of another...
area of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, although similar black-faced sheep were formerly more widespread in lowland Britain. It is adapted to surviving on poor forage
Forage
Forage is plant material eaten by grazing livestock.Historically the term forage has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used more loosely to include similar plants cut for fodder and carried to the animals, especially...
in a cool but dry environment. The breed is long-legged with a black face and legs. Both sexes have horns
Horn (anatomy)
A horn is a pointed projection of the skin on the head of various animals, consisting of a covering of horn surrounding a core of living bone. True horns are found mainly among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae and Bovidae...
, although these are larger in the male. At maturity a ewe weighs about 70 kg (154.3 lb). The breed is described as "flighty" and is likened to a goat in its ability to jump over obstacles such as fencing.
It was popular in Norfolk until the middle 19th century when "improved" breeds such as the Leicester and Southdown
Southdown (sheep)
The Southdown is a small, dual purpose British sheep but is raised primarily for meat. The Southdown breed was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes, East Sussex about 200 years ago. His work was continued by Jonas Webb of Babraham in Cambridgeshire who developed the larger animal...
appeared. Norfolk Horn ewes were mated to Southdown rams to produce high quality meat-producing lambs, and this cross became established as a separate breed, the Suffolk
Suffolk (sheep)
Suffolk are a black-faced, open-faced breed of domestic sheep raised primarily for meat.-Ewes:They are mainly raised for wool and meat production especially when crossed with the progeny of a mountain ewe. For example, a purebred upland ewe such as a Welsh Mountain ewe might be bred with a breeding...
.
The Norfolk Horn breed fell to only one flock in 1919 and then to only 10 registered ewes and two rams by 1950. The breed was revived through the efforts of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is a conservation charity, whose purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the United Kingdom’s native farm animal genetic resources...
(RBST) at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh
Stoneleigh
Stoneleigh may mean the following places:* Stoneleigh, Queensland, Australia* Stoneleigh, Surrey, England* Stoneleigh, Virginia, Stanleytown, Virginia, USA* Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England...
and at Aldenham Country Park
Aldenham Country Park
Aldenham Country Park is a parkland and woodland, including a reservoir, created in 1971 and now part of the Watling Chase Community Forest, located near Elstree, Hertfordshire in England....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. With a shortage of pure-bred fertile rams (the last pure-bred ram died in 1973), related breeds including Suffolk, Wiltshire Horn
Wiltshire Horn
The Wiltshire Horn is a breed of domestic sheep originally from Wiltshire in southern England raised for meat. The breed is unusual amongst native British breeds, for it has the unusual feature of moulting its short wool and hair coat naturally in spring, alleviating the need for shearing. They...
and Swaledale
Swaledale
Swaledale is one of the northernmost dales in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England. It is the dale of the River Swale on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire.-Geographical overview:...
were used to produce animals that were over 90% (15/16ths) Norfolk Horn. In 1986 the breed was recognised by the RBST, appearing on their Priority List at that time as "Category 1, Critical". The breed has since increased in numbers, and was rated in the 2007 RBST watchlist as "Category 4, At Risk".