Portland Sheep
A heathland breed from the Dorset area, the Portland is a small sheep averaging 40kg live-weight. Both sexes are horned. Their faces and legs are tan in colour. When the lambs are born the wool is reddish brown though this becomes white with age. This breed produces excellent flavoured meat with a fine texture. They are slow to finish but well worth the wait. Legend has it that George III insisted on eating Portland Mutton on his regular trips to Weymouth. He is said to have found it a great delicacy. Our flock came from Biddy Roche, with a ram from Michelle Jones, a very good starting point. Portlands are a shy breed but ours would follow a bucket of food to the end of the Earth, some even ear from our hands.
Soay
The Soay is a small brown sheep and is very primitive. Mature ewes only weigh about 25 kgs. This is the type of sheep kept by the earliest of Farmers. The Soay breed survived in a feral state on one of the St Kilda group of islands. They retain a certain wildness and are great fun to have around. I never tire of watching them. They have a gamey meat with with little fat and a small lean carcass.
Romney Marsh
The breed was developed in Kent and East Sussex, and many farmers still refer to them as 'Kent' sheep. It's a longwool once important for it's wool, nowadays its great meat being the most important product. They are a docile breed with good feet. Our Romney Lamb is sourced from Graham Palmers prize winning flock in Smarden, Kent.
Telephone us: 01622 880149 / 07774 183064
Email us:
louise@splendidmeat.com
