This page gives an introduction to our wonderful breed of sheep.

Our Sheep

History of the Breed

During the early years of the twentieth century the late Sir Jock Buchanan-Jardine began a breeding programme on his Castlemilk Estate in Dumfriesshire. Using Manx Loghtan, moorit Shetland and wild Mouflon, he developed a breed to beautify his parkland and provide fine, kemp free moorit coloured wool.

On the death of Sir John Buchanan-Jardine in 1970 the majority of the flock was culled and a few dispersed, including six ewes and a ram which were bought by Joe Henson at the Cotswold Farm Park. All today’s Castlemilk Moorits are descended from these few dispersed sheep.

Breed Description

The Castlemilk Moorit is one of the larger of the sheep breeds in the Northern short-tailed primitive group. There is no height or weight limit for the breed but mature ewes typically weigh in the region of 40kgs, and mature rams in the region of 55kgs.

Ewes are always horned and exhibit two uniform and wide spreading horns, the degree of curl of the horns may vary from little to a full semi-circle. The rams have much heavier horns, these should be uniform and may have a single curl facing forward or a second curl flaring out away from the face. The horns must not touch the cheeks.

Both sexes are uniformly moorit (brown) in colour although the actual shade can vary from dark chocolate to mid-brown. The fleece bleaches in the sun often giving an overall colour impression of light brown when fully fleeced. The face colour can vary from dark chocolate to mid-brown but both sexes should have definite mouflon pattern markings to include some white around the eyes, on the lower jaw, belly, knees and inside the lower leg and tail together with a rump patch.

The fleece is tight and even throughout, very soft to the touch with the fibres varying from darker to lighter brown along their length. Staple length is 4 – 7 cm and fleece weight around 1kg. Crimp in the fibres is desirable and is often seen in those sheep with slightly more open fleeces and longer staple length. Kemp in the main fleece is undesirable as is hair, although this is sometimes seen along the backline of mature males.

Both sexes should be upstanding on fine-boned legs with naturally small feet. The overall appearance should be graceful and well-balanced and they are agile and fleet footed.

Breeder Register

South West

Timothy Tilsley

DODINGTON flock

Bridgwater, Somerset

tim.tilsley@btinternet.com

Flock since 1988, stock sometimes for sale.

Kelly Richards

DUCKPOOL flock

Kilkhampton, Cornwall

tel 01288 321848 or email kelly@westlandbarton.co.uk

David Lloyd

GOULDS flock

Wiveliscombe, Somerset

Tel 01984 623155 email
david.lloyd@gould-farm.co.uk

Various stock normally for sale. Happy for potential owners to visit and get advice on the breed. Will help to assemble small starter flocks.

Liz Godfrey

CATOR Flock

Cator Court, Devon

01364 621443
lizcgodfrey@msn.com

Stock often for sale

Patricia Holloway

PERIWINKLE flock

Devizes, Wiltshire

email contactus@
westlavingtonfarms.co.uk

Stock occasionally for sale

Susan Harvard

VELLOW flock

Between Taunton and Williton, Somerset

Tel 01984 656118 or 07901716916

Flock established 2006, breeding ewes selected for compliance with breed description, ease of lambing and good health. Young breeding stock usually for sale.

Midlands

Wayne Sullivan

BUCKTHORN flock

Staffordshire

email: w.r.sullivan@aol.co.uk or tel: 07715 665868

Stock occasionally for sale

Sue Roberts

BARBY flock

nr Rugby

barbyrarebreeds
@hotmail.com
07970 859384

Happy to give advice or host visits if you are considering setting up a flock. Stock often for sale.

Sheila Cooper

BRYNCRIB flock

central England, between Solihull and Coventry

01676 535242 or email sheila.ann.cooper41@gmail.com

Experienced breeder with long established flock. Happy to advise prospective keepers on setting up a new flock.

Chris Horsnall

FARNSFIELD flock

Newark, Nottinghamshire

chrishorsnall@outlook.com
07828 697844

Large flock of quality Castlemilks. Young stock and starter flocks often available.

George Browning

RANDOLPH flock

near Rugby , Warwickshire

george.brown@
feldon-forest-farm.co.uk
01926 632246

An established fully organic flock with breeding stock usually available.

David and Janet Hearmon

BOARSHILL Flock

near Daventry, Northants

davidhearmon@
aol.com
01327 361280

Advice given. Stock usually available for sale.

Southern England

Eoin (Owen) Ridoutt

PORCHFIELD flock

Isle of Wight

email eoin.ridoutt@btinternet.com

Small start up flock.

Andy and Maxine Harwood

FAYGATE flock

nr Horsham, West Sussex

01293 851079 or 07928014294 email harwoodaj@ic24.net

Surplus stock sometimes available form prize winning flock, show quality stock and good genetic lines.

Kathy Domaille

GODSHILL Flock

Isle of Wight

01983 840781 email
info@godshillparkfarm.uk.com

Flock established in 2004. Good quality stock usually available, delivery possible.

Northern England

James Stanley

FOXBANK flock

nr Macclesfield, Cheshire

Tel 01260 253255 or email
flock@foxbankfarm.co.uk

Constantly changing award winning flock of over 70 sheep. Ewes, rams and ram lambs available, with assistance given in starting up new flocks

Anne Lacy

FLITWICK flock

Hovingham, nr York

Tel 01653 628275 or email
flitwickflock@btinternet.com

Small flock established in 1989. Good quality stock sometimes for sale.

Eastern England

Julie Price

CONSTABLE flock

South Suffolk

01206 298341 email jpricebergholt99@gmail.com

A small flock founded in 2007

Bridget Pearson

STEWKEY flock

Holt, Norfolk

07760 195367 email bridget277@btinternet.com

Flock started 1992 with Westlake males and three different female source flocks. New ram bloodlines bought in every 2 years. Flock shown successfully, young ewes and rams often available.

Western England and Wales

Mrs Sandra Wiggins

ARROWDALE flock

nr Leominster, Herefordshire

01544 388229 email wiggins@
eardisland60.freeserve.co.uk

Small established flock with stock sometimes for sale.

Mike Topp and Judy Craven

HARTHILL flock

Wye Valley, near Monmouth

01594 531496 mike.topp@yahoo.co.uk

Young stock, including young proven rams, normally for sale

Paddy O'Kennedy

GORSEWAIN Flock

Llandrindod Wells, POWYS

Mobile Number 07899 963647
email: paddy.okennedy@gmail.com

Young breeding stock (rams and ewes) available most of the year.

Helen Joy

SWANBRIDGE flock

Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan

07777 691944 email joy@live.co.uk

Starting new flock with two proven ewes and an unrelated ram lamb. #swanbridgeflockers

Trudy Harris

BLAENCAERAU Flock

Maesteg, South Wales

Contact Trudy 01639 850053
trudy.cpi@hotmail.co.uk

Young breeding stock usually for sale.

Carl and Lisa Williams

ISBISTER flock

Bromyard, Herefordshire

Tel: +447748964707
Email: carlwilliams@carldavidwilliams.co.uk

Experienced breeder with one of the largest flocks in the country. Young stock, ewes, rams and starter-flocks available. Happy to provide advice and support. Delivery available.

Central and Northern Scotland

Ron and Marilyn Edwards

CRAIGENCALT flock

Kinghorn, Fife

07740 999514 email my.edwards@aol.co.uk

Small flock. Young ewes and lambs often for sale.

Mrs Kate Clarke

FATHIEBURN flock

nr Turiff, Aberdeenshire

01261 851759 or 07875 105919 email 16kateclarke@gmail.com

Small flock established 2004

Gallery