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The
rams
Manx Loaghtan rams are striking, powerful animals often
with four horns. For most of the year the rams are kept
together, in a sort of 'boys club'. In October they are
introduced to the ewes to breed. This is called tupping.
We have three blood lines running through the flock and breed all our own rams. |
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Breeding
ewes
These female sheep make up the majority of the flock,
and are put to the tup in November. The rams and ewes
stay together from about three months, and nature is allowed
to take it course. Hormone treatments or other treatments
to manipulate breeding are never used. Lambs are born
from March to April. This long lambing window is a result
of this natural breeding process. |
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Lambs
The lambs are born from March to April and reared through
the summer on our organic pasture before being sold in
early Autumn. Those born in late April or May tend to
stay on the farm until the following year. This slow and
natural process with animals at grass helps give the meat
more taste and flavour. The lamb finishing page provides
more details. |
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Ewe
replacements
Every flock of sheep has new breeding ewes coming into
the flock. We breed all our own flock replacements and bring the ewe lambs into the flock at two,
or more, years old, not at six months old as is commonly
practiced as we feel this is too young and places too
much stress on the animal. |
