Boreray (sheep)
Encyclopedia
The Boreray is a breed of sheep originating on the St Kilda archipelago
off the west coast of Scotland
and surviving as a feral
animal on one of the islands, Boreray
. It is primarily a meat breed. Also known as the Boreray Blackface or Hebridean Blackface, it is the most endangered breed of sheep in the United Kingdom
, and is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep
group of breeds. It is the only sheep breed to be listed in "Category 1: Critical" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust
, because fewer than 300 registered breeding female Borerays are known to exist. The Boreray should not be confused with the Soay sheep
, also from the St Kilda archipelago, nor with the Hebridean sheep
, which was formerly called the "St Kilda", although it is probably not in fact derived from the St Kilda sheep.
belonged to a type called the Scottish Dunface
or Old Scottish Shortwool, which was probably similar to the sheep kept in the whole of northern and western Europe up to the Iron Age
. A local variety of Dunface was kept on the main St Kilda islands of Boreray and Hirta by the crofters of the islands. In contrast the Soay sheep
on the extremely steep and inaccessible island of Soay
belonged to the owner of the islands, the Steward, and these remained similar to the earliest type of sheep brought to Europe during the Neolithic
.
In the mid-eighteenth century the crofters' sheep were described as being "of the smallest kind", with short, coarse wool, and all having horn
s – usually one pair, but often two pairs. At that time there were about 1,000 sheep on Hirta and about 400 on Boreray.
In the late nineteenth century the crofters' sheep were cross-bred with Scottish Blackface
sheep, which by then had replaced the Dunface throughout mainland Scotland.
When the St Kilda archipelago's human inhabitants were evacuated in 1930, the sheep of Hirta were removed and in 1932 they were replaced by Soays. Meanwhile the remaining sheep on Boreray were left to become feral
; these became the only survivors of the crofters' sheep, and one of the few surviving descendants of the Dunface. In the 1970s half a dozen of them were exported to form the basis of a breeding population on the mainland, but the majority of Borerays still remain on the island.
. They also moult their fleece
naturally, rather than having to be shorn
annually, though older individuals do not moult as easily and may require additional shearing. Fleeces are grey or creamy white on the body, though darker individuals occur. Rough in quality, the wool is mostly used in the creation of tweeds or carpet
yarns. The face, legs, and neck are often black. Faces and legs are wool-free. Both sexes of the Boreray display horn
s, although two pairs are no longer found. The especially large, spiral horns of the rams may be used for shepherd's-crook
-making or other crafts.
St Kilda, Scotland
St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom and three other islands , were also used for...
off the west coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and surviving as a feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
animal on one of the islands, Boreray
Boreray, St Kilda
Boreray is an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago in the North Atlantic.-Geography:Boreray lies about 66 km west-north-west of North Uist. It covers about , and reaches a height of at Mullach an Eilein....
. It is primarily a meat breed. Also known as the Boreray Blackface or Hebridean Blackface, it is the most endangered breed of sheep in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep
Northern European short-tailed sheep
Northern European short-tailed sheep are a group of sheep breeds and landraces from the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the area around the Baltic. They are thought to be derived from the first sheep brought to Europe by early farmers...
group of breeds. It is the only sheep breed to be listed in "Category 1: Critical" by 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...
, because fewer than 300 registered breeding female Borerays are known to exist. The Boreray should not be confused with the Soay sheep
Soay sheep
The Soay sheep is a primitive breed of domestic sheep descended from a population of feral sheep on the island of Soay in the St. Kilda Archipelago, about from the Western Isles of Scotland...
, also from the St Kilda archipelago, nor with the Hebridean sheep
Hebridean (sheep)
The Hebridean is a breed of small black sheep from Scotland, similar to other members of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, having a short, triangular tail. They often have two pairs of horns...
, which was formerly called the "St Kilda", although it is probably not in fact derived from the St Kilda sheep.
History
Up until the late eighteenth century, the sheep throughout the Scottish Highlands and IslandsHighlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 applied...
belonged to a type called the Scottish Dunface
Scottish Dunface
The Scottish Dunface, Old Scottish Short-wool, Scottish Whiteface or Scottish Tanface was a type of sheep from Scotland. It was one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and it was probably similar to the sheep kept throughout the British Isles in the Iron Age...
or Old Scottish Shortwool, which was probably similar to the sheep kept in the whole of northern and western Europe up to the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
. A local variety of Dunface was kept on the main St Kilda islands of Boreray and Hirta by the crofters of the islands. In contrast the Soay sheep
Soay sheep
The Soay sheep is a primitive breed of domestic sheep descended from a population of feral sheep on the island of Soay in the St. Kilda Archipelago, about from the Western Isles of Scotland...
on the extremely steep and inaccessible island of Soay
Soay, St Kilda
Soay is an uninhabited islet in the St Kilda archipelago, Scotland. The island is part of the St Kilda World Heritage Site and home to a primitive breed of sheep...
belonged to the owner of the islands, the Steward, and these remained similar to the earliest type of sheep brought to Europe during the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
.
In the mid-eighteenth century the crofters' sheep were described as being "of the smallest kind", with short, coarse wool, and all having horn
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...
s – usually one pair, but often two pairs. At that time there were about 1,000 sheep on Hirta and about 400 on Boreray.
In the late nineteenth century the crofters' sheep were cross-bred with Scottish Blackface
Scottish Blackface
The Scottish Blackface is the most common breed of domestic sheep in the United Kingdom. This tough and adaptable breed is often found in the more exposed locations, such as the Scottish Highlands or roaming on the moors of Dartmoor...
sheep, which by then had replaced the Dunface throughout mainland Scotland.
When the St Kilda archipelago's human inhabitants were evacuated in 1930, the sheep of Hirta were removed and in 1932 they were replaced by Soays. Meanwhile the remaining sheep on Boreray were left to become feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
; these became the only survivors of the crofters' sheep, and one of the few surviving descendants of the Dunface. In the 1970s half a dozen of them were exported to form the basis of a breeding population on the mainland, but the majority of Borerays still remain on the island.
Characteristics
Despite being partially derived from a long-tailed breed (the Scottish Blackface), Borerays display characteristics which group them with other northern European short-tailed sheep. They are amongst the smallest sheep in the British Isles, with mature ewes weighing 28 kilogram and standing 55 cm (21.7 in) at the withers. They have naturally short tails, which do not require dockingDocking (animal)
Docking is a term for the intentional removal of part of an animal's tail or ears. The term cropping is also used, though more commonly in reference to the cropping of ears, while docking more commonly—but not exclusively—refers to the tail. The term tailing is also commonly used...
. They also moult their fleece
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
naturally, rather than having to be shorn
Sheep shearing
Sheep shearing, shearing or clipping is the process by which the woollen fleece of a sheep is cut off. The person who removes the sheep's wool is called a shearer. Typically each adult sheep is shorn once each year...
annually, though older individuals do not moult as easily and may require additional shearing. Fleeces are grey or creamy white on the body, though darker individuals occur. Rough in quality, the wool is mostly used in the creation of tweeds or carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
yarns. The face, legs, and neck are often black. Faces and legs are wool-free. Both sexes of the Boreray display horn
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...
s, although two pairs are no longer found. The especially large, spiral horns of the rams may be used for shepherd's-crook
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
-making or other crafts.
External links
- Borerays, British Coloured Sheep Breeders Association
- The Sheep of St. Kilda