When the Vikings started to come here from around the 900s they brought with them so much that is still is in the landscape and the names and people of our island. They created land divisions in order to create a stable farming community, it was known as a Sheading and this division of land was there in order to support enough warriors and families on the land, to supply a war ship in time of war.
The Isle of Man was the centre of the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles and it was controlled by Norwegian Vikings. Each of the larger islands had a ‘lesser king’ or Earl, and he was in charge of the island, but controlled by the King of Mann.
Once wonders if the sheep that they farmed had arrived with them, or they brought them down with them when they first arrived as we have quite a number of rare breed sheep that appear to have been left behind by the Vikings. Examples of which are the Soay, Jacobs, North Ronaldsway, Loaghtan and various others, some of which have survived and some which have been cross bred, so no longer are the pure breed.
All of these sheep are hardy, will graze on bad ground and also produced an excellent wool, high in lanolin which was handy in the days where the people needed it to last. No disposable society at that time, it had to do, and after it was done, it was often repurposed into patchwork.
Manx Loaghtan is a primitive short-woolled breed, which looks more like a deer than a sheep: small and rangy with a reddish-brown fleece, face and legs. They originally came from the hills of the Isle of Man where the wild winter storms and poor grazing produced a self-reliant, hard-as-nails kind of animal.
Unlike woollier domesticated breeds, primitive sheep don’t need to be sheared. Instead, they shed their fleece naturally, leaving tufts of wool snagged on thorns and thistles, and hanging off them in untidy strands. But their stand-out feature has to be an impressive and fearsome-looking set of horns. Both ewes and rams are equipped with two, four and occasionally six horns that keep growing throughout their lives. It makes them look like a living breathing hat stand.
“Manx Loaghtan numbers are going in the wrong direction. It’s not a lost cause, though, as the fortunes of other endangered breeds have been turned round in the past – the support of the public is key. I’d urge you to help give these breeds a ‘job’ to do and create a market for their products – it could be that simple. Buy the wool, eat the meat and save the breed.” Adam Henson from Country file wrote this
Manx Loaghtan Produce Online Store
That is exactly what Jenny and Rawdon have done on their farm on the Isle of Man, which is really the highlight of any visitor to the island. They have opened their farm up to create meadowlands attracting visiting birds, created areas of conservation and working organically, and of course are one of the best breeders of the Manx Loaghtan, ensuring that there is a future for this rare breed.
They have created an environment that not only do the sheep thrive, but there is a future in farming them because the wool and meat is sought after. Their plans going forward are to create hides for visitors. Visting coaches and cruise ships are already visiting for a talk on these beautiful sheep, as well as trying out some of their award winning charcuterie or a barbecue of Loaghtan burgers and sausages.
Have a read of this remarkable achievement by two people, passionate about the future of this very special sheep on their website.
