Emmerdale Eden Farm

Dorset Horn Sheep

Out of season breeding

Agressive breeders

Fertility

Fleece very white, strong, close, free of fibre

Docile and easy to handle

Excellent mothers and milking ability

Lamb easily with high percentage of multiple births

Excellent carcass

Extremely adaptable & hardy

Intelligent & docile

The Dorset Horn is regarded as one of the oldest, purest and best of the British upland, short-woolled, horned breeds. It has been an identifiable breed since the 16th century and was originally known as the Dorset and Somerset Horn. The first imports to Canada were to Markham, Ont. in 1886.

Its chief distinction is its horns – large and curled – in both rams and ewes. Ewes with horns of this size and type (though notably small & fine in comparison to the male horn) are unique to the Dorset breed among modern domestic sheep. The rams’ horns are large and tightly curled in “regimental mascot” style.

The Dorset Horn is a big sheep, hardy and active. A mature ewe weighs 160-180 lb. and the ram 210 to 260 lb. It is an excellent ‘doer’ and excels all other breeds in its adaptability to all locations and varieties of climate. Dorset Horn rams are used as terminal sires for fast-growing, early maturing prime lambs which can be marketed at an early age. Dorset Horn ewes are prolific and can breed twice in one year, although 3 lambings in 2 years is more usual. The lambing rate is good and they are among the best mothers, the ewes seldom failing to own their lambs, and are heavy milk producers.

Their face and legs, clear of wool, are also noticeably white and show another of the Dorset Horn’s distinguishing features – a pink nose and light coloured hooves. The fleece is noted for its whiteness, and is of medium length, fine, strong, close and free of fibre averaging 5 - 9 lb.

The Dorset Horn are easy keepers, requiring little grain when supplied with fair quality hay & pasture. A healthy robust sheep, well suited for organic production with good parasite resistance. They are well known for their intelligence and quiet disposition. Their meat is good quality with excellent flavour. Dorset Horn are now on the Rare Breeds endangered list worldwide as polled Dorsets are preferred commercially.