Rare Sheep Breeds Youve Probably Never Heard Of! British Beauties 臨 Oxford Down A heavyweight breed with a gentle face, prized for meat and wool. Cotswold Known for long, lustrous wool; called the Golden Fleece sheep. Lincoln One of the largest and oldest longwool breeds. Wensleydale Soft ringlets of wool make this breed a fiber artists dream. Dorset Horn A rare breed that can breed year-roundhorns on both males and females! Hill Radnor, Border Leicester, Derbyshire Gritstone, Whitefaced Woodland, Whiteface Dartmoor, Castlemilk Moorit, Llanwenog Hardy and heritage-rich. Island Originals Soay One of the most primitive sheep breeds, surviving wild in Scotland. North Ronaldsay Grazes on seaweed! Found only on a remote Orkney island. Hog Island A rare American breed that adapted to life on an isolated island. Santa Cruz A sweet-faced survivor from the Channel Islands. 直 Boreray Extremely rare, originating from the St. Kilda archipelago. American Heritage Gulf Coast Heat- and parasite-resistant; a southern U.S. treasure. Florida Cracker A tough, adaptable breed linked to early Spanish settlers. Other Notables Karakul Ancient breed known for glossy, curly lamb wool often used in fur hats. Manx Loaghtan Striking multi-horned breed from the Isle of Man; meat prized by chefs. Dorset Down Compact and fast-growing, great for lamb production. Why Rare Breeds Matter Preserving these sheep helps maintain genetic diversity, supports sustainable farming, and keeps history aliveone fleece at a time!