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2008 Watchlist;
Category 2, Endangered.
This breed evolved in the
isolated Orkney Islands. Its most distinctive
characteristic is that of existing on a diet of seaweed
for most of the year. The semi feral flock on North
Ronaldsay is confined to the foreshore for most of the
year to conserve the limited grazing inland.
The North Ronaldsay is a fine
boned small sheep with a slightly dished face belonging
to the northern short tailed group. Adult ewes weigh
around 25Kg. Colour is variable including white, grey,
black and moorit but various combinations can be found.
The coloured fleeces are coarse but the white and moorit
wool is almost as fine as that of the Shetland.
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