Watchlist; Category 3, Vulnerable.
The breed was developed in the early 1900s from moorit Shetland, Manx Loghtan and wild Moufflon sheep by the Buchanan-Jardine family to grace the parkland of their home near Lockerbie in Dumfriesshire. All present animals have descended from two groups comprising a total of ten ewes and two rams which were the only survivors from a dispersal sale of the original flock in 1970.
They are light brown or moorit in colour with definite moufflon pattern, namely light-coloured markings around the eyes, lower jaw, knees and inside lower leg together with pale underparts and rump patch. Both males and females develop strong, uniformly shaped horns. Naturally short-tailed and long-legged, it is one of the larger primitive breeds. It is renowned for its high quality wool. The fleece is tight and even throughout with little or no kemp; it is naturally bleached at the tips and darker at the base and is popular with hand-spinners.
The Castlemilk is hardy and reasonably prolific. It produces a good carcase with high meat-to-bone ratio and fine-grained low-fat meat with a distinct and superb flavour.
Find out more at www.castlemilkmoorit.co.uk