Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Leicester Longwool Love

Look who joined the ag team at work. Two Leicester Longwool ewes!



We are incredibly excited to add these girls to the team. Not only are they beautiful, but they allow us the opportunity to introduce our guests to the story of Robert Bakewell, who revolutionized agriculture by being the first to use modern line-breeding techniques with his flock in the 1700s. Another famous farmer connected to the breed was George Washington.

Despite their presidential connection, the Leicester Longwool fell out of favor and had all but become extinct in the United States, until the 1980s when Colonial Williamsburg stepped in to reestablish the breed. Today, the Leicester Longwool is one of the sheep breeds listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as critically endangered. Breeds considered critical have fewer than 200 North American annual registrations and an estimated global population of less than 2,000. 

We are humbled to have the opportunity to play a role in conserving this grand old breed. Both ewes have been exposed to a ram so we are looking forward to spring lambs right about the time the grounds open again.

8 comments:

Elaine said...

How exciting!! They are lovely girls and I look forward to little lambs pictures. I do have some Leicester long wool in my spinning stash and look forward to tackling it!! How is Mine?

Christine said...

Mine is growing like a weed. I made sure to pay her special attention so she wouldn't get her nose bent out of joint when the new girls arrived.

Theresa said...

Way cool Christine!

Elaine said...

I forgot to ask--will your shear and spin the Leicester long wool? Do you shear and spin from your other sheep?

Christine said...

Yes, yes I will Elaine!

Elaine said...

Spin On, Christine!! I have spent a greater part of the last 2 days trying to whittle down some of my spinning stash!!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Yay :-). Nice ewes!

Gypsy Quilter said...

It's so nice to hear these sheep are being saved. Will their wool be available any time soon? I have a dear friend who spins.