Cotswold sheep
British breed of sheep
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cotswold is a British breed of domestic sheep of lustre longwool type.[4]: 790 [5]: 5 [6]: 77 [7]: 462 It originates in, and is named for, the Cotswold range of limestone hills in the South West, South Central England and West Midlands. It is a large sheep, and is kept as a dual-purpose breed, providing both meat and wool.[8]
- Male: 130 kg
- Female:85–90 kg
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| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Standard | Cotswold Sheep Society |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
|
| Wool colour | white |
| Face colour | white |
| Horn status | polled in both sexes |
| |
It is a rare breed: in 2021, it was listed as "at risk" on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.[9]
History
A separate show class for Cotswold stock was created at the Royal Show of 1862 in London.[10]: 559 A breed society, the Cotswold Sheep Society, was established in 1892,[10]: 559 and published a flock book with entries going back to late eighteenth century; this society became defunct in the 1920s. A new society with the same name was formed in 1966.[11]
In 2009, it was classified on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as "minority", the lowest of five levels of concern;[9] in 2021, it was one of twenty-four breeds listed as "at risk".[3]
In July 1964, a Roman-sculpted replica of a sheep's head was described as having been unearthed near Bibury Church in Gloucestershire, England. A photo of this sculpture is on page 6 of the booklet The Cotswold Sheep.[12] The resemblance to modern Cotswold sheep is striking.
Stock was introduced to the United States by Christopher Dunn of New York State in 1832.[13]: 119
Characteristics
The Cotswold is a large, tall sheep. Ewes weigh some 85–90 kg, and rams about 130 kg.[14] It is polled in both sexes. The legs and face are without wool and are usually white; it has a pronounced forelock.[14]
A black variant, the Black Cotswold, is recognised as a separate breed in the United States; a breed society was formed in 1990.[15]: 306
Use
The Cotswold is reared both for wool and for meat. Lambs are commonly slaughtered at some four months old, when they may weigh 18–22 kg.[14]
The wool is lustrous; fleeces weigh from 5.5 to 10 kg. Staple length is approximately 15–20 cm, with a Bradford Count of 44s–48s.[14]
