Whiteface Dartmoor facts for kids
The Whiteface Dartmoor is a special kind of sheep. It comes from the beautiful Dartmoor area in south west England. Sadly, this breed is now "at risk." This means there are not many of them left. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is working to protect them and make sure they don't disappear.
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What Makes Whiteface Dartmoor Sheep Unique?
The Whiteface Dartmoor is known as a traditional "hill sheep." This means it is perfectly suited for living on the hills of Dartmoor.
Life on Dartmoor
These sheep spend their summers grazing on heather plants. In the colder winter and spring months, they move to the valley meadows. There, they eat hay. Most groups of Whiteface Dartmoor sheep still live and thrive on the moor today. Because of this, they are very strong and hardy. They can survive well even when there isn't a lot of good food available.
Horns and Wool
Both the male sheep, called rams, and the female sheep, called ewes, used to have horns. However, this trait seems to be disappearing in recent years. The wool from a Whiteface Dartmoor ewe weighs about 6 to 6.5 kilograms (13 to 14 pounds). Their wool is called "longwool." This is a bit unusual for a sheep that lives in the uplands or hills.
Why Are They Raised?
Whiteface Dartmoor sheep are mainly raised for their meat. This makes them an important part of farming in the Dartmoor region.
