[Jimmy 84]

Hello,

I'm looking for some Mouflon sheep for something a little different. Does anybody know anyone keeping them in the UK? Could they be imported from Europe? I've been searching but so far found nothing.

Thanks in advance

Jimmy

[harmony]

A little different in what way? And why not go for one of the many breeds we already have in the country? What do you want to do with them?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I wouldnt recommend importing atm, bluetongue is pretty bad in Europe.Would [member=29066]Tim W[/member]  know?

[SallyintNorth]

Depending on what you're trying to go, might Castlemilk Moorits be close enough?  The breed was created from crossing Shetlands, Manx Loaghtans and the wild Mouflon.

[Fieldfare]

Hi Jimmy- I saw some a year or two ago in Lincs- 3 beautiful rams...and I believe were actually owned by someone with an Iron Age settlement visitor attraction(?) somewhere in The Fens. The person housing them was a bit cagey that they actually had them! You would need a DWA licence and fences would have to be very high and handling could be a bit tricky- similar to deer housing I would have thought...plenty of US breeders. I keep Castlemilk Moorits which, as said, are close-ish to Mouflon (see my ram for sale on the sales page). I think it would be interesting to make them even more wild-type by introducing a greater %age of Mouflon (although some are actually pretty good in terms of look- particularly when shorn). Or what about true Mouflon patterned, normal-horned Soay sheep (again US web sites show a few breeders). It would be interesting to hear if you do indeed track some down as I would be interested in an F1 with a Castlemilk!
cheers,

[Jimmy 84]

Thank you for all your reply's.

I keep wild boar so I'm up to date with all the DWA licensing requirements and the hassle that comes with it. I'm sure handling them will be easy in comparison to wild boar.

I'm after pure Mouflon if possible as I think the meat will compliment the boar meat well and  should sell well alongside the boar. I had thought about crosses but like the boar I don't think you can beat the real thing.

Jimmy

[Fleecewife]

Mouflon are wild animals, living in the mountains of Europe.  They would not be happy living in the lush lowlands in Suffolk    The American version is the Bighorn sheep and again lives in the high mountains.   As Fieldfare points out you would need a permit to import and keep a wild animal, along with all its safeguards and regulations, inspections etc and with no experience of keeping wild animals it just isn't going to happen.

Soay are mouflon patterned, as are Castlemilk Moorits and Gulmoget Shetlands, although none have the big horns of the native animal.

Cross posted with Jimmy84:  I think wild mouflon are a completely different kettle of fish to wild boar which are very common.  The welfare of your animals should come long before your commercial needs and I can't see how a wild, mountain creature would ever be happy in any environment you could provide.  I sound negative because I am 

[Jimmy 84]

Mouflon are wild animals, living in the mountains of Europe.  They would not be happy living in the lush lowlands in Suffolk    The American version is the Bighorn sheep and again lives in the high mountains.   As Fieldfare points out you would need a permit to import and keep a wild animal, along with all its safeguards and regulations, inspections etc and with no experience of keeping wild animals it just isn't going to happen.

Soay are mouflon patterned, as are Castlemilk Moorits and Gulmoget Shetlands, although none have the big horns of the native animal.

I think you should read my previous post.

[Fleecewife]

Mouflon are wild animals, living in the mountains of Europe.  They would not be happy living in the lush lowlands in Suffolk    The American version is the Bighorn sheep and again lives in the high mountains.   As Fieldfare points out you would need a permit to import and keep a wild animal, along with all its safeguards and regulations, inspections etc and with no experience of keeping wild animals it just isn't going to happen.

Soay are mouflon patterned, as are Castlemilk Moorits and Gulmoget Shetlands, although none have the big horns of the native animal.

I think you should read my previous post.

Yes I cross-posted with your last post and have now modified mine.

[Jimmy 84]

Hi Jimmy- I saw some a year or two ago in Lincs- 3 beautiful rams...and I believe were actually owned by someone with an Iron Age settlement visitor attraction(?) somewhere in The Fens. The person housing them was a bit cagey that they actually had them! You would need a DWA licence and fences would have to be very high and handling could be a bit tricky- similar to deer housing I would have thought...plenty of US breeders. I keep Castlemilk Moorits which, as said, are close-ish to Mouflon (see my ram for sale on the sales page). I think it would be interesting to make them even more wild-type by introducing a greater %age of Mouflon (although some are actually pretty good in terms of look- particularly when shorn). Or what about true Mouflon patterned, normal-horned Soay sheep (again US web sites show a few breeders). It would be interesting to hear if you do indeed track some down as I would be interested in an F1 with a Castlemilk!
cheers,

I will see if I can hunt the man down in the Fenns as they are not far from me. I will keep you posted as to how I get on. I'm sure if they can survive in the Fenns they will be OK in Suffolk.

Jimmy

[Tim W]

I wouldnt recommend importing atm, bluetongue is pretty bad in Europe.Would [member=29066]Tim W[/member]  know?

Recent reports are that BTV spread has slowed a little but we are only just entering the danger time ---it only takes a few days of favourable wind patterns to bring the midges all the way to UK. It also takes 6 weeks from 1st vaccination to get any protection---so panicing once BTV hits the UK is likely a waste of time for those in the south

Mouflon? I know of people in Germany that have used them in breeding programmes

[Fieldfare]

Hi Jimmy- this might help http://www.camperdownwildlifecentre.com/our-animals/mouflon

[kanisha]

Factfile

 "Unlike most sheep, female mouflon only have two teats......"

On my way out the door to check my sheep    mouflon

[devonlady]

All the sheep I've ever kept in my life have only had two teats!

[Marches Farmer]

A midge can be blown 200 miles in a day if the conditions are right.  My neighbours and I have just given our sheep the first of the two Bluetongue vaccinations in a small but determined effort to create a firebreak between the east and south of England and Wales.  I cannot begin to begin to tell you how totally ****** off we would be if we found BTV8 had been introduced by sheep imported for their novelty value when we have so many and so varied breeds already here, some of which are on the RBST Critical list.