The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Harebell on September 03, 2014, 10:27:11 am

Title: Do you keep Norfolk Horn Sheep?
Post by: Harebell on September 03, 2014, 10:27:11 am
Just saw this on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Facebook page and thought it might be of interest:

Do you keep Norfolk Horn Sheep?
Andrew Ibbitson from Curtis Wool Direct is trying to source 1,500 - 2,000kg of wool from Norfolk Horns for a customer who wants to do a special promotion about the breed.
If you are interested in helping or want more information, please contact Andrew at:
Curtis Wool Direct Ltd, Lawrence House, Dowley Gap Business Park, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA
Tel: 01274 518743
Email: andrew@curtiswool.co.uk
Title: Re: Do you keep Norfolk Horn Sheep?
Post by: Marches Farmer on September 03, 2014, 01:46:16 pm
Only person I know who keeps them is Adam Henson.  You'd need a fair few to produce that much wool, though!  The breed formed half the Suffolk (the other half being the Southdown) but I've never seen any NH's here in the Welsh Marches.
Title: Re: Do you keep Norfolk Horn Sheep?
Post by: MarvinH on September 04, 2014, 07:00:09 am
That must be nearly 700 fleeces!
Title: Re: Do you keep Norfolk Horn Sheep?
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 04, 2014, 12:17:40 pm
As I understand it, they actually all but lost the Norfolk Horn and had to recreate it from the Suffolk and Southdown.

Some spinners in one of my local groups had some of Adam's Norfolk Horn fleece a couple of years ago and said it was awful! 

But I have had two lots of Nofolk Horn; one lot last year was passed to me to spin the yarn for the Norfolk Horn for the RBST Rare Breeds Heritage Blanket project.  I absolutely loved it, and wanted more, so bought a fleece this year, which is just as nice as the RBST sample. 

Norfolk Horn is one of Deb Robson's favourite fibres, too.

I know there are flocks in the South East, Rampisham for one, but as you say, MF - that might be pretty much the entire National clip for this breed!