Grenaby Loaghtan Flock
The Grenaby Flock consists of over 350 Manx Loaghtan sheep. These proud and
independent sheep are reared over 125 acres of open pasture land. Previously
there were no Loaghtans on the Farm and the Flock has been developed since Iain
and Joanna took over the Estate in 2002. Their aim is to build the flock to over
400 breeding ewes in the next few years and to work towards the entire flock being
certified as organic.
The most notable feature of Manx Loaghtan is their horns, they are multi-horned
and can have 2 or more. The most common is four horns, although some have six.
The breed is most closely related to Hebridean, Shetland, North Ronaldsay and
Icelandic sheep. The word Loaghtan comes from the colour of the fleece - Lugh
(mouse) and Dhoan (brown) being very descriptive for these mouse-brown sheep.
Brown (or moorit) became the established colour in the Isle of Man around one
hundred years ago, although they can also be found in white and black.
The Manx Loaghtan is a hardy animal and is short tailed and fine boned; an adult
ewe weighs about 40kg. They are slow maturing and are normally butchered at about
15 months of age when they produce a lean, low cholesterol meat of high quality and
full of flavour. Manx Loaghtan sheep are listed as rare by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.