The Derbyshire Greystone sheep is a breed of domestic sheep originating in the United Kingdom. It is a very old breed and one of the oldest British breeds of sheep.
Today the breed is commonly found in Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. The breed actually originated in the hills of the Goyt Valley on the outskirts of the Peak District around the 1770s.
Goita Valley is now better known as Goita Valley. The Derbyshire Greystone sheep was known as Dale o’goyt sheep in their early years.
By 1850, local farmers had gradually become accustomed to the breed, striving to create a hardy, disease-resistant animal that could withstand harsh winters in poor soil, produce a live lamb that grew well, producing a good carcass and a selectable wool yield. .
On October 27, 1906, farmers came together to form the Derbyshire Sheep Breeders’ Society. The Society was formed under the presidency of the 8th Duke of Devonshire.
Today, Derbyshire Greystone sheep are bred primarily for meat production. Learn more about this breed of British sheep below.
Characteristics of the Derbyshire Sandstone Sheep
Derbyshire Greystone sheep are large animals. They are usually white in color with a black and white face. Usually rams and ewes are polled.
The fleece of these animals is of a higher quality than that of most other breeds of mountain sheep. They are long-bodied animals with well-defined and broad shoulders.
Their body is usually well covered with flesh and hair. The legs of the Derbyshire sandstone sheep can be black or white.
The front legs appear with black knees and hooves, while the hind legs appear with black markings on the back of the legs and black hooves. Their face has a combination of distinct black and white markings.
Their head is usually hairless and quite long. Sheep are thicker and more muscular, white sheep should have a feminine appearance.
The average live weight of mature Derbyshire Gritstone sheep ranges from 55 to 65 kg. And the average live weight of sexually mature rams ranges from 80 to 100 kg. Photos and information from RBST and Wikipedia.
Advantages
Derbyshire Gritstone sheep – breed of mutton. It is grown mainly for meat production.
Special Notes
The Derbyshire Gritstone sheep is a very hardy and strong animal. It has the qualities and potential to increase agricultural productivity in the rugged uplands of the North Country and Wales.
These animals are generally strong and resistant to disease, and they are the most economical sheep in the highlands. The breed has a finer coat than most other mountain sheep breeds. But today they are grown mainly for meat production.
Derbyshire Greetstone mutton is clean and lean. Lambs grow relatively faster and reach market weight between 68 and 104 days.
During this period, they reach about 40.35 kg of live weight. However, check out the full profile of this breed in the following table.
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| Breed name | Derbyshire sandstone |
| another name | everything |
| Purpose of the breed | Mainly meat |
| Special Notes | Very beautiful animals, striking appearance, particularly well adapted to local conditions, very strong and hardy, resistant to disease, the most economical sheep in the highlands, finer wool than most other breeds of mountain sheep, lambs grow relatively faster, are today bred in mainly for the production of meat |
| Breed size | big |
| The weight | The body weight of adult sheep ranges from 80-100 kg, and the average live weight of adult sheep ranges from 55-65 kg. |
| horns | Not |
| climatic tolerance | local climate |
| Color | White |
| scarcity | general |
| Country/place of origin | UK |
