Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T13:20:13.287Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The ‘Wild’ Sheep of Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

J. C. Greig  and
A. B. Cooper
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Primitive breeds of sheep and goats, such as the Ronaldsay sheep of Orkney, could be in danger of disappearing with the present rapid decline in pastoral farming. The authors, both members of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources in Edinburgh University, point out that, quite apart from their historical and cultural interest, these breeds have an important part to play in modern livestock breeding, which needs a constant infusion of new genes from unimproved breeds to get the benefits of hybrid vigour. Moreover these primitive breeds are able to use the poor land and live in the harsh environment which no modern hybrid sheep can stand.

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 10 , Issue 6 , December 1970 , pp. 383 - 388
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1970

References

Recommendations of the Biosphere Conference. Biological Conservation, 1969. Vol. 1, No. 3. Elsevier, Barking, Essex.Google Scholar
Greig, J.C. 1969. The Ecology of Feral Goats in Scotland. M.Sc. thesis, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Greig, J. C. In preparation.Google Scholar
Ryder, J. L. 1967. The preservation of primitive breeds of livestock (with special reference to sheep). Unpublished paper prepared for conservation meeting of Zoological Society of London in February 1967.Google Scholar
Ryder, M. L. 1968. The evolution of Scottish breeds of sheep. Scottish Studies 12: 127–167.Google Scholar
Ryder, M.L. 1970. Why preserve declining breeds of livestock? Animal Breeding Research Organisation Annual Report. January 1970.Google Scholar