Stembridge Coloured Ryelands

The Ryeland breed of sheep is one of the oldest in Britain, originating around Hereford.  Although once a thriving and popular breed, its popularity declined after the Second World War.

By 1974, only 980 breeding ewes remained, causing it to be listed as “rare” by the newly formed Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

Since then, numbers have risen sufficiently for the breed to be reclassified as a native breed rather than a rare breed.

Coloured Ryeland Sheep

Small, docile and easy to handle

Ryeland Sheep
A native breed

Ryeland Sheep
A historic breed

The breed is governed by the Ryeland Flock Book Society. The Ryeland Flock Book Society has in the region of 500 members made up of Ryeland and Coloured Ryeland breeders. The Ryeland Flock Book Society set up a Coloured Ryeland Register in 1989, allowing members who were interested in these sheep to register them. A Coloured Ryeland Group (CRG)was formed in 1996 to cater for the interests of Coloured Ryeland Breeders and did much sterling work in promoting the attributes of Coloured Ryelands.

Since 2010, Coloured Ryelands have had their own flock book; all coloured sheep are registered there plus any sheep with a coloured parent, even if the sheep itself has a white fleece.

Recently the number of flocks has risen substantially indicating the Ryeland’s popularity as a smallholder’s or “hobby” sheep.  Ryelands are popular with smallholder's and new sheep-keepers because they:

• are small sheep, docile and easy to handle.
• will produce a prime butcher’s lamb off grass. Lambs will finish at around 45kg liveweight at around six months of age.
• produce a top quality fleece, ideal for hand spinning and craftwork. An average fleece will weigh around 2.25 – 3kg, with a staple length of 8-10cm and a Bradford Count of 56 – 58.
• are adaptable to a range of conditions and suited to organic systems.

Their coloured fleece is popular with hand spinners and craft workers and comes in a range of colours from pale cream / grey to dark chocolate brown.