Manx Loaghtan

Diana and George Steriopulos are the champions of this rare breed and are passionate about the quality and welfare of their sheep. George was in the final three for the 2009 BBC FOOD and FARMING, FARMER OF THE YEAR, award, whilst Diana, who has her own flock, captures the true essence of the breed in her outstanding photography. One of the prize rams on Ballaloaghtan Farm is Bobby Dazzler. Bobby (the TV star) has appeared alongside the two famous tv chefs, The Hairy Bikers who fell in love with the taste of Loaghtan lamb and promote it whenever and wherever possible. The Manx Loaghtan is all we have left of a small primitive breed of mountain sheep which probably covered the hills of the Isle Of Man in their thousands until the eighteenth century. "Loghtan" or "Loaghtan" is the Manx word for the "moorit" colour of the fleece. It may be derived from the two Manx words Lugh (mouse) and Dhoan (brown) or from Lhost dhoan (burnt brown).

MANX LOAGHTAN, THE SHEEP WITH ATTITUDE

The Manx Loaghtan fleece is valued for its colour from which the breed gets its name.
Some Manx Loaghtan retain their primitive ability to shed their fleece in spring or early summer, but others need to be shorn producing a fine quality wool for hand spinning and commercial use.
The wool marketing board exempts the Loaghtan fleece from its usual restrictions, which allows breeders to sell the wool directly to the consumer.
We have a range of beautiful loaghtan home furnishing products >>> and loaghtan accessories >>> as well as a selection of pretty loaghtan cards >>>>