The Blackface or Scottish Blackface is a British breed of sheep. It is the most common sheep breed in the United Kingdom. Despite the name, it did not originate in Scotland, but south of the border.

History

The origins of the breed are uncertain. It was developed on the Anglo-Scottish border but it is not clear exactly when it became a distinct breed. It replaced the earlier Scottish Dun-face or Old Scottish Shortwool, a Northern European short-tailed sheep type probably similar to the modern Shetland.

There are several types of Blackface in the United Kingdom, including the Perth variety, which is large-framed and coarse-woollen, and mainly found in north-east Scotland, Devon, Cornwall and Northern Ireland; the medium-framed Lanark type, with shorter wool, found in much of Scotland and parts of Ireland; and the Northumberland Blackface, which is large with relatively soft wool.

Characteristics

Blackface is horned, and as their name suggests, they usually have a black face (but sometimes with white markings), and black legs. This breed is primarily raised for meat. The wool is very coarse, with a fibre diameter of 28–38 μm and a staple length of about 250–350 mm.