Soay Sheep: General Description

Soay sheep are a rare breed originating from only two islands off the west coast of Scotland.  They resemble primitive sheep of the Bronze Age and are believed to be the ancestors of the first domestic sheep.

Soay sheep are aloof, wary, and graceful.  They resemble small antelope or deer with fleeces that may be blonde, fawn, shades of brown, or black.  Most Soay sheep have light markings on the belly, rump, over the eyes and under the tail and jaw.  They have short clean tails and shed their wool.  Their hooves do not generally require trimming on rocky pasture, and annually on less rocky environs.  They are hardy disease-resistant animals, shy yet curious.

Rams develop beautiful full curl horns and often a striking mane or bib of long darker hair that lends an elegant appearance.  The ewes may sport less dramatic horns, have button horns (called “scurs”) or be naturally polled. Wethers (castrated males) make good lawnmowers, fleece producers, and develop horns correlating with the age at which they were neutered.

Like antelope, Soay sheep “stott” (sprint-jump on all fours) when alarmed or exuberant.  Soay do not require shearing since they will cast (shed) their wool in spring.  Wool can be collected just before shedding by either plucking (“rooing”) or shearing if desired. 

Soay are small, averaging 55-65 pounds. Their size makes them easy to handle, and feasible for a shepherd (ess) to handle them alone. Their small size and light weight impacts pastures less than heavier meat and wool breeds. Soay require reliable fencing, shelter from rain, adequate shade, plain salt, and a safe-for-sheep (no copper) mineral supplement. Providing good quality hay and augmenting forage with alfalfa or commercial sheep ration during late pregnancy and lactation will keep ewes in good condition and help lambs to thrive.  

Soay sheep are delightfully independent and free of many husbandry problems. They manage on more meager pastures, and actually improve pastures by consuming Scotch broom, berry vines, and woody plants as well as grass. Soay should not have access to rhododendrons or azaleas, which are toxic to them.

Soay sheep are shy animals. They can be tamed, particularly if bottle raised or hand fed as lambs. They also become quite comfortable with your presence if you simply walk calmly among them day after day. They are graceful, aloof, self-sufficient and wary of predators.  Advantages of the breed are that they are small, hardy, lamb easily, do not require shearing or tail docking, require minimal hoof care, and tend to resist disease.  We do not recommend taming of ram lambs (adult rams are not aggressive, but not predictable during breeding season), but wethers and ewe lambs can make sweet pets.

Soay are animated and on the move.  They are an attractive way to improve or maintain your pasture or yard.  Their deerlike appearance attracts attention.  Besides looking nice in the field, Soay meat is of excellent gourmet quality, very mild, similar to elk and low in cholesterol.  The wool in its variety of colors may be spun to produce soft, naturally colored yarn without dyes.  Fleeces vary in character, some having been compared to musk ox “quiviut.”

Kate Montgomery featured the original version of this essay on her sheep website. Like Madame Benoit's words on lifestyle, Kate's description of Soay sheep is “must reading” to give potential new breeders a feel for this special breed.