The Loaghtan is an ideal breed for the farmer, enthusiast and smallholder. They
are hardy and will do well on parkland, meadows or hills with relatively low
management costs. However, Loaghtans are very athletic and good quality stock
fencing not less than 1.1m high is essential.
First and foremost those animals chosen for breeding should be from sound,
healthy stock presenting strong bodies with good conformation.
The Loaghtan is a proportionally long-legged, lean animal. Stock choice and
breeding decisions should preserve genetic diversity whilst at the same time
maintaining the breed features true to their original type, within the breed
description parameters.
The Loaghtan is a multi-horned breed, with usually two or four horns in both
ewes and rams, although occasionally “polled” ewes without horns occur. The four
horned animal demonstrates the effects of a gene which splits the horn bud. The
splitting gene can cause uneven results with three or five horns bring found
occasionally. This same gene also sometimes causes the top eyelid to divide,
creating a “split eyelid”. Breed enthusiasts regard this as a defect and animals
presenting split eyelid seem to have a greater propensity to develop eye
infections. Split eyelid does not occur in two horned animals.
Some breeders argue that the constant use of four horned animals will create
uneven horn patterns in the offspring. Amongst four-horned stock horns sometimes
break off. Breeding from two-horned stock alone will mean that there are no
four-horned lambs. Whilst polled ewes are identified by the Rare Breeds Survival
Trust as being “undesirable”, genetically they are acceptable. This particular
characteristic is a feature of four-horned sheep and flocks with only two-horned
animals will not present polled lambs.
Whatever their configuration, horns should not grow into the face or impede
grazing. Four-horned lambs may have completely different horn patterns from
their parents.
A Loaghtan should have a uniformly brown face. In particular, light-coloured
rings or “spectacles” should be avoided round the eyes. This trait is thought to
have been caused by cross-breeding a ram from the Castlemilk estate in Scotland
in 1936 and also a Soay ram in 1966 when Loaghtan numbers were particularly low.
The blood lines of these two rams cause these “mouflon” markings which sometimes
occur. They include the spectacles, lighter wool on the belly and the tail area
and, less frequently, a light area under the chin. All of these features are
undesirable in Loaghtans although they should not be confused with white
markings (see section on white markings below).
Loaghtans should have short tails, ideally with hairy tips, not reaching below
the hocks. Long, woolly tails should be avoided.
White markings are currently regarded by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as
unacceptable and therefore, animals which exhibit white socks and tail ends,
white patches on the face and belly, cannot be registered. It appears that white
patches do not occur randomly, some rams being more prone than others to throw
white-marked lambs.
The Loaghtan is a primitive, long legged and lean animal. Consistently breeding
for fatter, larger animals will cause a deviation from the original breed type
and this should be avoided.
There is a wide variety of fleece types, some short and some long. Whatever shade of loaghtan, the colour should be uniform throughout. Some fleeces present a mix of unpigmented fibres, referred to as “cob webbing”, which is less desirable, whilst others are almost pure loaghtan. Selection of stock by reference to fleece type is a matter of personal preference and parting the fleece will facilitate close inspection of the fleece near the skin.
The Loaghtan is hardy and has good survival instincts with little
intervention generally required by the breeder at lambing time. Ewes seldom
suffer difficulties in labour although a particularly large lamb may require
help and possibly the assistance of a vet. The navels of new born lambs must be
treated with iodine or other appropriate antiseptic spray to avoid infection
entering the body.
On the Calf of Man, a very exposed rocky island off the southern tip of the Isle
of Man, without any interference from humans at lambing time, the lambing
average is about 90%. However, in well nourished sheltered lowland flocks, 150%
or more can be achieved. Most flocks will have the occasional sets of triplets
and ewes can be left to bring up three lambs if they have sufficient milk. As in
all sheep breeds, ewes are prone to reject weak lambs. These rejected lambs can
survive by being bottle fed using powdered milk through a mini-suckler system,
or fostered onto another ewe, even of a different breed.
Ewes and lambs will bond quickly and when in the field together, will be self sufficient. Ewes should have access to a high magnesium mineral block in spring to avoid staggers, particularly in cases where the pasture has been top-dressed with fertilizer. All flocks must be wormed regularly against internal parasites and specialist advice should be sought from a vet as to worming routines for specific areas. Particular care should be taken with newly purchased stock.
Ewes will naturally reduce their milk production as their lambs are weaned onto grazing. Lambs born in March for example will generally be weaned by about August. In order to ensure that breeding ewes can recover their condition for breeding in the following season, it is advisable to leave the ewes free of lambs for at least two clear months before putting them to the ram. Ideally ewe lambs should not be put to the ram and it is better to wait until they are shearlings.
Some Loaghtans will shed their fleeces naturally from about May, subject to the prevailing weather conditions. The majority will need to be sheared and this is likely to be best carried out in late May or early June. Ewes with lambs at foot will not shear well until at least June.
Fly strike can be fatal and sheep must be dipped or sprayed regularly during the warmer summer months, following the proprietary brand instructions. Dirty fleeces are particularly vulnerable to maggot flies as are broken horns and the base of horns where they join the skull. Lambs must be sprayed or dipped by the end of May at the latest. Ewes are best treated about six weeks after shearing, when they have some fresh wool.
Feet should be trimmed once or twice a year, depending on growth. Whilst foot rot is rare amongst Manx Loaghtans, it must be treated promptly when it does occur. Inexperienced breeders will need to seek advice on feet management.
Vaccination against a range of clostridial diseases is advisable and full details of these and the appropriate vaccination routines should be sought from the vet. Ewes usually need a single dose about 4 weeks before lambing and lambs need two doses, the first when they are about 12 weeks old.
Pedigree stock should be registered. Full details of registration requirements can be found on the Grass Roots website www.grassroots.com.