Pedigree Hampshire Down rams are the latest members to join the Blenheim Estate in Oxfordshire
The rams are currently six-months-old and have arrived to the 2,000ac farm to join the estate’s 1,000-strong flock of Scotch mules.
The breed was chosen to join the estate based on its reputation of providing high-quality meat, which will be supplied to local outlets thus reducing the carbon footprint involved in the process.
Commenting on this, farm manager Charles Gerring said: “Hampshire Down lamb is renowned for its superb quality and flavour and meeting demand from both producers and consumers.
“By providing meat to local outlets, we are massively reducing our impact on the environment and also improving the quality of the meat.”
Hampshire down lamb is a popular choice within the culinary sector, with both high-class restaurants and butchers often favouring the meat.
Pedigree Hampshire Down rams
The Hampshire Down is a cross between Southdowns and the Old Hampshire breed, the Wiltshire Horn and the Berkshire Nott, which are all horned and white-faced sheep.
These breeds were native to the open, untilled and hilly stretch of land known as the Hampshire Downs.
Over the last 15 years, Hampshire Down breeders have carefully recorded and selected for modern performance traits and hardiness so they can remain comfortable in the coldest of winters.
The arrival of the sheep follows on from the recent acquisition of a 1t pedigree bull, Castleton Satellite, who joined the Blenheim Estate back in July.
The reintroduction of the Hampshire Down lambs contributes to the Blenheim Estate’s land strategy plan that looks at innovative ways to move towards more sustainable farming practice.
