Devon breeder David Rossiter has devoted decades to improving and promoting the Poll Dorset in the UK and, in return, the Huish flock has proved to be the backbone of the family farming business.
When David first began working at home, Burton Farm, Galmpton, near the coast at Kingsbridge, he was given the task of running the flock of purebred native breed longwool sheep which were crossed with the Suffolk.
The Downes family Terry and Jane with their daughter, Sian, 27, and son, Richard, 25, lamb their flock of 160 ewes in two batches, thanks to the Dorset’s unique ability to breed at any time of the year, fitting in with the predominantly autumn calving herd of 160 milkers.
Poll Dorset sheep are helping the biodiversity of a predominantly arable farming business in Essex.
The family-owned company E W Davies Farms, based at Thaxted, Dunmow, farms 1,300 ha that includes owned land and land contract farmed for other land owners.
Winter-lambing Dorset sheep are the backbone of a new farming enterprise for brothers Matthew and Adam Care in Cornwall
Maud Walker grew up with Dorset sheep and her love of the breed encouraged her to set up her own pedigree flock 10 years ago.
The Dorset sheep’s ability to lamb out of season has given full-time solicitor Amy McConnell the flexibility to run her own pedigree flock which perfectly complements the family dairy farm in Northern Ireland.
Amy’s parents Brian and Jayne farm 350, owned and rented, all-grass acres at Beechmount, Templepatrick in Co Antrim with son Robert, who works as a vet, and daughter Caroline, a primary school teacher, running a 220-cow pedigree Ayrshire and Holstein Friesian dairy herd.
