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Drysdale Sheep

How quick the population and fate of a breed can change! This is a prime example of how quickly and easily a breed can silently slip into extinction.

At their peak in Australia, Drysdales numbered 30,000 to 40,000. In the 'Status of Rare Breeds of Livestock in Australia 2006' (a publication of the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia) there were 118 registered Studs plus 200 commercial breeders of Drysdale sheep as at the year 2003. However, information on breed populations is not regularly updated, particularly when a breed falls out of commercial interest. As a result, closer investigation indicates that in less than seven years the numbers of Drysdales has plummeted to near extinction.

Fortunately an abstract chain of events lead to Will receiving a small flock of genetic gems. Consisting of 10 ewes and 8 rams, Will's flock of Drysdale's now numerically represent a quarter of the current National flock of Drysdale sheep. More sobering than their limited number is the thought that this flock was marked for slaughter. As a result, Will's Rare Breeds Farm is now home to one of the last two remaining registered flocks of Drysdale sheep in Australia!

Will's Drysdale's first lambing has begun with a set of twin ewe lambs followed by a single ram lamb so far. Building the number of ewe in the flock will be the main priority for the next few years. The aim is to reach at least 50 ewes, so this will take a while but we will get there!

Drysdale Photo Gallery

    Drysdale breed information:

    Drysdale sheep derive from the Romney Marsh sheep. In 1929 a natural genetic mutation was discovered in a flock of Romney sheep in New Zealand. This mutation caused them to grow a coarse hairy fibre (halo-hairs). The dominant Nd Gene (the gene responsible for the halo-hair) is paired with a gene for horn growth, so Drysdales unlike Romneys grow horns and coarse hair. The new gene was also dominant, this made stabilising and establishing these sheep as a breed in their own right relatively easy. The pioneering research and establishment of the new breed was by the late Dr FW Dry. Fittingly the breeds name 'Drysdale' is based on Dr Dry's name.

    In the on going development of the breed Cheviot sheep were used as well. The fleece of the Drysdale is approximately 40 micron and straight with no crimp at all. In good feed and management conditions they will grow 240mm of fleece a year. They are shorn twice a year to obtain the required 75-125mm wool length. Their fleece is used for carpet as it is highly elastic and hard wearing as well as having wool's renowned thermal qualities. Due to it's British breed ancestry, Drysdale sheep are seasonal breeders, mating primarily in the late Summer/Autumn and lambing in the Spring. Lambs are born with a 25mm wool cover making them well insulated from the elements. This combined with the ewes being extremely attentive mothers results in a good survival rate of lambs.

    Please Note!

    Drysdale Wool is available in small amounts for spinning and various other craft uses. Feel free to contact Will for further details.