Sheep : RYELAND

Origin: Herefordshire, England

Australian Status:

International Status:

Arrived in Australia: 1919

Australian Population: Ewes: 332 Rams: 39 (2018)

Distribution:

History: The Ryeland is considered one of the oldest English sheep, dating back seven centuries when the Monks of Leominster, in Herefordshire, bred sheep and grazed them on their rye pastures, giving them their name. Ryelands were introduced into Australia in 1919 and are classified as one of the nine heritage breeds that were the foundation of the sheep and wool industry in Australia. It is one of the breeds used to introduce the poll gene to the Dorset breed to develop the Poll Dorset.

Ryelands are docile sheep and are ideal for small properties as they do well on little feed. According to Sir Joseph Banks, "Ryelands deserve a niche in the temple of famine". They were said to produce the best wool in Britain from the worst feed. In 1779, the fleece was worth thirty pence per pound compared with the next best at eighteen pence per pound and at that time there were around 500,000 Ryelands in Hereford alone. Around 1800 the Ryeland was found to be the most successful of all British Breeds to cross with the Merino. However, from then on the spread of Southdown and Leicester genes, as well as the improved pastures changed the Ryeland to become a good meat sheep. This was despite the attempts of George III, to preserve the fine wool.

The numbers were soon to decrease as the Ryeland had to compete with the Lincoln, Southdown and later the Shropshire and by 1903, there were only fifteen flocks in Britain. A Flock Book was published in 1909 and breeding continued for nine years until the Flock Book was closed in 1918, with eighty flocks registered.

New Zealand breeders made their first importations in 1901 and by 1924, when the Flock Book was established, there were 4000 sheep in thirty flocks.

The first Ryelands in Australia arrived in 1919, with two ewes and one ram imported by Mr J.A Helling of South Australia, although the flock of eight ewes and one ram, imported by the NSW Department of Agriculture procured the No. 1 position in the ASBBS Flock Book. By 1934 there were seventy-seven registered flocks in Australia and that number peaked to two hundred in the 1960's. There are currently thirteen Studs registered in the Flock Register. The Ryeland has developed into a longer, leaner, sheep due to much work done by the Stevens Family and it is this characteristic that has been so valued and emulated by the English breeders using Australian genetics.

With its excellent quality lamb and great tasting meat, the Ryeland is primarily a meat sheep, being much sought after by rare breeds butchers, top chefs, hotels and restaurants. As the sheep do well on a diet of good grass, without the need for supplementary feeding,  they are particularly suitable for organic lamb production. The short wool is also useful, being prized by hand-spinners and weavers. Initially Ryelands were considered to have the finest wool of all British breeds and when Queen Elizabeth 1, was given "Lemster" wool stockings, she liked them so much she insisted from then on to have only Lemster Ryeland wool.

Breed traits: Today's Ryeland has a dense fleece with a firm handling, medium staple with character. It should be free from kemp and grey or rusty fibres. It has a micron count of 23-26 and the staples measure around 100mm in length. On average a sheep will cut 2-3kg. It is not suitable for wet felting.

Uses: Meat, Wool

Breed Organisation: Ryeland Sheep Breeders Association of Australia, President: Mr Steven French, Whitemore, Tasmania

Additional Notes:

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