Numbers of Dorset Horn sheep have declined over recent years to the stage where they are now on the Rare Breed Survival Trust Watchlist for breed at risk of being lost.

Originally all Dorsets were Horned. Then they were taken out to Australia and the horns were bred off for ease of management. The Poll Dorsets were brought back into the UK and gradually dominated the Dorset sheep population.

It is said the using the Dorset Horn on the Poll Dorset every couple of generations increases vigour.

Dorset Horns at present tend to be a bit smaller than the Polls as they were fewer in number and less breed improvement work was done. This situation is gradually being reversed as newly established Horned breeders work on improving the quality of their stock. In a bit of a coup for the Dorset Horn it was a Horned Ram which was the Overall Supreme Champion at the NI Dorset Club Annual Show and Sale in Ballymena in July 2010.

We plan to have some Dorset Horns for show and sale at the RBSTNI Annual Show and Sale at Gosford, Co Armagh, on Saturday 4th September.