The Black Farmer Supports Native Breeds

The Black Farmer is sponsoring the first ever Hampshire Down Sheep Class at the 2009 Woolsery Show, North Devon on 27th July.

"I am delighted that this fine native breed of sheep has sufficient numbers to warrant its own class this year. This is a clear indication that this breed is again finding favour and I hope that we will see a great deal more of it again in the future," says Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, The Black Farmer.

Best known for his eponymous range of premium pork gluten free sausages, The Black Farmer has long supported native and indigenous breeds – regularly keeping North and South Devon cattle on his Devon farm. "People are gradually starting to appreciate the benefits of well-reared traditional breeds. The meat really tastes better having benefited from good husbandry and slow, natural growing."

Hampshire Down flocks were established more than 150 years ago. The breed originated by crossing the Wiltshire Horn and the Berkshire Knot with the Southdown. Usually consigned to the ’any other breed’ class, this is the first year that sufficient numbers of Hampshires are showing to claim a class of their own.