View source for Devon Closewool

{{EngvarB|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Short description|British breed of sheep}}
{{Infobox sheep breed
| name          = Devon Closewool
| image         = 
| image_size    = 
| image_alt     = 
| image_caption = 
| status        = {{ubl|[[FAO]] (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|page=120}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2021): at risk{{r|dad}}|{{nobreak|[[Rare Breeds Survival Trust|RBST]] (2021–2022): at risk{{r|rbst2}}}}}}
| altname       = 
| country       = United Kingdom
| distribution  = [[North Devon]]
| standard      = 
| type          = 
| use           = 
| weight        =
| maleweight    = 80–100 kg{{r|heritage|rbst}}
| femaleweight  = 55–62 kg{{r|heritage|rbst}}
| height        =
| maleheight    = 
| femaleheight  = 
| skincolour    = 
| woolcolour    = white
| facecolour    = white
| horns         = naturally [[polled livestock|polled]]
| note          =
}}

The '''Devon Closewool''' is a British [[list of sheep breeds|breed]] of [[domestic sheep]]. It is distributed almost exclusively on [[Exmoor]] in [[North Devon]], in south-west [[England]].{{r|st|ls|page2=296}} It is raised primarily for [[Lamb and mutton|meat]].{{r|dad}}

== History ==

The Devon Closewool was developed in the second half of the nineteenth century by [[cross-breeding]] native [[Exmoor Horn|Exmoor]] ewes with [[Devon Longwool]] rams.{{r|cabi|page=797}} The oldest known flock dates from 1894.{{r|cabi|page=797}} A [[breed society]] – the Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders' Society – was formed in 1923, and a [[flock-book]] was started in the same year.{{r|heritage}} By 1950 there were close to 230 000 head.{{r|soc}} In 2009 total breed numbers were estimated to be 5 000. Of these, about 95% were distributed within an area in North Devon some {{nobreak|100 km}} across, coinciding approximately with the extent of [[Exmoor]];{{r|ls|page=296}} about 75% are within {{nobreak|20 km}} of the mean centre of distribution.{{r|cabi|page=797}}

== Characteristics ==

The Devon Closewool is of medium size, ewes weighing up to about {{nobreak|62 kg}} and rams up to {{nobreak|100 kg}}. It is solidly built, with strong legs.{{r|rbst}} It is naturally [[polled livestock|polled]] in both sexes, white-woolled and white-faced, with black nostrils and short ears.{{r|rbst}} The fleece is dense and of medium length and [[staple (wool)|staple]].{{r|heritage}} It is a hardy [[grassland]] breed, well suited to grazing on the grasslands and [[Heath (habitat)|heaths]] of the [[Highland (geography)|uplands]] of its area of distribution.{{r|cabi|page=797}}

== Use ==

The Devon Closewool is reared for [[mutton|meat]] and for [[wool]]. 

On lowland grass, lambs may be ready for [[Animal slaughter|slaughter]] at between twelve and sixteen weeks, when they yield a [[dressed carcase weight]] of about {{nobreak|18–21 kg}}; on upland grazing they may take up to twenty-four weeks to reach the same weights.{{r|rbst}} Ewes have good maternal qualities, and a [[lambing percentage]] of some 150–160%.{{r|cabi|page=797}} Ewes may be put to rams of a [[terminal breed]] such as the [[Suffolk (sheep)|Suffolk]] or [[Texel (sheep)|Texel]] to produce [[cross-bred]] lambs; these grow fast and quickly reach slaughter weight.{{r|cabi|page=797}} Ewes may also be put to ram of a breed such as the [[Blue-faced Leicester]] to produce more [[prolificacy|prolific]] cross-bred "[[mule (sheep)|mule]]" ewes;{{r|rbst}} this is however uncommon.{{r|cabi|page=797}}

Ewe fleeces weigh some {{nobreak|3–4 kg}}, those of rams {{nobreak|5–6 kg.}}{{r|cabi|page=797}} The wool is dense and of medium length; [[staple length]] is {{nobreak|100–150 mm}}, fibre diameter is approximately {{nobreak|35 [[μm]].}}{{r|bw}} It is used for carpets{{r|bw}} or for [[tweed (cloth)|tweed]]s and [[hosiery]].{{r|cabi|page=797}}

==References==
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{ISBN|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=bw>[https://www.britishwool.org.uk/ksupload/userfiles/Breed_Book/Medium/Devon%20Closewool.pdf Devon Closewool]. British Wool. Accessed June 2021.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN|9781780647944}}.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[https://fao-dadis-breed-detail.firebaseapp.com/?country=GBR&specie=Sheep&breed=Devon%20Closewool Breed data sheet: Devon Closewool / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Sheep)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2021.</ref>

<ref name=heritage>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222170046/http://www.heritagesheep.eu/Devon%20Closewool.htm Devon Closewool]. Action Heritage Sheep. Archived 22 February 2012.</ref>

<ref name=ls>Amanda Carson, Matt Elliott, Julian Groom, Agnes Winter, Dianna Bowles (2009). [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141308003806 Geographical isolation of native sheep breeds in the UK – Evidence of endemism as a risk factor to genetic resources]. ''Livestock Science''. '''123''' (2–3): 288-299. {{ISSN|1871-1413}}. {{doi|10.1016/j.livsci.2008.11.026}}. {{subscription required}}.</ref>

<ref name=rbst>[https://www.rbst.org.uk/devon-closewool Devon Closewool]. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed June 2021.</ref>

<ref name=rbst2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210412051331/https://www.rbst.org.uk/watchlist-overview Watchlist 2021–22]. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 12 April 2021.</ref>

<ref name=soc>[http://devonclosewool.com/about-the-breed/ About The Breed]. South Molton, Devon: Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders' Society. Accessed June 2021.</ref>

<ref name=st>[https://www.york.ac.uk/org/cnap/tst/listofbreeds.html List of breeds]. York: The Sheep Trust. Accessed June 2021.</ref>




}}

[[Category:Sheep breeds originating in England]]
[[Category:Sheep breeds]]
[[Category:Devon]]

{{British livestock|R.1}}