breed domestic sheep native north west england derived meaning sheep pasture low capacity perceived wool quality compared common commercial breeds sheep prized robust health ability live solely forage tendency territorial stray difficult terrain considered sheep commercially farmed central western wool quality unique qualities relating thick type forming protective barrier layer likely qualities protect sheep similar conditions known survive blanket snow days eating wool severely threatened outbreak foot mouth disease england wales breed survived intent preserve unique animal crucial traditional agriculture far number commercial breeds survive largely farming subsidies aid natural beauty history early history root word breed sheep pasture recorded documents dating 12th century origin breed unknown common theory ancestors sheep introduced early norse settlers according brought region 10th 11th centuries viking invasions western england alternatively piece local folklore suggested came wrecked spanish ship case important breed end 12th century centuries sheep large factor shaping culture terrain grazing sheep continues largely dry stone walls valleys built protect grazing land livestock words speech relate sheep ancient counting system sheep survival counting systems potter half life children author involved keeping breeding acting president breed association time won number prizes shows death bequeathed farms approximately total sum acres instructions continue flocks modern history modern era main industry shifted agriculture tourism subsequent influx tourists district times conflicted traditional life including raising farmer summed problem visitors land year thousand shut gate bothered times round sheep late 20th century keeping economically outside support open market prices drop low penny kilogram weight wool single sheep direct monetary guarantees wool prices actually costs farmers considerably larger money shear receive compensation majority farmers burned waste products trust acts wool merchant able bargain better prices directly operate wool trademark farmers survive sale european_union farm subsidies farmers particular receive subsidies operating designated favored area england rural development programme agree maintain land accordance sustainable farming practices receive additional subsidies live miles makes particularly vulnerable disease outbreak foot mouth disease led destruction flocks fears survival breed typical sheep farming industry estimated sheep present outbreak lost easily long standing introduction new stock required extensive fencing preserve considered traditional identity led parties duke westminster lord lord wished save hill sheep lands residents saw breed icon region longtime resident writer guardian harry griffin expressed feeling mountain sheep notably hardy sheep likely seen valley highest land england old walls quarter bridges little grey sheep end climbed walked nearly years written nearly life destruction entire flocks meant forced undergo process local term new sheep hills normally teach behaviour left acquainted particular behavior taught new inevitably involving rounding flocks inaccessible sheep cause wandering replaced original set position circumstances aftermath disease tough government restrictions order prevent outbreak place oregon sheep farmer began united_states begin breeding program artificial designed bring breed country time meat received european_union characteristics dual purpose breed producing strongly lamb coarse grey wool slowly breed hardy british hill sheep breeds cold relentless rain heights upwards feet metres spend winter approximately december april normally left freely additional feed tends stay local term small area fell rough conditions losses high ability thrive reason fell farmers highly value higher producing lowland breeds grey easily dyed coarse best suited use carpet wool wool excellent natural possible buy sheets wool fit lamb distinct taste eaten queen elizabeth_ii coronation banquet commonly produce desirable market cross breeding suffolk sheep born black year dark brown colour sheep called stage grey polled shows traditionally wool local term method called marking sheep ownership chemical available iron ore mixed years legal method identifying particular shepherd sheep cut sheep ear called marks replaced ear
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