Dutch spotted sheep have been creating a bit of a stir after making their debut at a number of agricultural shows this summer.
Among them were four gimmers from the country’s most northerly registered flock – Knockglass – run by James and Anne Budge, of Knockglass Farm, Watten.
The couple are passionate promoters of the breed and are eagerly looking forward to the spring arrivals of their first pure-bred progeny.
After buying the farm in 2015, they ran about 60 Cheviot crosses before opting to downsize to comply with a grazing regime of an agri-environmental scheme.
This coincided with their interest in diversifying into continental stock.
“We were at the Turriff Show two years ago and I got an elbow from a friend to go and look at a pen of Dutch spotted,” said Mr Budge.
“They interested me and, after a bit of research, we decided we would look to buying some from a batch being imported from Holland.”
The couple travelled to Dumfries in May last year where they purchased four ewe lambs. That was followed by a trip to the breed’s first sale in Carlisle last August when they bought a shearling ram –Galloway Archie.
He has since sired 27 lambs from the Cheviot ewes, and the Budges are delighted with the progeny and with the progress made by their imports.
“We’ve had no issues with them at all,” said Mr Budge.
“They are filling out really well and have a good frame on them. They are hard on their feet and have a good mouth on them and they thrive on a grass-based system. Hopefully, next spring, we’ll have our first batch of pure spotties.”
The flock made a little bit of local history last month in being the first from the breed entered at the Caithness County show, where Knockglass Brose was first prize gimmer in the any other breed continental.