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Protected status for Lakeland Herdwick sheep | Protected status for Lakeland Herdwick sheep |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A rare breed of Cumbrian sheep has been awarded protected status putting it in the same category as Champagne, Cornish pasties and Melton Mowbray pies. | A rare breed of Cumbrian sheep has been awarded protected status putting it in the same category as Champagne, Cornish pasties and Melton Mowbray pies. |
Lakeland Herdwick sheep were first recognised as a breed in the 1790s and are now bred on 120 hill farms in the central and western Lake District. | Lakeland Herdwick sheep were first recognised as a breed in the 1790s and are now bred on 120 hill farms in the central and western Lake District. |
A bid for Protected Designation of Origin status was made by the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association. | |
The European Commission has now approved the application. | The European Commission has now approved the application. |
Herdwicks, which often graze at heights of about 3,000ft (915 metres), are recognised as one of the hardiest British sheep breeds. | |
The distinctive tasting meat was sampled by the Queen at her 1953 Coronation banquet. | The distinctive tasting meat was sampled by the Queen at her 1953 Coronation banquet. |
Meat from the estimated 50,000 animals can now only be classed as Lakeland Herdwick if they are born, reared and slaughtered at one of three registered abattoirs in Cumbria. | Meat from the estimated 50,000 animals can now only be classed as Lakeland Herdwick if they are born, reared and slaughtered at one of three registered abattoirs in Cumbria. |
They were a favourite of Peter Rabbit creator Beatrix Potter, who kept her own herds. | They were a favourite of Peter Rabbit creator Beatrix Potter, who kept her own herds. |
'Tough life' | 'Tough life' |
When she died she bequeathed 15 farms, covering almost 4,000 acres, to the National Trust on the understanding they were allowed to continue to breed Herdwicks. | When she died she bequeathed 15 farms, covering almost 4,000 acres, to the National Trust on the understanding they were allowed to continue to breed Herdwicks. |
It has taken 10 years for protected status to be granted, after the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association first made an application in 2003. | It has taken 10 years for protected status to be granted, after the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association first made an application in 2003. |
Pure bred Herdwick lambs are born largely black, often with tips of white on their ears. | |
As they age, the heads and legs become white and the fleece assumes a colour ranging from blue-grey to light grey. | As they age, the heads and legs become white and the fleece assumes a colour ranging from blue-grey to light grey. |
Only pure bred Herdwick lambs display this dark colouration, making them easy to identify compared to other local hill breeds such as the Swaledale. | Only pure bred Herdwick lambs display this dark colouration, making them easy to identify compared to other local hill breeds such as the Swaledale. |
Amanda Carson, secretary of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this news. | Amanda Carson, secretary of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this news. |
"It means we can now assure the consumer of a quality product that is traceable and has a full audit trade. | "It means we can now assure the consumer of a quality product that is traceable and has a full audit trade. |
"In light of recent food scares, this is really important. | "In light of recent food scares, this is really important. |
"It is also vitally important to the hill farmers of Cumbria who have a very tough life indeed." | "It is also vitally important to the hill farmers of Cumbria who have a very tough life indeed." |
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