Sheep were such an important part of the
English economy in the 1500s and 1600s,
it is not surprising that they were brought
to Plymouth Colony by 1628. Then as
now, sheep were valued both for their
wool and for their meat.
Wiltshire Horn Sheep take their name
from the county of Wiltshire in southwestern
England. Today’s Wiltshire Horns
are a large breed and are horned rather
than polled (hornless). They don’t need to
be shorn because they shed their thick
hairy coats each spring.
Plimoth Plantation maintains a flock of
Wiltshire Horn Sheep. Look for them in
the 1627 Pilgrim Village, at the Nye Barn
or in pastures around the grounds. There
are probably fewer than 5,000 Wiltshire
Horn Sheep left in the world today!
Plimoth Plantation helps to maintain
genetic diversity in livestock through its
conservation of rare and heritage breeds
like Wiltshire Horn Sheep. These heritage
breeds were common in the past, but are
in danger of becoming extinct today. For
more information on Wiltshire Horn Sheep and other rare and heritage
breeds, contact Plimoth Plantation
(www.plimoth.org) or the American
Livestock Breeds Conservancy
(www.albc-usa.org)