The term lamb applies to sheep meat from animals that are less than a year old. Most lamb on the market, however, is killed when only a few months old - possibly as young as four months. Our rare breeds are normally kept until they are 14 to 18 months old - know then as hogget or hogget-lamb - giving them a good life on our flower rich pastures. The sheep normally lamb in April and enjoy eating not only the grass but the hedges and the apple trees, being expert at scrub control!

We take the animals to the abattoir ourselves to minimise the stress level, hang them well and have them butchered expertly by our top class butcher. You can taste the difference. This speciality product comes from Fowlescombe Farm www.fowlescombe.co.uk - and is either Manx Loghtan or Hebridean sheep. We recommend that you do not use mint with it, try red currant jelly instead - delicious.

The rare breed Manx Loghtan and minority breed Hebridean ewes are kept on the farm for their natural lives, often until they are 14 or more years old. They spend most of their lives in the fields, but during winter if the weather is very bad they are happy to shelter in a well ventilated renovated stone barn. During winter we supplement their grass diet with hay and haylage - and a little homemade crimp, as a treat. (Crimp is a bit like a breakfast cereal for sheep or cattle.)

Interested in knowing more about rare breeds? Then click here for the RBST Devon Support group

For prices click here