Elliott Erwitt Orbost Farm, Orbost Estate, Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides. Farmer Keith Jackson with his herd of native-breed sheep — including Soay, Hebridean and cross Blackface ewes — being rounded up by his
(...) trusty Bearded Collie, Misty. Small, primitive Soay sheep are descended from a feral population on the island of Soay (Old Norse for sheep) in the archipelago of St. Kilda, about 65km from the Western Isles of Scotland. A Northern European short-tailed sheep, Soay are prized for their fine fleece and savoury meat. The short inner fleece of their wild, coarse-haired ancestors gives scientists some insight into just how far ancient farmers had advanced in the development of wool. Jackson farms these sheep to produce Soay mutton for sale locally. Less than 1,500 registered breeding Soay ewes remain. Scotland. 2012. © Elliott Erwitt | Magnum Photos