Polled Wiltshire Sheep

Year-old Polled Wiltshire rams   (Photo by Kim Malcolm)

      The Polled Wiltshire was developed in Australia using Polled Dorset rams and Wiltshire Horn ewes.   The polled variety retains many of the unique features of the original horned breed – especially the sparse fleece which is shed naturally (see photo) and its resistance to flystrike.

Polled Wiltshire sheep shedding their fleeces (Photo by Tim Gow)

      It is also and excellent forager and is well-adapted to poor, dry land.

      The breed was introduced into New Zealand in 1972 and a few thousand are now found throughout the country.

      Primarily a meat breed, it is mainly used as a sire to produce meat lambs.

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