The first importation of Soay sheep into North America occurred in 1970, from the UK into Canada. They were kept at a zoo for some years, and then dispersed. The number of sheep available were few, they were sold in very small groups or singly, and at least one group did not survive. The Lewis flock was created by cross-
breeding a Soay ram to Mouflon, Barbados and Black Welsh Mountain ewes, and the offspring were bred back again and again to Soay rams to continue increasing the percentage of Soay blood in each successive generation. These breeding efforts were successful in that they produced extremely hardy sheep that are very similar or even identical to the Soays found on St Kilda.
The American Soay sheep
has a history no more
murky than the Jacob or
the Navajo-Churro sheep
and many other noteworthy
breeds of livestock which
are listed as rare by
American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy.
You can help preserve this
important breed by joining
have a few acres of pasture,
you can also help by keeping
a flock of one of the hardiest
breeds of sheep known!
Website created by Ronda Jemtegaard. Copyright 2000 - 2004. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, all text and photos on this site are copyrighted by Ronda Jemtegaard
and may not be used without written permission.
Ewe Pals Edsel, an American Soay ram bred by Val Dambacher of Southern Oregon Soay Farms.
Edsel, one of our many wide horned rams, has been used to help preserve the Lewis bloodline in our flock. See our Bloodlines pages for more information.
