Odds Farm Park

Bagot Goats

How rare are they?
Critical: Less than 100 registered breeding nannies remaining.

Where do they come from?
The theory is that Bagots originated from animals brought to Britain by the crusaders from the Rhone Valley in Switzerland.

What makes the Bagot so special?

• They can be traced back to 1380, when they were given to Sir John Bagot by King Richard II.
• They are very nervous and wary of humans.
• They are quite hardy and very capable of protecting their kids using their strong horns.
• The preferred colouring is a black head, neck and shoulders and the rest of the body white.

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British White Cattle

How rare are they?
The Rare Breed Survival Trust has strengthened the British White breed to now recognise it as a Minority rather than an Endangered breed.

Where do they come from?
The earliest recorded herd was kept in the "Lords Park" at Whalley Abbey, Lancashire.

What makes the British White so special?

• They are one of Britain's oldest breed of cattle with a history going back more than 800 years.
• They were kept mainly as dairy cows up until 1960's. Now they are mainly used as beef cows.
• They have white bodies with black points, which make them very attractive and also reduces the risk of sunburn.
• They can live for 15 to 25 years.

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Buff Orpington

Interesting facts.
The Buff Orpington was created by Mr William Cook of Orpington in Kent in the 1880's.

What makes the Buff Orpington so special?

• This breed is well known for their broodiness. They can even be used to hatch eggs from other breeds.
• They are capable of producing up 340 eggs in a year!
• Like all 'Buff' (brown) breeds, their feathers fade in the sun.
• Any whiteness in the feathers is frowned upon as it only increases with breeding.

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Castlemilk Moorit Sheep

How rare are they?
Endangered : Less than 500 breeding ewes remaining.

Where do they come from?
These sheep were bred from moorit Shetland, Manx Loghtan and wild Moufflon sheep in the park of Castlemilk in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

What makes the Castlemilk Moorit so special?

• These are the rarest type of sheep we have here at Odds Farm.
• They are light tan, or Moorit in colour.
• They have short, tight wool, which is popular for hand spinning.
• They are naturally short tailed and long legged.

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Clydesdale Horse

How rare are they?
Vulnerable: Less than 900 breeding mares remaining.

Where do they come from?
They were developed by farmers in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

What makes the Clydesdale so special?

• They are very gentle for their size and like interacting with people.
• They come in a variety of colours: Bay, brown or black. They should have four white socks, extending to the knee or hock, and a well defined blaze on the face.
• They stand on average 16 hands 2 inches high although some are taller.

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Eriskay Pony

How rare are they?
Critical: Less than 300 breeding mares remaining.

Where do they come from?
The Eriskay pony is the last survivor of the native ponies of the Western Isles of Scotland (The Hebrides).

What makes the Eriskay so special?

• The Eriskay is a neat little pony, which stands between 12 and 13.2 hands high.
• They are born a very dark grey, but with age they gradually become lighter in colour.
• They are very strong and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
• They are friendly and when well trained are suitable as children's ponies.

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French Lop Rabbits

Interesting facts.
The French lop was first introduced into this country for meat production.

What makes the French lop so special?

• They are massive, thick set and firm rabbits.
• They have a short body which is well muscled, with little visible neck.
• They have thick, broad, rounded ears that lie close to their cheeks.
• They come in various colours and weigh 5-6kgs.

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Greyface Dartmoor Sheep

How rare are they?
This breed of sheep were at risk but they are now classified as Minority.

Where do they come from?
These sheep are descendants of the native heath sheep of southwest Britain.

What makes the Greyface Dartmoor so special?

• They are very friendly and easy to handle.
• They are polled (no horns).
• They are deep bodied, short legged with a well woolled head and legs.
• They have mottled, spotted black and grey muzzles.
• They produce a heavy fleece of curly lustre wool.

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Guinea Pigs

We have two different types of guinea pig at Odds Farm, English: Smooth short haired & Abyssinian: Rosetted

Interesting facts.

• The guinea pig originates from South America, where it is naturally a communal grazing animal.
• Guinea pigs require a regular intake of fresh fruit and vegetables to supplement their diet.
• The gestation period is 59 - 62 days. The average litter size is 3 - 4 young.
• The young are born with fur and with their eyes open. They are so small they can fit into the palm of your hand.

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Highland Cattle

How rare are they?
This breed of cattle can be found distributed in small herds throughout Britain.

Where do they come from?
This breed originated from the Scottish Highlands.

What makes the Highland so special?

• They are one of the hardiest breeds of cattle in the world.
• They have a thick, shaggy coat that helps them survive extreme temperatures of cold.
• The cows are very good mothers and are very protective of their calves.
• They have two long horns.

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Light Sussex Chicken

Interesting facts.
This breed of chicken is a traditional farm breed native to the south of England.

What makes the Light Sussex so special?

• They can come as miniature Light Sussex chickens, which are exact versions of their full size counter parts.
• The Light Sussex is a good broody hen that lays well.
• They are white with black markings.
• They produce up to 200 eggs per year.
• Their eggs are white in colour.

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Lionhead Rabbit

How rare are they?
The breed has been around since the early 1900, although it was only recognised as a British breed of rabbit in February 2002.

Where do they come from?
The lionhead rabbit is thought to first originate from Belgium.

What makes the lionhead rabbit so special?

• Lionhead rabbits are the only breed of rabbit to have manes.
• They love human attention and are very friendly, which makes them good pets.

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Pygmy Goats

How rare are they?
These goats are wide spread throughout the world. They are mainly distributed over a large area of equatorial Africa.

Where do they come from?
The pygmy goat was bred from dwarf goats in West Africa and Southern Sudan.

What makes the Pygmy goat so special?

• They are very small and compact.
• These goats can be found in all colours except pure white.
• The coat of the female can be long or short.
• The male has a full, long beard and a cape like mane over the shoulders.

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Tamworth Pig

How rare are they?
Vulnerable: Less than 300 breeding sows remaining.

Where do they come from?
The Tamworth pig was bred in the Midlands, originating from crossing imported pigs such as the Red Barbadan or Axford.

What makes the Tamworth so special?

• The Tamworth has an attractive Red-gold colour
• They have a long snout and pricked ears.
• They produce a quality carcass at higher weights.
• They are very adaptable to a wide range of conditions, from the humidity and heat of South East Asia to the cold areas of Britain.

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Whitefaced Woodland Sheep

How rare are they?
Vulnerable: Less than 900 breeding ewes.

Where do they come from?
This breed was derived from the valley called Woodland, which links Derwent and Ladybower to the Snake Pass and Glossop.

What makes the Whitefaced Woodland so special?

• They are a hardy breed of sheep that adapts well to all conditions.
• The ewes have a good mothering instinct, producing strong lively lambs.
• The wool is of very fine quality, and is much sought after not only for its natural colour but also for its ability to take any dye colour.

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