A primitive breed of sheep, with a small, slender frame, their wool is known to be fine and good for spinning.  All have heavy spiraling horns and their meat is flavoursome and usually eaten as hogget or mutton to allow the meat to mature.

Boreray Island is part of the St. Kilda group where they also reared Soay sheep. The Boreray breed is all that remains of the old Scottish Dunface/Tanface sheep genetics from the Iron Age that is now extinct. When the people left St. Kilda in 1930, sheep were left behind on Boreray where they have been a feral flock ever since. In 1970s a small group of six animals was brought over to the mainland but the mainland population is very small.

Orkney Borerays (featured photo ©), from the original flock, are reared at Burnside, Settisgarth, on Orkney where the sheep are pasture fed in nature  – available  through Macbeths of Forres when in season. More info to follow in Spring 2021.

http://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/boreray-sheep/