Castlemilk Moorit

{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox sheep breed

| name = Castlemilk Moorit

| image = Borris the ram shorn.jpg

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| image_caption = A ram after shearing

| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): EndangeredBarbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). pg 138. [ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, annex to [ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/a1250e.pdf The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture]. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{ISBN|9789251057629}}. Accessed August 2017. | RBST (2022): At risk[http://www.rbst.org.uk/content/download/4571/65927/version/1/file/Watchlist+2017+A3+pg+1+-+FINAL+VERSION.pdf Watchlist 2017–18]. Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed May 2017.}}

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| country = Scotland

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| woolcolour = tan, brown, reddish-brown

| facecolour = brown

| horns = horned

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}}

The Castlemilk Moorit is a rare breed of domestic sheep (also known as Moorit Shetland, Milledge Sheep, or Castlemilk Shetland

{{cite web

|url=http://dad.fao.org/

|title=Castlemilk Moorit/United Kingdom

|work=Breed data sheet

|publisher=Domestic Animal Diversity Information System

|accessdate=2009-08-28}}) originating in Dumfriesshire in Scotland.

{{cite web |url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/castlemilkmoorit|title=Castlemilk Moorit |work=Breeds of Livestock |publisher=Oklahoma State University Dept. of Animal Science |accessdate=2016-03-01}}

Created as a decorative breed in the 1900s to adorn the parkland of Sir John Buchanan Jardine's estate, it is a mixture of several primitive types: Manx Loaghtan, Shetland, Soay and Wiltshire Horn.

{{cite web|last=Dr. J.A. (Hans) Lenstra|first=Drs. P.G.J.M. (Paul) Spierings|title=The Castlemilk Moorit: the continuing story of the search for the golden fleece|url=https://castlemilkmoorit.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/The-Castlemilk-Moorit-the-continuing-story-of-the-search-for-the-golden-fleece_v20201014.pdf|website=From CMSS 50 years Since the 'Rescue' Special Newsletter|publisher=Castlemilk Moorit Sheep Society - Newsletter 19th november 2020 CMSS|accessdate=2022-02-25}} The breed's name refers to the Castlemilk Estate on which they were bred, and the Lowland Scots word "moorit" refers to the light tan or reddish-brown colour of their fleeces.

The Castlemilk Moorit is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group of breeds, having a short, triangular tail. It has horns in both sexes and a fleece that is usually moulted or {{not a typo|rooed}} (plucked) rather than needing shearing. All Castlemilk Moorits are descended from a single flock of ten ewes and two rams, and the British Rare Breeds Survival Trust{{cite web|url=http://www.rbst.org.uk/Rare-and-Native-Breeds/Sheep/Castlemilk-Moorit|title=Castlemilk Moorit|publisher=Rare Breeds Survival Trust UK|accessdate=2016-03-01

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161227042844/http://www.rbst.org.uk/Rare-and-Native-Breeds/Sheep/Castlemilk-Moorit

|archivedate=2016-12-27

}} lists the breed as "at risk", having a maximum of 1500 registered animals. An important offshore population of Castlemilk Moorits in the Netherlands (flockbook VSS) and Belgium (flockbook SLE) helps to guarantee the future of the breed. The main use of this breed is hobby farming.