Devon Closewool
{{EngvarB|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Short description|British breed of sheep}}
{{Infobox sheep breed
| name = Devon Closewool
| image =
| image_size =
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| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|page=120}}|DAD-IS (2021): at risk{{r|dad}}|{{nobreak|RBST (2021–2022): at risk{{r|rbst2}}}}}}
| altname =
| country = United Kingdom
| distribution = North Devon
| standard =
| type =
| use =
| weight =
| maleweight = 80–100 kg{{r|heritage|rbst}}
| femaleweight = 55–62 kg{{r|heritage|rbst}}
| height =
| maleheight =
| femaleheight =
| skincolour =
| woolcolour = white
| facecolour = white
| horns = naturally polled
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}}
The Devon Closewool is a British breed of domestic sheep. It is distributed almost exclusively on Exmoor in North Devon, in south-west England.{{r|st|ls|page2=296}} It is raised primarily for meat.{{r|dad}}
History
The Devon Closewool was developed in the second half of the nineteenth century by cross-breeding native Exmoor ewes with Devon Longwool rams.{{r|cabi|page=797}} The oldest known flock dates from 1894.{{r|cabi|page=797}} A breed society – the Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders' Society – was formed in 1923, and a flock-book was started in the same year.{{r|heritage}} By 1950 there were close to 230 000 head.{{r|soc}} In 2009 total breed numbers were estimated to be 5 000. Of these, about 95% were distributed within an area in North Devon some {{nobreak|100 km}} across, coinciding approximately with the extent of Exmoor;{{r|ls|page=296}} about 75% are within {{nobreak|20 km}} of the mean centre of distribution.{{r|cabi|page=797}}
Characteristics
The Devon Closewool is of medium size, ewes weighing up to about {{nobreak|62 kg}} and rams up to {{nobreak|100 kg}}. It is solidly built, with strong legs.{{r|rbst}} It is naturally polled in both sexes, white-woolled and white-faced, with black nostrils and short ears.{{r|rbst}} The fleece is dense and of medium length and staple.{{r|heritage}} It is a hardy grassland breed, well suited to grazing on the grasslands and heaths of the uplands of its area of distribution.{{r|cabi|page=797}}
Use
The Devon Closewool is reared for meat and for wool.
On lowland grass, lambs may be ready for slaughter at between twelve and sixteen weeks, when they yield a dressed carcase weight of about {{nobreak|18–21 kg}}; on upland grazing they may take up to twenty-four weeks to reach the same weights.{{r|rbst}} Ewes have good maternal qualities, and a lambing percentage of some 150–160%.{{r|cabi|page=797}} Ewes may be put to rams of a terminal breed such as the Suffolk or Texel to produce cross-bred lambs; these grow fast and quickly reach slaughter weight.{{r|cabi|page=797}} Ewes may also be put to ram of a breed such as the Blue-faced Leicester to produce more prolific cross-bred "mule" ewes;{{r|rbst}} this is however uncommon.{{r|cabi|page=797}}
Ewe fleeces weigh some {{nobreak|3–4 kg}}, those of rams {{nobreak|5–6 kg.}}{{r|cabi|page=797}} The wool is dense and of medium length; staple length is {{nobreak|100–150 mm}}, fibre diameter is approximately {{nobreak|35 μm.}}{{r|bw}} It is used for carpets{{r|bw}} or for tweeds and hosiery.{{r|cabi|page=797}}