NG1750 : A shig or a peep?

near to Feriniquarrie/Fearann Mhicguaire, Highland, Great Britain

A shig or a peep?
A shig or a peep?
This has to be one of the ugliest animals I've ever seen - looking almost like a cross between a large sheep and a pig. The poor creature had suffered some kind of disease or birth defect which had caused its lips to be partially missing, exposing its lower teeth.
However, it was very friendly, running up to the fence to meet me when I went to take its photograph, and was contentedly chomping on grass when I passed it again a little later in the day.

Update: Apparently the shortened lower jaw is sometimes seen, and is a genetic disorder. I am grateful to Geograph moderator Penny Mayes for identifying the breed as a Texel. (website: LinkExternal link ). The breed originates from the island of Texel, one of the north-western islands off Holland where it has been known since Roman times. In Great Britain, the Texels have shown that they are capable of withstanding the rigours of the Scottish winter without any hardship and their progeny have proved to be as adaptable in our climate and altitude as the Flocks in Holland and France.

A recent Scottish National Sheep Sale saw solid trade with an abundance of commercial interest in the breed, with many new breeders buying quality sheep with confidence attending the sale from across the British Isles. At the sale, a lamb called Deveronvale Perfection MGV09436 smashed the breed record to eclipse the world record price for a sheep at 220,000gns (£231,000).

I don't think this Skye example would quite make that price...
Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Richard Dorrell and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
+
+
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map to open OS Get-a-Map
Change to interactive Map >
Grid Square
NG1750, 8 images   (more nearby)
Photographer
Richard Dorrell   (find more nearby)
Image classification
Supplemental image
Date Taken
Monday, 2 November, 2009   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 3 November, 2009
Category
Animal   (more nearby)
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NG 172 503 [100m precision]
WGS84: 57:27.2767N 6:42.9308W
Photographer Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NG 172 503
View Direction
East-southeast (about 112 degrees)
Looking for a postcode? Try this pageExternal link
Clickable map
+

Forward to a
Friend > >


Text listing of Images in NG1750

This page has been viewed about 45 times.
NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
[Mark
You are not logged in login | register