A conference being held on the Isle of Man will aim to put Manx Loaghtan sheep breed 'in the spotlight', with hopes of greater recognition, organisers have said.
The 7th North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool conference will take place at the Manx Museum, Douglas between 12th – 15th October 2017.
The event, which is hosted and supported by Manx National Heritage, will attract 170 delegates who will enjoy a programme of lectures, farm visits, workshops, demonstrations and fairs.
The 'primitive breed' of sheep have powerful multiple sets of horns and golden brown wool.
They roamed the Manx hills for centuries, but by the 1950s, numbers had declined, due to the introduction of other hill breeds.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust has characterised the Loaghtan as 'at risk'.
'True emblem'
Organiser Nicky Pattinson said the breed was a "true emblem" of the isle.
Mrs Pattinson is part of a team organising the conference, she said: "It is an honour for the Island to be chosen to host the conference and it will bring benefits and have a legacy.
"Delegates will get to see the Island and all it offers.
"These are people with a strong interest in Atlantic Western Islands who may not have travelled as far south as the Isle of Man before, so it could provide a boost for visitor numbers in future.
"The focus of the event will be on the Manx Loaghtan, a true emblem of the Isle of Man, so will lead to greater recognition for the breed.
It comes as news that the livestock conservation charity Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) said the situation for iconic British pig breeds is 'extremely worrying'.
Out of the 11 native pig breeds, all except the Berkshire, Middle White, Tamworth and Large Black, are showing declining numbers.
