DAMARA sheep may not be well-known to the shores of Anglesey, however it is prized cattle in many parts of Africa and the Middle East.

But a farmer on the island has introduced the first Welsh flock of the fat-tailed woolly animal to his land in the hope of winning the tastes of lamb-eaters in North Wales and across the UK.

Peter Williams has first-hand experience of breeding the sheep in their native home when he worked on a 30,000 sheep farm near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the 1980s to learn about different practices of sheep-rearing and shepherding.

His new Damara Môn flock has seen the pure-bred sheep crossed with Welsh ewes to bring a leaner quality meat than the popular Welsh Lamb, and they have gotten used to the wet weather on the green island.

"The first progeny born earlier in 2020 have adapted well to Anglesey’s weather," said Mr Williams. “We were confident that the temperature wouldn’t be an issue.

“It gets far colder and hotter in the desert, and it was whilst I worked in Saudi Arabia as a shepherd in the late 80s that I first came across the breed.

“They seem unfazed by the rain up to now. They seem really happy here out in the fields.”

Mr Williams' Damara plan originated after he met with fellow farmer Bedwyr Jones and family friend Tricia Sutton, who is a former government vet, and formed a business group that secured nearly £40,000 in funding under the Welsh Government's European Innovation Partnership (EIP), which forms part of its Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme.

It enabled them to import embryos and semen of the Damara cattle to be crossed with the Welsh breed.

“’EIP Wales’ allowed us to make this happen and we successfully navigated the importation of embryos and semen,” said Tricia Sutton, also based on Anglesey.

“We are now conducting trials to monitor how the pure and crossbreds perform, whilst ensuring at all times we provide the highest welfare conditions for the sheep.”

A Facebook launch week will take place for the Damara Môn brand on Monday, November 30 with planned activities including a video introduction, recipe ideas such as slow cooked shoulder and a live Q&A session with Mr Williams, Mr Jones and Mrs Sutton via Zoom.