Editing Manx Loaghtan (section)

{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox sheep breed
| name          = Manx Loaghtan
| image         = Manx loaghtan.jpg
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| image_alt     = 
| image_caption = Manx Loaghtan sheep at The Grove, Rural Life Museum, [[Ramsey, Isle of Man]] 
| status        = [[Rare Breeds Survival Trust|RBST]] (2017): Category 4<ref name=rbst2>[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.</ref>
| altname       = 
| nickname      = 
| country       = [[Isle of Man]]
| distribution  = 
| standard      = 
| use           = Meat, wool
| maleweight    =
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| skincolor     = 
| type          = 
| woolcolor     =
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| horns         = Horned, with two, four or six horns.
| note          =
}}

The '''Manx Loaghtan''' ({{IPAc-en||ˈ|l|ɒ|x|t|ə|n}} {{respell|LOKH|tən}})<ref>{{cite OED|loaghtan}}</ref> is a rare breed of [[sheep]] (''Ovis aries'') native to the [[Isle of Man]]. It is sometimes spelled as ''Loaghtyn'' or ''Loghtan''. The sheep have dark brown wool and usually four or occasionally six horns.<ref name="Manx Loaghtan website">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.manxloaghtan.com/ 
|title=Manx Loaghtan
|access-date=2009-04-21}}</ref>

The Manx Loaghtan is one of the [[Northern European short-tailed sheep]] breeds, and descends from the primitive sheep once found throughout [[Scotland]], the [[Hebrides]], and [[Shetland Islands]]. The word Loaghtan comes from the [[Manx language|Manx]] words ''lugh dhoan'', which mean mouse-brown and describe the colour of the sheep.<ref name="Manx Loaghtan website"/> This breed is primarily raised for its meat, which some consider a delicacy. In 2008, the meat received EU recognition and protection under the [[Protected Designation of Origin]] scheme, which requires products with a regional name to originate in the named region.<ref name="DADIS">
{{cite web
|url=http://dad.fao.org/
|title=Manx Loghtan/United Kingdom
|work=Breed Data Sheet
|publisher=Domestic Animal Diversity Information System
|access-date=2009-09-02}}</ref>

The [[Rare Breeds Survival Trust]] has characterised the Loaghtan as "at risk". By the 1950s there were only 43 surviving specimens. [[Manx National Heritage]] developed two healthy flocks. These have given rise to commercial flocks on the Isle of Man, United Kingdom and [[Jersey]]. Even so, today there are still fewer than 1,500 registered breeding females.<ref>[https://www.rbst.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=8458e1dc-8c37-4bf2-a84c-13b8dc4676c0] Rare Breeds Survival Trust</ref>