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We have more than 60 native sheep breeds in the UK, more than any other country in the world, highlighting our rich pastoral heritage. For millennia they’ve grazed our hillsides and provided us with meat, milk and wool. A vital cog in civilisation, farming mainstay, and accompaniment to many a country walk.

And for many smallholders their first tentative steps into managing land will often revolve around the difficult decision of which sheep to buy. So, this month, shepherd Dudley Edmunds has taken a close look at the subject, weighing up all the factors – from where to buy your sheep, to what land and fencing you’ll need - and recommends his five best breeds for smallholders.

On a more serious note, as you might have seen on the news, the NFU has secured important changes to Inheritance Tax thresholds, due to come into force in April 2026. Thanks to 14 months of campaigning by the NFU, the thresholds will be raised from £1m to £2.5 million. You can read more about that on page 8.

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