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The Whiteface Dartmoor and the Greyface Dartmoor are descendants of sheep that grazed on the exposed uplands of Dartmoor, in the south west of the United Kingdom, in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Once common on Dartmoor and neighbouring Exmoor, only a few thousand remain in the world today. According to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) there were 1,800 breeding Greyface ewes in 1997, and 2,000 breeding Whiteface ewes.
As breeds that have survived for centuries on the exposed moors, protected by a thick fleece, they are well suited to harsh climates. The names of the two breeds do effectively describe their appearance, although the Greyface can have a spotted or mottled face. It tends to be slightly heavier than the Whiteface.
Both tend to be bred for their wool, which is long and coarse and most commonly used for carpets or blankets.
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