The Manx Loaghtan is a small, primitive sheep, one of the rare breeds of sheep on the watch list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The breed originates from the prehistoric short-tailed breeds of sheep found in isolated parts of North West Europe where they survived because they were not replaced by more developed breeds. 
Loaghtans covered the hills of the Isle of Man until the 18th century but by the 1950s numbers had declined to a handful. As a result of the work of enthusiasts on the Isle of Man and in England, numbers have steadily increased over the last 50 years. Continued success will ensure the Loaghtan has a future providing excellent quality meat and wool as a pure breed.

The wool is known for its softness, close texture, and lustrous appearance. It is heavily oiled, making it excellent for hand spinning. The wool's staple length ranges from 70 mm to 100 mm, and when spun, it naturally appears as a dark to light toffee color. Once knitted, the wool is fine enough to be comfortably worn next to the skin yet robust enough for outerwear. The wool is also suitable for various crafting purposes, including blankets, shawls, and sweaters.