Sheep in field of thistles

Sheep stand in a field of thistles between the villages of Withcote, Knossington, and Braunston-in-Rutland, around the border between Rutland and Leicestershire, England.

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_sheep):

Sheep are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia. One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep are raised for fleece, meat (lamb, hogget or mutton) and milk. A sheep's wool is the most widely used of any animal, and is usually harvested by shearing. Ovine meat is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones. Sheep continue to be important for wool and meat today, and are also occasionally raised for pelts, as dairy animals, or as model organisms for science.

Sheep husbandry is practised throughout the majority of the inhabited world, and has been fundamental to many civilizations. In the modern era, Australia, New Zealand, the southern and central South American nations, and the British Isles are most closely associated with sheep production.

Sheep-raising has a large lexicon of unique terms which vary considerably by region and dialect. Use of the word sheep began in Middle English as a derivation of the Old English word scēap; it is both the singular and plural name for the animal. A group of sheep is called a flock, herd or mob. Adult female sheep are referred to as ewes, intact males as rams or occasionally tups, castrated males as wethers, and younger sheep as lambs. Many other specific terms for the various life stages of sheep exist, generally related to lambing, shearing, and age.

Being a key animal in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched place in human culture, and find representation in much modern language and symbology. As livestock, sheep are most-often associated with pastoral, Arcadian imagery. Sheep figure in many mythologies - such as the Golden Fleece—and major religions, especially the Abrahamic traditions. In both ancient and modern religious ritual, sheep are used as sacrificial animals.

• Europe
• UK
• Britain
• England
• East Midlands
• Field
• Biota
• Life
• Vitae
• Eukaryota
• Animalia
• Animals
• Sheep
• Ovis aries
• Chordata
• Chordates
• Artiodactyla
• Cloven-hoofed ungulates
• Mammalia
• Mammals
• Ovis
• Domesticated Sheep
• Bovidae
• Braunston-in-Rutland
• Rutland
• Thistles

• B+W UV 010 MRC

• Nikon Capture NX 2

Curves adjustment to increase contrast in CNX2
-0.35 exposure compensation in CNX2
Color Control Point used in CNX2 to brighten and add contrast to field