After more than 105 years, the Trendwell Flock of purebred Devon and Cornwall Longwool sheep is to be dispersed at Exeter Livestock Centre on Friday.
The difficult decision to sell the entire adult portion of the flock was taken by David Darke and his son Philip, because the family wants to concentrate on the milk-production side of the business at their South Huish Farm, near Kingsbridge.
Their herd has expanded and they now milk over 530 cows.
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David Darke with a Devon and Cornwall Longwool ewe
"In a way it's very sad and it has been an extremely difficult decision to make," said David Darke, whose celebrated flock has taken prizes throughout the country.
"But I'm getting older and the younger generation wants to concentrate their energy on the dairy side of the business."
A total of 84 breeding ewes from the Trendwell Flock, started by his grandfather in 1907, will be going under the hammer at the annual show and sale of the Devon and Cornwall Longwool Flock Book Association.
The show starts at 10am, when the judge will be John Whale, followed by the sale at noon.
The Trendwell Flock has been unbeaten in breed flock competitions for many years and has exhibited breed and interbreed champions at national level.
"We have maintained a focus on maximising breed characteristics and breeding for production, both in lambs reared and the wool clip," said Mr Darke.
Over the past three years the clip has averaged 6.25 kilos per ewe, with a lambing percentage of 165 per cent.