A to Z of Sheep BreedsBadger Face Welsh Mountain
 DescriptionTorddu, the Welsh name meaning 'black belly' have distinct black stripes above the eyes and a black stripe running from under the chin to the belly and continuing underneath to the end of the tail. The legs are black with a tan stripe. The fleece can be white, grey or light brown, but preference is given to the lighter shades. The wool should be firm and medium length (7-10 cm). The Torwen, the Welsh name meaning 'white belly' show the reverse colouring, but with a smaller eye stripe. Their bodies should be compact and strong and of medium size. Both Torddu and Torwen rams are horned and weigh up to 90kg. Ewes are polled and weigh up to 60kg.Balwen Welsh Mountain
 DescriptionThe Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep is a sheep for all seasons. One of the original Welsh breeds of sheep the Balwen remains as one of the most striking and versatile of all the rare breed sheep. The sheep has a base colour of black, dark brown or dark grey. It has a white stripe running from the pole of the head to the top of the nose, four white feet and half white tail. Average mature ewe weighs 40-50kgs, rams 45-60kgs. Beltex
 DescriptionBeltex is a medium sized sheep, long in the body. It is wedge-shaped from a narrow shoulder to a distinctive large, double-muscled hindquarter. The head is generally white in colour but may have black, blue or brown shadings or patches. The fore face is short and thick. The fleece is tight, dense of medium staple length. Average male bodyweight 95kg. Berrichon Du Cher
 DescriptionThe Berrichon du Cher is a polled white faced sheep with a medium fleece of high quality. The body being compact well muscled and medium to large status. Average mature ewe weighs 90kg, rams 130kg. Beulah Speckled Face
 DescriptionThe face and legs are free from wool and distinctly speckled. Ewes are hornless, as are the majority of rams. A long head is preferred with erect ears pointing slightly forward. The fleece is white, free from any other colours, varying from high quality to longer coarse fibres. Lambing percentages average 160% -170%. Average mature ewe weighs 52kg, rams 86kg. Blackface
 DescriptionThe most numerous of British breeds, the Blackface is found over a wide spectrum of hill and marginal ground throughout Great Britain and Ireland. All Blackface's are horned, with black or black and white face and legs. The fleece should be free of black fibre, and can vary from short, fine wool used for carpets and tweeds to strong coarse, which is mainly sold for the Italian mattress trade. Influenced by climate, environment and grazing quality several distinct types have evolved within the breed and are generally identified by the centres at which they are sold. The Perth type, a large framed sheep with a medium to heavy coat, is found mainly in North East Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Lanark type is dominant in Central and Southern Scotland and the Borders. It is of medium length, with a shorter, denser coat than that of the Perth type. Over the past 30 years a strong influence of Newton Stewart blood has been introduced; benefiting both milking ability and hardiness. The original Newton Stewart or Galloway type is a compact, burly sheep with a short, thick rain resistant coat, and is found, in its native South West Scotland, and many of the hard wet areas of the West of Scotland, the Hebrides, and Ireland. In the North of England the large framed, soft-coated Northumberland Blackface is influential in the breeding of the North of England Mule. Average adult bodyweight: Upland 70kg; Ave./good hill 50-65kg; poor hill 45-50kg Black Welsh Mountain
 DescriptionHardiness and self-reliance are the outstanding features of this ancient breed. Hill flocks of this breed, in normal conditions, require no supplementary feeding, they thrive on the short rough grasses and herbage of the unploughable uplands. Average mature ewe weighs 45kg, rams 60-65kg. Bleu Du Maine
 DescriptionThe Bleu du Maine is a large grassland sheep with slate blue/grey colouring in its head. It has a very alert eye, large nostrils and ears and no horns. Average mature ewe weighs 80-120kg, rams 110-180kg. Bluefaced Leicester
 DescriptionThe Bluefaced Leicester should have a broad muzzle, good mouth, a tendency towards a 'Roman' nose, bright alert eyes and long erect ears. The colour of the head skin should be dark blue showing through white hair although a little brown hair on the head and legs is acceptable. Border Leicester
 DescriptionA distinctive large white sheep, long in body, well sprung ribs with well developed chest and gigot, proud and graceful with white densely planted wool, 18-20cms in length. Average mature ewe weighs 80-100kg, rams 125-150kg. Boreray
 DescriptionThe Boreray is a primitive breed. They stand approximately 55cm at the withers. The tail is short. Both sexes are horned and the horns of the ram are large and spiral. The face and legs are black, tan or grey, often with dark marks on a white background. The wool is predominantly cream or light tan with a small proportion of sheep having grey or dark brown wool. There is sometimes a dark rump patch and a dark colour, particularly in rams. Average mature ewe weighs 30kg. Brecknock Hill Cheviot
 DescriptionWhite face and legs. Ears erect with no ruff of wool behind them. No wool on face or legs below knee or hock. Broad, strong back. Rams are occasionally horned, ewes are polled. Average mature ewe weighs 60kg, rams 90kg. British Inra 401
 DescriptionThe British INRA 401 is a highly productive breeding ewe which has 200% prolificacy, excellent out of season fertility, good milk production and outstanding mothering ability. The head is bright, kindly and alert, with good teeth and no horns. The ears are long and thin, the head white with a pink nose. The ideal British INRA 401 has a firm fleece of uniform quality and fibre length. Some chocolate coloured skin pigment is acceptable. The body should be well proportioned with an even back, a well sprung rib and good bone structure. The British INRA 401 should stand and walk well and be of a good size. Average mature ewe weighs 60 - 70kg. British Milksheep
 DescriptionThe British Milksheep is a medium to large polled sheep with a predominantly white face and legs. The head is usually free from wool, the muzzle broad and the ears long. The ewe is naturally prolific and is noted for its quiet temperament which is important in the management of high performance sheep. The conformation of the ewe, particularly the roomy pelvic area, ensures that lambing is easy. The rams have a long body and good hindquarters. They are robust and active being keen and vigorous workers all through the year.Average mature ewe weighs 80kg, rams 110kg.Cambridge
 DescriptionDark faced, polled, medium sized with an average quality white fleece. Average mature ewe weighs 75kg, rams 100kg. Castlemilk Moorit
 DescriptionThe Castlemilk Moorit is a long-legged, short-tailed sheep with a moorit (light tan) fleece and distinct Mouflon-patterned markings, that is white patches on the underbelly, rump, lower jaw, knees and inside lower legs and around the eyes. The ewes have two uniform and wide-spreading horns whilst rams have heavy spiralling horns. The legs are clean, the back straight and the ribs well sprung. The fleece is tight and even throughout, very soft to touch and deep chocolate at the base fading to light brown at the tips of the fibres. There is no kemp in the main body of the fleece, particularly in young animals although a little kemp around the tops of the legs and in the breech is acceptable. Staple length is 4-7cm, Bradford Count 48-50 demi-lustre and average fleece weight is about 1kg. Average mature ewe weighs 35-40kg, rams 50-55kg. The Castlemilk Moorit is Britain's rarest breed of sheep. Charmoise Hill
 DescriptionThe Charmoise is a polled white faced and white legged sheep with a deep body coated in a tight fleece of good quality. It has the most excellent conformation with short neck well muscled loins and strong gigots. It is light of bone and very alert and lively from birth. Average mature ewe weighs 65-70kg, rams 80-90kg. Charollais
 DescriptionThe Charollais is a medium to large sized sheep, long, well muscled with thick, deep gigots. The body is long with a well muscled broad loin and wide deep chest. The head is free from wool, pinkish/grey in colour sometimes with spots. The line of the shoulders should retain a wedge shape which is so important for ease of lambing. The legs are clean, quite short, coloured but never very dark. The front legs should not be set too wide apart and animal must be well balanced. The gigots are well developed, thick and deep. The breed is primarily a terminal sire and the fleshing quality is of the highest importance. Excessive bone is undesirable in the breed; the fineness of bone contributes to the high killing out percentage achieved by the breed. The fleece is white, fine and dense, the staple length quite short. Average mature ewe weighs 80-100kg, rams 100-150kg. Cheviot
 DescriptionA white faced Hill sheep from the Scottish Borders. The ewe has fine hard white hair on her face over the crown and on her legs which should have a fine, flat quality bone. The fleece should be dense and firm with no kemp or coloured hair. The rams can have horns. Clun Forest
 DescriptionThe breed are sharp and alert in appearance being of medium size they have fine wool which is sought after. The face and legs are dark brown with a grey muzzle not unusual but a speckled face and jaw is very undesirable and becoming very rare. Both rams and ewes are hornless with clean faces a distinctive boss of wool on the forehead with very sharp ears set at about five to one. Colbred
 DescriptionA medium sized, white faced breed of good conformation, polled in both sexes. The cross bred type white fleece is of even quality producing a clip of around 3.8kg. Average mature ewe weighs 80kg, rams 129kg. Cotentin
 DescriptionA hardy, polled and light boned sheep of massive frame size and length. White head and face. A tight, heavy, white, longwool fleece of medium fineness. Average mature ewe weighs 80-90kg, rams up to 150kg. Cotswold
 DescriptionThe Cotswold is a large, polled, longwool breed. The head is carried well up, the back long, ribs well sprung, the frame and legs strong, giving an overall imposing appearance. The head has a pronounced forelock of wool and a white face, with dark skin on the nose. The high quality wool is white, lustrous and long-stapled. Average mature ewe weighs 85kg, rams 140kg. Dalesbred
 DescriptionA hill sheep with black face and distinctive white mark on each side of the nostrils, with nose-end becoming grey; legs also have clear black and white markings. Wool is plentiful with dense undercoat and curly on outside. Average mature ewe weighs up to 45-60kg, rams 55-75kg (depending on environment). Dartmoor (Greyface)
 DescriptionThe nostrils are spotted or mottled with black or grey, eyes are bright, head medium, flat between the ears, well covered with curly wool. Normally polled. The ears are of medium length, thick, covered with smooth white hair, if they have a few black spots so much the better and can be tanned colour inside. The neck is arched and strong. Shoulders fairly wide, sloping into deep, wide breast. The back is straight and level, loin wide, thick and flat, with broad tail. Legs should be straight, short, placed well apart with good bone, hind legs covered with wool. The feet are mottled to match the face. Fleece is a uniform of long curly lustre wool of wide staple and good quality. Average mature ewe weighs 64kg, rams 102kg. Derbyshire Gritstone
 DescriptionClean cut black and white marked face and legs clear of wool. Polled in both sexes. The Derbyshire Gritstone is a handsome sheep of aristocratic lineage, big, flat bones, strong and alert. Devon Closewool
 DescriptionThe Devon Closewool is a medium sized, white faced, hornless sheep with a dense white fleece of medium length and staple which contributes to its valued quality of hardiness. Average mature ewe weighs 55-60kg, rams 90kg. Devon And Cornwall Longwool
 DescriptionThe head is well covered with long curly wool. Both sexes are polled. The body is covered in long curly, white wool. Well proportioned with a strong wide and long top, with well sprung rib giving plenty of volume. The rear being well muscled with good conformation. Average mature ewe weighs 100kg, rams 136kg. Dorset Down
 DescriptionThe Dorset Down is an active, medium sized short woolled sheep. Strong legs support a deep chested, long sheep with well fleshed hindquarters and fine wool. Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset
 DescriptionEwes are of medium size and are naturally prolific, skin colour is pink whilst the face, legs and ears are white. Rams show a bold masculine appearance and also carry good fleshing throughout. The wool of both the Horn and Poll is of the highest quality, not only is it fine and densely grown but is particularly white which helps it find a ready market in times of plenty. Average mature ewe weighs 85kg, rams 120kg. Est A Laine Merino
 DescriptionThe Est à Laine Merino is an attractive, strong, large framed sheep with very fine wool. The head is long, white in colour with long ears. The sheep is naturally polled. The neck is clean with no folds or dewlap. Average mature ewe weighs 90-11kg, rams 130kg. Exmoor Horn
 DescriptionThe Exmoor Horn is white faced, with horns, cherry coloured skin and a white fleece of medium length and good quality. Friesland
 DescriptionThe Friesland is a large framed animal with rams weighing up to 120kg. In common with all dairy animals it possesses extremely good length, a large roomy pelvis, narrow head and fine boned limbs. The breed is naturally polled and has a long bald tail. The fleece is pure white and of high quality, medium staple fine wool, yielding up to 5kg, usually graded by the British Wool Board as Bradford Count 48-52. Average mature ewe weighs 50-55kg, rams above 75kg. Gotland
 DescriptionFine-boned and of medium size. Hornless black head, free from wool, sometimes with white markings. Bold eyes, alert medium sided ears. Small, neat muzzle with even jaw. Slender neck and shoulders set smoothly into a level back with generous length, good depth and reasonable breadth of body. Slender black legs well spaced and upright. Short hair-tipped tail. Dense long lustrous grey fleece, occasionally black, white or brown. Clearly defined even curl and staple, soft to handle. Calm friendly disposition. Average mature ewe weighs 55-70kg, rams 75-85kg. Hampshire Down
 DescriptionFace and ears are a rich dark brown, approaching black, with wool over the poll and forehead. Wool is white with an average staple length. Body deep and symmetrical with ribs well sprung, broad, straight back, flat loins, wide rump and deep heavily muscled hind legs and breast. Legs being strongly jointed and powerful are set well apart. Average mature ewe weighs 80kg, rams120kg. Hebridean
 DescriptionThe Hebridean is a small, hardy breed with fine bones and a tail reaching no lower than the hocks. Both sexes are horned, and about 10% of animals have four or more horns. Occasionally polled ewes are to be seen but these are genetically four horned and usually produce horned lambs. The animals are entirely black, though the fleece usually goes grey with age. Lambs may have a dark brown appearance because the tips of the fleece have been bleached by the sun. The wool has a relatively long staple and a stiff, springy quality. It sheds water easily. The face and legs are free of wool. Adult fleece weighs about 1.5kg and has an average Bradford Count of 48-50. Ewes lamb very easily. Although pure bred twin lambs weigh 3.5-4.5kg intervention is rarely required. Lambing percentages depend upon the management system and grazing available: for mature ewes, typically 175% for lowland flocks and 120% for upland. The Hebridean is a very active and long-lived sheep, ewes often still lambing well at ten years or more. It thrives on all types of grazing and responds well to all management systems. Average mature ewe weighs 38-40kg, rams 50-55kg. Herdwick
 DescriptionWhite head and legs. Ewes polled - tups usually horned. Lambs born black wooled, ewes go blue-grey with age. Strong boned and with good conformation for a hill sheep. Average mature weighs 35-45kg, rams 65-75kg. Hill Radnor
 DescriptionThe Hill Radnor is a native hill or mountain breed most commonly found in the Border counties running from the North of Powys down to South West Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. It is a heavy breed which has good body length and width in its hind quarters, standing on well set legs with an abundance of bone. At birth the lambs are full of vitality, exceptionally well coated and gain excellent body weight. Lambing percentages vary under different conditions but the breed can easily average around 155%. The Hill Radnor is a healthy breed free from many of the contagious and hereditary diseases which often affect other breeds. Icelandic
 DescriptionThe Icelandic is a medium sized, upstanding sheep, with a light frame and a naturally short fluke-shaped tail. Although majority are horned in both sexes, polled rams and ewes are common. The horns of the ram are strong and well rounded, the ewe's horns are finer and usually swept back. Four horned sheep are found occasionally in Iceland, but none have occurred in the UK. The fleece consists of a dual coat of very fine under-wool and an outer coat of long hairs and is found in all the natural colours, including a wide range of browns. Broken coloured sheep are common, the patterns ranging from limited markings, such as speckled, to large patches of colour on a white background or the reverse. Darker dorsal stripes are often found, Mouflon and badger face patterns occur. Grey sheep may have a black outer coat. Average mature ewe weighs up to 60kg, rams 90kg. Ile De France
 DescriptionThe head is strong with a broad forehead, polled with protruding sockets, face of medium length, lips and nose rather thick. The profile is straight, slightly concave for the ram, large ears, horizontal or standing slightly upwards, never drooping, covered with thin short hair, wide nape of neck. The neck is short, trunked, rounded off at the upper part, well blended with shoulder, without dewlaps or folds. The body is wide and large, broad and deep chested, prominent and thick sternum, well sprung ribs, straight wide back, horizontal and large rump, well set tail, muscled thighs, short and well developed open leg. It has a close white fleece, blocky, staple of good length. Average quality, average weight of fleece 5-6kg for rams and 4kg for ewes. White covering covers the top of the head and extends down to or slightly above the orbital arches, frames the face, extends to just above the knees of the forelegs, covers the chest and belly, extends over the buttock to the hock of the hind legs, covers the posterior upper part of the tendon. Average mature ewe weighs 70-90kg, rams 110-150kg. Jacob
 DescriptionUpstanding, deep bodied sheep. Basically white with black patches, head and neck black with a white blaze on the face extending down the chest. Both sexes are horned, wither two or four and very occasionally six. Average mature ewe weighs 60-65kg, rams 80-100kg. Kerry Hill
 DescriptionA well-balanced sturdy sheep with ears set high and free from wool. A black nose and sharply defined black and white makings on the head and legs. Both ewes and rams are hornless. It is a handsome sheep, with a dense fleece, which is unusually white. The fleece handles well and is amongst the softest of British wools. Average staple length is 10cm (4in.). Average weight of fleece is 2.7kg. Bradford Count 54 - 56's. In both ewes and rams teeth should be regular and meet the pad neither undershot or overshot. The Kerry Hill sheep are good on their feet and good in their teeth. Average mature weighs 55-65kg, rams 65-70kg. Leicester Longwool
DescriptionThe Leicester Longwool is a large active sheep. It grows a lustrous wool weighing from 12-18lb but with weights up to 33lb being recorded. Leicester wool exhibits evenness in length and diameter of fibre. It has a Bradford Count of 40-60 with a staple length of up to 18in. The head is bold and strong on a short thick neck. The crown is well covered with wool, and the face covered with white hair. The ears are blue, fine and fairly long with occasional black spots. The muzzle strong with even jaws, and nostrils dark in colour. The carcase is deep and of considerable length with full flanks. The back is broad and level and the ribs well sprung. The legs are of medium length with good bone well set up on the pasterns on dark feet. The legs are covered in white hairs or wool. Average mature ewe weighs up to 100kg, rams 150kg. Lincoln Longwool
 DescriptionThe Lincoln is the largest longwool sheep. It has a white hornless head with dark ears, pointed slightly forward and a broad forelock of wool. The fleece is the heaviest, longest stapled and most lustrous of any breed in the world. The Lincoln has a large strong boned frame with a deep rib carried on long well placed legs. The well shaped dark feet are notably resistant to foot disease. Average mature ewe weighs 85kg, rams 150kg Llanwenog
 DescriptionBlackfaced and polled with tuft of clean wool on the forehead, this is a white fleeced, compact sheep with well sprung ribs, a strong loin and thighs. Ears should be fairly short and thin, slightly elevated. Average mature ewe weighs 56kg, rams 90kg. Lleyn
 DescriptionA medium sized lowland sheep weighing up to 70kg at maturity, renowned for their hardiness, prolificacy, easy lambing, strong mothering instinct, milkiness and easy handling. The wool is white free from any coloured fibres or kemp and is of good length, dense and of high quality with plenty of crimp. Heads must be feminine and warm white in colour with wide foreheads, good length from eye to nose - being straight to slightly dished and narrowing towards the nose. Bright lively eyes and a black nose. Medium sized ears with black spots are desirable with the base of the ear starting from the wool. The breast to be wide and well forward. The neck should be well set in the shoulders and of medium length. The back should be long with well sprung ribs and broad loins which are well joined to the rump. Legs, which are warm white in colour, should be well set with no wool lower that the hock, flat boned and strong on the pasterns. Rams must be naturally polled. Lonk
 DescriptionThis is one of the largest native hill breeds, the face and legs are pure black and white. The fleece is trim and even from head to skirting, white and free from kemp. Both sexes are horned. Average mature ewe weighs 45-54kg, rams 75-91kg. Manx Loghtan
 DescriptionThe sheep can have two, four or occasionally six horns, or they can be polled. On the Isle of Man breeders tend to select for four horns, while in England the flocks are mostly two horned. Polled animals are a variant of the four-horned type. The tail should be short with a hairy tip and should not descend below the hocks. The wool should be a uniform dark chocolate brown, but it is paler on the outside where it is exposed to the sun. There are two fleece types, the hairy fleece with a staple length of about 100mm and a fibre diameter of 33 microns, and woolly type of 60mm and 27 microns. Masham
 DescriptionThe Masham ewe is medium sized and hornless. She has a good reputation for the ability to perform well in a wide variety of circumstances. Producing quality lambs is what she is bred for with an added bonus of a long stapled fleece, particularly as a hogg. Average mature adult weighs 75kg. Meatlinc
 DescriptionThe Meatlinc is a British breed, in the terminal sire category, developed from a breeding programme originated by Henry Fell in 1963. It is white faced, tight in the wool, with great length and heavy hindquarters. It is amongst the biggest of the British breeds, a mature ram weighs 140kg. Norfolk Horn
 DescriptionA medium sized sheep, long in leg and body. Fore-quarters are narrow. Alert and active in character, it has a relatively fine head with a long straight profile. Both sexes are strongly horned, ideally with an open spiral, and the horns should not grow into the face or head. The fleece is short-stapled, close, white wool. The wool on new-born lambs is invariable darker or mottled; this should change to white with age, although a limited amount of black fibres or black spots is permissible in the adult fleece. The black or dark legs and face are free from wool. The feet are black. Average mature ewe weighs 70-75kg, rams 90-95kg. North Country Cheviot
 DescriptionThe North Country Cheviot (NCC) is a big, long rugged, white sheep which combines thriftiness and healthiness with prolificacy and strong maternal qualities. The largest of all the UK hill breeds, it is particularly suited to grassy hills and uplands. Average mature ewe weighs 55-65kg hill, 75-90kg upland, rams 75-85kg hill, 95-100kg upland. North Of England Mule
 DescriptionHornless with brown/white face, clear of wool with a tendency towards a 'Roman' nose. Ears and legs white with brown markings. Long demi lustre fleece with slight crimp. Average mature ewe weighs 80kg. North Ronaldsay
 DescriptionThey are small sheep with fine bone and a dished face. Rams are horned and ewes are generally polled. The tail is naturally short. Fleeces vary in colour with white and grey predominating and black and moorit less common. Oxford Down
 DescriptionThe Oxford Down is the largest heaviest of our Down breeds, with a capacity for fast growing and early maturity, it is an ideal crossing ram, producing light carcases in early lambing flocks earlier than its contemporaries catching the market whilst prices are good. When kept for heavy lamb production the heavier carcases are produced without unwanted fat, being most suitable for today's market. Suitable for rolling and boning or cutting larger joints into fillets for the requirements of the housewife. Portland
 DescriptionThe Portland sheep is a heathland breed from the Dorset area and a representative of the tan-faced group of breeds from the South West. It is a small animal, the body is of a primitive type within the Down breeds, with good width between the legs. The tail is long and set well up on the rump. The legs are fine-boned with an even tan colour. The front legs and hind legs below the hock should be free from wool. The hooves should be uniformly dark, small and straight. The face is a tan colour but may have lighter areas around the eyes and muzzle. The nose is dark. Some sheep carry a light covering of wool on the forehead but the rest of the face is free from wool. Horns are light coloured; those of the ram are heavily spiralled; in ewes they curve through a half circle. There is often a black line in one or both of the horns. Lambs are born with a foxy-red coat which changes in the first few months to a creamy white. The wool is close and fine with a short staple though some red kemp fibres may be found on the britch. The breed produces exceptionally high quality meat, with fine texture and excellent flavour, but achieves lambing percentages of only about 100%. The Portland is capable of lambing out of season. Average mature ewe weighs 38-40kg. Romney
 DescriptionThe Romney is a large framed sheep and carries a heavy long woolled fleece. It has a broad white face, some with a small woolly 'top knot'. Both sexes are hornless. Rouge De L'ouest
 DescriptionThe Rouge is a medium sized breed of excellent conformation without excessive bone; as its name suggests its head, which is hornless, can vary from pink to deep red and is covered with fine hair. The breed is strong and deep through the chest with good length in back and loin, but it is the exceptional hind quarters and muscling that are immediately recognised as the powerhouse of the Rouge. The legs are clean and well positioned, and are a similar colour to the head and are covered in fine hair. The fleece is fine with a short staple which grows into a dense 'jacket' giving the breed ample protection against the harshest weather. Average mature ewes weighs 75-100kg, rams 100-140kg. Rough Fell
 DescriptionA horned black head with a definite white patch on the nose. The body is large and long with a broad loin, strong frame and legs with a noble carriage. Average mature ewe weighs 50kg, rams 80kg. Roussin
 DescriptionThis medium sized breed has a brown face and legs. The head and legs are free from wool. Both sexes are polled. Average mature ewe weighs 70-90kg, rams 90-110kg. Ryeland
 DescriptionHead is medium in length with no trace of horn, the face is well woolled and the ears are of medium size, slightly dark in colour. It has a strong, broad neck with shoulders neatly laid into general outline of body with no depression behind. Its chest is broad and fairly deep and has a straight, level back . Legs are dull white colour, well woolled to knee and hock with strong, compact feet renowned for freedom of footrot. Its fleece is dense with pink skin, free from dark fibres, coarseness and kemp. Average mature ewe weighs 50-60kg, rams 75-80kg. Scotch Halfbred
 DescriptionThe Scotch Halfbred, also known as the 'Queen of Sheep', is the supreme producer of top quality prime lambs suitable for all today's markets. Being one of the larger cross-bred ewes in this country, she is long bodied with a clean white face and larger erect ears. Scotch Mule
 DescriptionThe Scotch Mule is the progeny of the Blackface ewe and the Bluefaced Leicester ram. This medium sized, polled cross-bred has a mottled brown face while the fine white wool should have a curled appearance (passed down from the sire). Average mature bodyweight 70kg. Scottish Greyface
 DescriptionAs the name suggests, it has a speckled face, grey in colour. The body is long, well sprung and evenly fleshed. The wool is white and of a good length. Average mature ewe weighs 60-90kg. Shetland
 DescriptionThe Shetland is one of the smallest of British sheep. The ewe is usually hornless, and the ram has nicely rounded horns, not too heavy, nor too close together. The head is well carried, the face is of medium length with a straight nose and bright eyes, the back is straight and of medium length. The breed is composed mainly of white faced, white woolled sheep but there are small numbers of moorit sheep which produce varying shades of wool. Average mature ewe weighs 35kg, rams 45kg. Shetland-Cheviot
 DescriptionThis is the first cross progeny from a North Country Cheviot tup and a Shetland ewe. The face will be white, or with limited dark spotting, and the fleece white, medium length, tight woolled and of good handling quality, with a good covering of wool from neck to tail. The body will be well proportioned, lengthy and good boned. Average mature ewe weighs 55kg. Shropshire
 DescriptionThe Shropshire is medium in size. Shropshire sheep are active and alert, with good motivation. The head is naturally clean and soft black face, with a covering of wool on the poll. Rams should possess a bold masculine head. Ears should be soft, black and well set on. The body is well-fleshed, long, deep and symmetrical. Having a broad straight back with well-sprung ribs. The rump and quarters are long and wide with dock well set on. Legs are medium in length, of strong bone and upright joints, well set apart and soft black in colour. Cherry skin covered in dense, fine quality wool weighing 3-4kg with an average staple of 10cm. Average mature ewe weighs 80kg, rams 120kg. Soay
 DescriptionThe wool is soft and fine, but hairy fibres are usually interspersed among the wool fibres. The staple length is 5-8cm, and the Bradford Count is 44-50. The fleece is shed naturally. Rams develop a thick hairy mane. The wool is either chocolate or fawn, and animals may be either whole-coloured or show the Mouflon pattern . Chocolate brown and the Mouflon pattern are dominant. Some black animals occur and these are always self-coloured. There may also be white marks on the face, poll and lower legs, are occasionally piebald. The face and legs are brown or tan, with lighter marks over the eyes and on the muzzle and the lower jaw. The face is dished. Rams are two-horned and the horns are strong. Ewes are either two-horned or polled. Southdown
 DescriptionThe Southdown is a very compact sheep and should have 'a leg at each corner', well fleshed down to its hocks. With a wide level back through to tail. Ears small, covered with short wool. The colour of the face and legs should be mouse, not dark brown. The wool is of fine texture and great density covering the whole body down to the hocks, knees and cheeks. Skin is pink apart from the nostrils which should have a black 'star' on. Average mature ewe weighs 59-68kg, rams 90kg. South Wales Mountain
 DescriptionThe breed is similar in appearance to the other Welsh Mountain breeds. The main differences are its greater size and the usual presence of tan markings on the face and legs together with a brown collar. The fleece is dense with an even mixture of white kempy fibre. Suffolk
 DescriptionThe Suffolk is a polled breed, with a distinctive all-black head and legs, and single colour close cropped white wool. Independent trials show that Suffolk's have the fastest growth rate of the terminal sire breeds. Average mature ewe weighs 84kg, rams 130kg. Swaledale
 DescriptionThe face is of medium length, strong in feature. The upper part of the face is dark complexioned, the lower part grey or mealy. Eyes are quick and bright, the hair on the face short and strong, a deep jaw and short broad teeth. This type of sheep grows greyer with age. Horns set low, round and rather wide. Ears of medium length. The wool is white except at the back of the head where it is mixed with part black, with a thick deep bed and curly top of medium length, not coarse, and growing down the shanks. The wool has a good bind and fills the hand well. The coarse hairy fleece has almost been eliminated and the wool in general is uniform in character. The tail is thick, long and woolly. Legs are good flat bone of medium length, well set four square, with well shaped hocks, grey or mottled in colour, with good sized feet. Walks well. Teeswater
 DescriptionThe Teeswater, a large hornless breed, carrying a fine, long-stapled, natural white lustre, kemp free fleece, has an off-white face with dark brown markings around the eyes and nose-end, but the face may also be a grey-ish blue. Average mature ewe weighs 80kg, rams 100kg. Texel
 DescriptionThe head should be covered with fine white hair with only the occasional black spot on the ears. The nose should be black and the ears carried at ten-to-two. A short neck, well fleshed loin, square quarters and well rounded gigots are features of the body. The wool is highly crinkled with a dense, medium length staple and the legs should be of medium bone on deep hard black feet. Average mature ewe weighs 85kg, rams 120kg. Vendeen
 DescriptionThe head and legs are pale to dark brown and are lightly fleeced. The body is long with a broad back, well sprung ribs, strong loin and well developed gigot. The breed has a noble head and broad muzzle. It is hornless and the poll not too wide, the ears are large. The bone is medium. It has an excellent quality close fleece which sheds water easily. It is a fine down type and uniform fibre length, staple length is 5-7cm and the average fleece weight is 3.5kg. Average mature ewe weighs 65-80kg, rams 95-120kg. Welsh Halfbred
 DescriptionThe Welsh Halfbred ewe is a medium sized, white faced, polled, first cross between a Welsh ewe and Border Leicester ram. Average mature ewe weighs 55-61kg. Welsh Hill Speckled Face
 DescriptionA very attractive breed with black markings on nose, eyes, ears, knees and feet on an otherwise white body. Ewes are polled, but both horned and polled rams are acceptable. Average mature ewe weighs 50-55kg, rams 60-70kg. Welsh Mountain-Hill Flock
 DescriptionThe Welsh Mountain ewe, has a white or tan face, it has a strong close textured fleece and a typical ewe clip weighs up to 2kg. The ram is usually, but not always, horned. Average mature ewe weighs 35-40kg on the hill or mountain but can add a further 10kg when drafted onto lowland. Welsh Mountain-Registered
 DescriptionRams are white or slightly tanned face with masculine wedge-shaped heads, horns, fairly strong, well curved. Ewes are polled, wool white, firm medium length. Bodies are compact, strong, medium sized. Welsh sheep are attractive in appearance and lively in action. Average mature ewe weighs 45-48kg, rams 75-80kg. Welsh Mule
 DescriptionThe facial colouration varies from white to a dark mottled or speckled, depending upon breeding. They have a close textured fleece which is slightly crinkled and is of high quality. Average mature ewe weighs 60-65kg. Wensleydale
 DescriptionThe Wensleydale is a very large longwool sheep, described by the MLC as 'probably the heaviest of all our indigenous breeds'. It is a visually striking sheep with considerable presence. It has bold and alert carriage which is accentuated by its broad, level back on wide quarters and strong thighs. It has a distinctive deep blue head and ears, which should be clean except for a well developed forelock of wool, usually referred to as the 'topping'. Both sexes are polled. Average mature ewe weighs 113kg, rams 136kg. White Face Dartmoor
 DescriptionIt has a white head and face, the face of the ewe being free of wool, the ears are short and thick with occasional black spots on them. They were always horned but this feature has tended to disappear over the years, particularly amongst the ewes. The body is deep, broad and of medium length. The wool is white, of good staple and with a fairly strong crimp. Average mature ewe weighs 54kg, rams 74kg. White Faced Woodland
 DescriptionThis large-framed hill breed has a broad face which should be white with a pink nose. The legs are white and free from wool. The fleece is white and of a very fine quality. They are horned in both sexes, the males having heavy spiralling horns. The sheep are strong boned and long in the body. Their tails have a distinct muscular appearance, and it is traditional to leave the male's tail long, but to dock the ewes somewhere between the legal length and the hock. Average mature ewe weighs 63kg, rams 130kg. Wiltshire Horn
 DescriptionThe breed without wool. An old established lowland breed that is large and white faced. Both sexes are horned and wool-less. Average mature ewe weighs 72kg, rams 126kg. Zwartbles
 DescriptionThe Zwartbles name means Black with a White Blaze. She is a tall, long-bodied sheep which always carries her head up high, with alert ears. Ideally she should have an all black body and black head with a white blaze from the top of the head to the nose, two white socks on the rear legs and a white tip to her tail which is never docked. Two white socks on the front legs are also very desirable. Both rams and ewes are naturally polled. The fleece is of remarkable quality and texture shading from black to brown along an ideal staple and is very much sought after by spinners and weavers. Each fleece averages some 4kg in weight. Her body conformation of narrow shoulders with body widening to the rump, combined with a narrow head make for very easy lambing and it is unusual for any assistance to be required at lambing time. Zwartbles ewes are very maternal and as the lambs are quickly on their feet after birth, mothering is not a problem. She is also extremely milky with twins and triplets being suckled with ease. The lambs grow at a tremendous rate and with good management, growth rates of over 500grammes per day can easily be achieved. Average mature ewe weighs 85kg, rams 100kg. |
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