Sheep for Breeding
Sheep for Breeding
A Welsh breed, Lleyn sheep originally come from the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. Lleyn sheep are not a big showy breed, but are wonderful sheep to rear. Raised primarily for meat, they are also known for great mothering, are generally quiet in nature, give good milk and are renowned for their wool. Suited to both upland and lowland grazing, these sheep - classified a rare breed in the 1970s, are now increasingly found all over the United Kingdom as flockmasters discover their wonderful qualities.
The Suffolk is another rare British breed of domestic sheep - in fact, one of our oldest, in existence since the late 1700s. A result of cross-breeding Norfolk Horn ewes put to improved Southdown rams, Suffolk originated in the late eighteenth century in the area of Bury St. Edmunds. Like the Lleyn, they are raised primarily for its meat. Stocky and muscular, the polled, black-faced Suffolk remains the leading breed for growth rate. Suffolk lambs are ready for market earlier resulting in reduced input costs. The breed has high milk output, hard hooves and wide pelvic dimensions for easy lambing.
We have introduced Suffolk genetics to the Lleyn. The crossing of these two breeds produces lambs with strong growth rates and ewes that are good breeders. We have found that our ewes are highly productive breeders, produce good milk even when litters are large and even more importantly, are generally calm, happy mothers. This is particularly important to us as we believe a flock that is comfortable in their surroundings require less handling - particularly since they are primarily grass-fed and roam freely across our pastures. Our focus on breeding for temperament is partly born of our desire to ensure that our sheep live as contentedly and naturally as possible.
Meet Froggy - our adorable, friendly Lleyn ram. He is a strong, dominant and prolific breeder. Quite the ladies man, he attends to all the flock with gentlemanly charm. Muscular, long-legged with white thick coats, Froggy’s lambs evidently benefit from their sire's strong genetic stock. Froggy's lambs easily get up on their feet when they are born - we call them our “get up and go’ lambs.
Tonto is our New Zealand Suffolk ram. He is a sweet boy and also a prolific breeder. Gentle and loving, he is highly popular with the ewes in our flock. A medium-sized ram with good bone structure, a strong head and good feet, Tonto produces lambs which are strong and intelligent. Like Froggy’s offspring, Tonto’s lambs are hearty and healthy - getting to their feet quickly after birth.
Our lambs are a mix of Lleyn and DeDe3 Lleyn-Suffolk cross breeds. No matter whether they are pure Lleyn or crosses, DeDe3 lambs are distinguished by their generally calm temperaments, good health and bone structure. Rapid growers, they tend to be ready for market in good time but are low maintenance grass grazers raised here in accordance to organic farming practices on our own pastures. We raise our lambs with much care, getting to know each one as they mature.
Each year, we select from the flock those that will go to the market or be retained as breeders - within our flock or for sale to others.
If you are looking for sheep to raise, we can advise on the characteristics of our individual lambs/ewes to be best suit to your objectives.
