Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Welsh Mountain
The Welsh Mountain breeds are small, extremely hardy sheep that originated
in the high mountain valleys of South Wales. The Black Welsh Mountain
breed was introduced into the United States in 1972. There are also small
numbers of Sennybridge Welsh Mountain sheep in North America, from
unknown importations.
The ewes are known for easy lambing, high fertility, and good milk pro-
duction (which means fast-growing lambs). They are very active and inde-
pendent, making them somewhat hard to fence, and they have good feet and
legs, meaning they have good longevity. Their meat is fl avorful, and they have
a high meat-to-bone ratio.
The Black Welsh Mountain sheep is known for its black fi ber. Unlike other
dark-colored sheep, the Black Welsh Mountain fl eece doesn't gray with age
but remains black to dark, brownish black. The Senneybridge can have white,
tan, or dark brown fi ber. Although their fl eece has little commercial value,
handspinners appreciate Welsh Mountain fi ber, which is fi ne and soft. The
length typically runs from 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.1 cm) long, and a fl eece
typically weighs 3 to 4 pounds (1.36 to 1.81 kg).
Wensleydale
Even by long-wool-sheep standards, the Wensleydale has a gorgeous fl eece.
Thanks to their long (up to 12 inches [30.5 cm]) yet medium-fi ne fi ber, they
have a dreadlocked, Rastafarian thing going on, with wispy bangs hanging
around their dark bluish black face. But these Bob Marley sheep don't hail
from Jamaica; they belong to a British breed developed from a now extinct
longwool breed of Yorkshire bred with a Dishley Leicester ram named Blue
Cap in recognition of the facial coloring that has passed down through the
Wensleydale breed. Breeders imported semen to the United States in 1999
and are using an up-breeding program with Lincolns, Cotswolds, and Leicester
Longwools to develop a population in North America.
Wensleydale sheep produce the heaviest fl eece of the North American
breeds — up to 20 pounds! Ewes typically have twins and triplets and produce
suffi cient milk for triplets if they are on high-quality feed.
