The NSA Welsh Sheep Event will provide an opportunity to get to know more about the Welsh Hill Speckled Face – Defaid Penfrith Bryniau Cymru.

The breed society will be holding an open day at the event, to take place at the event on 18 may 2011 at MAESLLWYNI/MAESTERRAN, Penegoes, Machynleth. The society will also be staging a range of classes and say ‘A Speckle puts a sparkle into your profits’.

The breed was developed from the Kerry Hill and Welsh Mountain sheep to withstand the rigours of the Mid Wales hills, but retain the size and quality of carcase demanded by today’s increasingly quality conscious markets. The society says the Welsh Hill Speckled Face Sheep are the ideal bred for producing prime lamb and profit for both hill and lowland farmer, with hardy ewes that thrive on hill and lowland.

The Welsh Hill Speckled Face is a very hardy breed and is a very adaptable breed. It can survive the harsh upland winters with minimum input and are well suited to the relatively harsh environment of the mid and north Welsh mountains.

The breed also adapts well to lowland systems and conditions. The pure bred ewes make excellent mothers, lambing outside from mid-March to mid-April. Ewe lambs are usually sent to over winter on lowland farms for the first winter, and are mated in their first year, while the wethers provide a sweet hill carcass.

They are relatively small sheep. The rams weigh 70 kg, with the ewes weighing 50 kg.

They are used for the production of meat and wool, and for crossbreeding. Draft ewes are sold down to the lowlands to produce lambs for three years or more, being crossed with the Blueface Leicester to produce the much sought after Welsh Mule.

The distinctiveness of the breed is due to the markings on the face. The breed is white, and only the males are sometimes horned. It has a black muzzle as well as black markings around the eyes and ears.

There are also black markings on front legs at the knee and on all feet. The fleece is both fine and tight. The flock book was established in 1964.

Sent by Gaina Morgan
gaina@gainamorganmedia.co.uk
07872823366
For more information contact:
More information from Ronnie Griffiths tel 01686 440279

Helen Davies
helen@nationalsheep.org.uk

01938 590535 Mobile 07976 803066
www.sheepevent.org.uk