Sheep have always been a primary interest for Andrew Kennedy, who is currently studying Business Studies at the University of Ulster. Together with his father, Charles, he has built up a highly successful pedigree Lleyn flock in Northern Ireland, where the Lleyn is fast becoming a popular choice of breeding ewe.

An article in the paper prompted the Kennedy family to purchase their first 10 Lleyn ewes from long term supporters of the breed, Roly and Fiona Cunningham, in 2005. The longevity of the commercial flock on their 150 acre grassland farm was leaving a lot to be desired, so the promise of a healthy, long-lived breeding ewe was highly tempting.

A registered ram was bought from Ernie McGookin, McCleanstown Farm, Ballyclare (Flock 1486) and the pedigree flock was established.

Charles and Andrew Kennedy with their prize winning ram at Ballymena Sale 2009, his new owners Peter and Margaret McKeon, and Catherine Kennedy

Numbers soon grew, and the family were not disappointed with their new choice of breeding stock. It soon became apparent that the Lleyn ewes were much longer lasting. They were excellent mothers, able to carry and rear twins easily, and were easy to handle with quiet temperaments. Lambing problems were a thing of the past, and so lambing was shifted outdoors.

There are now 70 pedigree Lleyn ewes and 70 Lleyn x Texel commercial ewes on the farm. All the lambs are finished and sent straight to the meat plant. The crossbred lambs are achieving E and U grades, and the Lleyn lambs U and R grades, with both averaging carcases of 20-22kg.

Extra income is generated by the sale of breeding stock, which is in high demand. Commercial Lleyn x Texel females are sold from home, and registered Lleyn stock has been going through the sale ring at the Ballymena Lleyn Sheep Society sale, with considerable success.

In 2009 their homebred ram, sired by C161, a ram bred by E & D Jones, Lluest Wen, Machynellth, and out of a R & F Cunningham ewe, was placed second in the show before the sale. He later sold for 580gns to new breeders, Peter and Margaret McKeon from Collon, County Louth, Ireland.
Showing the Lleyn has also become a large part of the family’s success story, with many prize winners amongst the flock.

In 2009 they won Breed Champion at Castlewellan Show with a homebred yearling ewe, and also took Reserve Champion with a homebred ewe lamb. Antrim Show also proved fruitful, when their two-year old ewe was awarded Breed Champion.

The family’s hard work was recently recognised, when they won the North Bank Shield for the Northern Ireland Lleyn Breeders Club Small Flock Competition, which was judged by Society President, Nia Williams, in October 2009.

The Kennedy flock has come a long way in five years, and Charles and Andrew hope to further build upon the solid foundations they have created.

The quality of their breeding stock, along with the renowned maternal ability of the Lleyn breed, is sure to guarantee their success for many years to come