Wernoog Flock (Flock 273)

Stuart T Morris (Ernie Richards), Wernoog, Clyro, Hay on Wye, HEREFORDSHIRE

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Farm Facts

Geographical Location

Hay-on-wye, Powys

Type of Farm 

Upland

Briefly summarise the size of your flock (e.g. how many ewes, how many Lleyn, how many other)

At Wernoog we run a closed flock of a 1000 pedigree Lleyn ewes. Running them pure we purchase registered Lleyn rams from Society sales in order to produce breeding females and prime lambs. Keeping on average 200 replacements ourselves, we annually sell up to 350 quality breeding yearlings to other farmers, promoting the maternal traits of the Lleyn. All ram lambs are kept entire, and sold deadweight via farmers fresh in order to gain maximum return.

Your goals & aims of the flock 

Our main focus with the flock is to try and produce traditional, sustainable and productive sheep, which produce lambs that are true to type, and required for the market required. As a farm, producing food is are priority, and using the Lleyn to utilise our upland grassland farm is the perfect combination. The Lleyn is an adaptable breed, which suits our system, which is to produce a breeding ewe that is low cost, prolific and sustainable. Our main focus is to breed a traditional toe of Lleyn, with a health status. Having a core vaccination policy means we can control disease burdens to ensure our sheep are healthy. Focusing on good grassland utilisation we grow new leys annually, incorporating swedes and roots as winter forage, and growing crops to produce prime lambs.

Achievements & successes of your flock you wish to note

Successes within our flock is the positive feedback from purchasers new and old, who are using the Lleyn. It is extremely satisfying to hear good feedback from your flock, and taking on any comments for improvement. We enjoy producing quality breeding stock on a commercial basis.

Where do you see the future of sheep farming

We see the a bright and prosperous future for the sheep industry. With a growing population, and environmental challenges, we are going to be needed to produce food. Sheep farming, works extremely well with nature, and with the Lleyn especially can produce lamb in a sustainable low in input way. I feel breeding sheep in a traditional manner, focusing on maternal traits will see the Lleyn flourish. Reducing inputs will be the main challenge, but using technology and good marketing to our advantage we should continue to a valuable part of the British countryside.