Ewe with respected maternal traits
Peter & David Knowles, Cragg Farm, New Hutton, Kendal, CUMBRIA
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Geographical Location
Cumbria North West England
Type of Farm
Upland
Briefly summarise the size of your flock (e.g. how many ewes, how many Lleyn, how many other)
We run 420 ewes, 300 bred back to the Lleyn to breed replacements and stock for sale, 120 of the bottom end ewes are bred to the Blue Faced Leicester to produce a Lleyn Mule or to the Texel again to produce a breeding female and quality prime lambs. The majority of ewe lambs are put to the Lleyn ram. Lambing end march onwards. Ewes are lambed inside and housed in batched from mid January onwards. Scanning is usually either side of 200% for the ewes and 130% for the lambs.
Your goals & aims of the flock
We like medium sized ewes with some length and importantly some body strength and capacity. A good tight fleece is important. This type of ewe is best suited to our Upland farm and climate. We breed white sheep. Those retained are true to type and display the breed standards. The best ram lambs are retained to be sold as Shearlings and surplus ewe lambs are sold.
Achievements & successes of your flock you wish to note
Winners of the National Show at Livestock Event 2016 Showing at Westmorland Show, gaining Champion on several occasions. Winner of society sales shows with shearlings ram and ewe lambs
Where do you see the future of sheep farming
With increased cost of production you need a productive economical ewe to rear 2 lambs with minimal inputs. This is what the Lleyn does with ease. The Lleyn is adaptable and can be bred to suit your farm and environment.