Welsh Mountain Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Welsh Mountain Sheep breed is the only true black sheep breed found in the United Kingdom.

They are a small to medium sized breed that are found mainly on the hilltops of the Welsh countryside.

They are excellent for meat and wool production. They are easy to handle, hardy and great for getting a field neatly cleared up of pesky weeds and various bush.

WELSH MOUNTAIN SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Welsh Mountain Sheep is a small hardy breed of sheep that was once used for its milk, but these days is more valued for its meat and wool production. They are the founding breed of the Welsh sheep industry.
Country of Origin:	Wales
Other Names:	None
Breed Size:	Small
Main Purpose:	Meat and wool
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Can be used for	Breed, **LSC, Meat, Wool
Temperament:	Placid even temperament and easy to handle
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most climates
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Common
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	They are a novice to intermediate sheep breed to raise
Sheep Associations:	Welsh Mountain Sheep Society
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society members/breeders directory listings
Note: ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy * LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Welsh Mountain Sheep does not have wool on its legs or face. They are small hardy little sheep are quite calm and placid

Color(s):

White

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Breed Weight:	45 kgs	64.8 kgs
Breed Height:	50.8 cm at withers	76.2 cm at withers
Hair:	Short, dense and firm	Short, dense and firm
Ears:	Pointed and erect to the side of the head	Pointed and erect to the side of the head
Horns:	Polled	Polled
Matures at age:	10 weeks/15 months or 15 years	10 weeks to 15 months
Puberty Age:	5 to 12 months	5 to 7 months
Breeding Age:	18 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	1 Breeding cycle per year	Cover 5 to 10 Ewes in 1 season

EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
They are known for their easy lambing and high milk production. The ewes are also excellent mothers.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 24 to 36 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/13 to 19 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days
No. Lambs/Litter:	1 and on the rare occasion 2 (twins)
Lactation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days
Milking From:	4 to 6 weeks after lambing
Milk Quality:	Good
Milk Ideal for:	Feeding her lambs
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SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The lambs grow fast and have a good meat to bone ratio with minimal fat wastage. The grain is close, and they have light bone. Full of flavor and rich in color.

Meat Production:

Yes, Quality: Premium Quality

SHEEP ⇒	LAMB	HOGGET/MUTTON
Approx. Maturity Weight:	Lambs = 14 kgs Ewes = 45 kgs	Lambs = 19 kgs Rams = 60 to 65 kgs
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SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Their fleece has become quite popular in demand it is soft to the touch

Wool Production?

Yes, Bradford count from 48s to 56s

Wool is used to Produce:

Wool products and high-quality spinning fleece

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months	6 to 8 months
Approx. Length:	5 to 10 cm	5 to 10 cm
Microns:	26.4 to 32.69	26.4 to 32.69
Approx. Quantity:	From 1 kg up to 2.5 kgs a year	From 1 kg up to 2.5 kgs a year
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GOOD TO KNOW
Here are some extra pieces of useful information that may be good to know about the Welsh Mountain sheep breed
Child-Friendly?	All livestock should not be allowed near unsupervised children.
Landscape Management?	They are excellent landscape managers especially in hilly terrain
Where to buy them?	Please check with the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society for a list of breeders or farmers that may sell them.
General Information:	The Welsh Mountain Sheep breeds wool is sought after by weavers and hand spinners. The Welsh Mountain Sheep breed was once only used for its sheep milk for the making of cheeses.

HISTORY

The Welsh Mountain Sheep breed was developed on the hills of Wales. They were primarily used for their milk and lamb. It is reported that Queen Victoria would demand the meat of Welsh lamb at the royal table.

They are selectively bred for their improved body conformation, hardiness and fine fleece qualities. The wool of the Welsh Mountain sheep breed is of quite a fine quality. The wool is quite sort after for its fine spinning quality.

The meat of the Welsh Mountain sheep is of Premium quality with little waste and good meat to bone rations. The lamb meat of the Welsh Mountain goat has won prizes at shows like the Royal Smithfield in London.

The Welsh Mountain sheep breed is a dual-purpose breed of sheep and is the foundation of the Welsh Sheep industry where in the Middle ages they were only used for the wool and milk. But by the 19th century they were well renowned for the succulent tasty meat.