Wensleydale Sheep – a Rare Breed With So Much to Offer
Wensleydale sheep are a great breed. They are rare in the United States, even in their native land. They originated in Great Britian and are still used there today for the same purpouse they were designed. They are primarily used as a wool improving sire bred onto hill ewes. Wensleydale sheep pass on very desireable qualities to their progeny. These include very large size, lustrous Long wool, easy lambing, and high quality carcas.
Wensleydale wool is very valuable. It Is quite long and lustrous. Their genetic trait of not producing kemp fibers is a great quality to pass along. Kemp fibers are the short, weak, scratchy fibers that make most wool uncomfortable to wear next to the skin. They also produce a fleece of tight ringlets that hang beautifully. Wensleydale wool is very strong and durable as well. These qualities all lend to Wensleydales’ popularity amongst hand spinners, knitters, weavers, and felters.
The Wensleydale sheep are one of the largest breeds of sheep. This is great in Many ways. Their large size allows them to produce a large amount of wool, but it also allows them to birth twin lambs with minimal issues. This means less risk of loss due to complicated deliveries.
Wensleydale sheep are classified as a dual purpouse breed. Thus they produce a high quality carcas in addition to he great wool. Most would recognize that the Wensleydale is worth More for their wool than their meat, but passing this trait along when crossing to other breeds can be beneficial especially when combined with the large size.
Wensleydale sheep are generally a docile breed. The advice to keep an eye on the ram is still good, but the Wensleydale ram is less likely than many to cause you grief or injury. Don’t get me wrong, my 3 year old ewe can toss me around pretty well if I’m not careful. Even the 5 month old lambs can drag a person around when they want to.
One noticeable characteristic of the Wensleydale breed is their deep blue face and ears. This along with their pronounced forelock is a very identifying feature.
The North American Wensleydale Sheep Association has guidelines in place for upbreeding Wensleydales through Artificial Insemination using semen imported from Great Britian. Long Wool Ranch, along with a few others, participates in this program using only the sheep with the most desireable traits.
Scrapie in Sheep and Goats
Scrapie is an incurable fatal disease for sheep and goats. It is a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system, and is related to “mad cow disease”.
Scrapie is characterized by the formation of holes in the brain cells and the accumulation of an abnormal protein. His results in he loss of nervous function.
First recognized as a disease in Great Britian about 250 years ago, the first case of Scrapie in the United States was diagnosed in 1947.
Scrapie has been diagnosed in over 1000 flocks in the US. Thw breeds most commonly affected are Suffolk, other black faced meat breeds, and crosses of these breeds.
Some of the earliest detectable signs of a scrapie infected animal are:
- behavioral changes
- apprehension or uneasyness during handling or feeding
- tremors of the head or neck
- isolation from the flock
- movements of the hind legs become uncoordinated
- weight loss
In the more advanced stages infected may exhibit:
- intense itching and scraping (origin of the name Scrapie)
- broken or pulled out wool
- high stepping or stumbling
- falling
- grinding of teeth
- shaking of he tail and rump
- death
While these are good to keep an eye out for, some sheep may die from Scrapie wihout ahowin any clinical signs (other than death of course).
Scrapie primarily transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact. It is most commonly transmitted to a lamb by an infected ewe during the first six months of life through the placental material and birthing fluids.
Certain breeds of sheep are more resistant to Scrapie than others.Wensleydale sheep are one the most scrapie resistant breeds. Individual sheep have varying levels of resistance as well. Genetics has a lot to do with it. Sheep that are of the genotype RR at condon 171 are the most resistant.
The North American Wensleydale Sheep Association has strict guidelines that maintain the highest scrapie resistance possible in the Wensleydale sheep population in he United States. Only sheep sired by rams with RR at 171 are allowed to be registered as Wensleydale sheep. Aside from keeping an entirely closed flock, this type of genetic selection is one of the best ways we can work to erradicate Scrapie.
