Wensleydale Sheep

Wensleydale Wool

Wensleydale wool is the the finest and most valuable lustre longwool in the world. Wensleydale are entirely free of kemp due to "central checking" - a unique characteristic of the wool producing folicles. This kemp-free quality is passed on to cross-bred progeny - this makes the Wensleydale ram arguably the best wool-improving sire in the world.

Wensleydale wool has an average micron count of 33-35 and a staple length of 8-12 inches. A yearling Wensleydale can produce up to 13-20lbs of fleece in a year.

Description

Wensleydale Sheep are a very large longwool sheep renowned for its stature, lean meat and superb fleece. Easily distinguished by their deep blue head and ears and a well developed forelock, they produce a long lustrous wool that is prized by hand spinners, knitters, weavers, and doll makers. Wensleydales also produce a high quality carcas with little fat and a mild flavor, making them a true dual purpose breed. Although one of the largest breeds of british sheep, Wensleydale sheep are quite docile. Both sexes are naturally polled.

Mature rams reach 300lbs. and ewes 250lbs. The average weight of twin lambs is 13 pounds at birth. Lambs grow at such a rate that they can reach 160lbs at 21 weeks of age. At 8 weeks an average single Wensleydale lamb will weigh 57lbs (twins average 48lbs).

Health

Wensleydale sheep are the most genetically resistant to Scrapie of any breed of sheep.

A Wensleydale ewe will have minimal lambing problems even with twins.

History

Wensleydale sheep originated in North Yorkshire in the early 19th century. They were the product of breeding a Lichester ram with a ewe of a now extinct breed similar to the Teeswater. This produced Blue Cap, a stately ram with a deep blue head and ears. Blue Cap was the founding sire of the Wensleydale breed.

Distribution

Wensleydale sheep are found throughout the UK. There are some small flocks in Denmark, Holland and France. Wensleydale sheep are quite rare and a very new breed to North America - first introduced to the US in 1999 by importing semen.

Purpose

The Wensleydale breed was developed as a wool improving sire breed. The Primary purpose was to make rams which when crossed with other longwool hill sheep in Britian would increase the quality of the wool, size of the sheep, quality of the carcas.

Breed Standards

Back, Loins, Sides and Quarters

great length of side, loins broad and well covered with firm flesh along the back. Hindquarters long, square and well fleshed. Root of tail broad.

Chest

Coming well down and forward between the forelegs, wide on the floor of the chest. Ribs well sprung.

Color

White or any solid color is acceptable. Regarding a colored spot on a white animalor a white spot on a colored animal: any registered animal, at one year of age, shall not have more than one spot within the wooled area of the body and that spot shall not excede 2.5cm (about the size of a qwarter).

Head

Broad at the muzzle especially in rams. Back of the head flat and widebetween ears. The face seen in profile should show good depth of jaw. Ears of good size, neatly set on and well carried. Head and ears of a deep blue tinge which often extends to the rest of the body. Tuft of wool on the forehead. Back of head, especially around ears, covered with fine wool. Entire absence of hair about the forehead, back of the head and ears.

All animals should be polled. Any registered registered animal, at one year of age, shall not have a scur or horn over 3/4" inch in length, and such scurs or horns on breeding rams should be avoided

Neck

Strong, rising gracefully from the shoulders and carrying the head at a goos height.

Teeth

Should be well placed in good opposition to dental pad.

Testicles

Rams should have two evenand good sized testicles. Those with a single testicles. Those with a single testicle or a scrotal hernia should not be ised for breeding.

Thighs, Legs and Feet

Thighs well down into the hocks, large and broad behind. Legs with plenty of bone, free of coarse or pigmented hair, straight set on aneach corner and well appart. Hind legs with nice covering of fine wool from hock to hoof. Feet moderately large and well shaped.

Wool

Bright and lustrous. Staple medium breadth and excellent length; each staple curled or purled out to the end. Of equal staple all over the back and sidesfrom shoulder to breech, The whole free and open and free from mistiness on the back. The belly and scrotum should be covered with wool and be free from hair.