WENSLEYDALE HISTORY

The mating of a Dishley Leicester ram with a Teeswater ewe in 1838 produced the famous ram 'Blue Cap' who was the founding sire of the Wensleydale breed. He was a striking ram, with blue pigmentation on his head and ears that is now the hallmark of the breed, great size (203 kg as a two-shear) and wool of distinctive quality. The modern Wensleydale has inherited these qualities. It is a large sheep with long-stapled, lustrous wool that falls in long ringlets almost to ground level in unshorn sheep. The breed has a quality known as 'central checking’ that prevents the formation of kemp in the fleece.

The Wensleydale is a very large long wool sheep, described by the British Meat and Livestock Commission as "probably the heaviest of all our indigenous breeds." It is a visually striking sheep with considerable presence. It has a bold and alert carriage which is accentuated by its broad, level back and heavy muscling in the hindquarters. It has a distinctive deep blue head and ears, which should be clean except for a well developed forelock of wool. Both sexes are polled.

Yellowfarm

Wensleydale sheep are a truly unique and wonderful long wool breed. Our flock of American Wensleydale's is quickly approaching purebred status. High percentage ewes, all above 90% are producing excellent examples of this lovely breed. The are bred for their outstanding fleeces, with a high priority on solid conformation, good mothering and vigerous growth. We also strive for a wide genetic pool and utilize UK semen from champion rams.

We are members of the North American Wensleydale Association, and participate in the upgrading processes thru artificial insemination with purebred Wensleydale semen imported from the UK. This is a hearty, large, long wool breed with a lustrous curly fleece that hand spinners adore. Their characteristic blue noses and ears, and long soft curls make them easily recognizable

Wensleydales

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