Yearling Ewes in full fleece
Shearling Ram
26 Mar 2008: Classified
Advertisements Section.
7 Mar 2008: News
Items Section - Wonderwool Wales 2008.
6 Mar 2008: News
Items Section - 2007 Trophy Winners (William Rhodes Perpetual Trophy & Ruth
Pedley Memorial Trophy.
8 Feb 2008: News
Items Section - 2008 Annual General Meeting.
7 Feb 2008: News Items Section -
Scotsheep 2008 (near Hawick) and Sheep 2008 (Malvern).
14 Oct 2007: Annual
Show and Sale Section - Report
10 Oct 2007: Annual
Show and Sale Section - Sale Catalogue.
28 Sep 2007: Annual
Show and Sale Section - DEFRA authority given for 12th October Show &
Sale at Skipton.
17 Sep 2007: Annual
Show and Sale Section - Summary of Entries.
9 Sep 2007: National
Show and Sale of Traditional Native Breeds Section - 2007 Summary.
9 Sep 2007: News Items Section -
Urgent Requirement for Black Ram Lambs from White Parentage.
1 Sep 2007: National
Show and Sale of Traditional Native Breeds Section - Melton Mowbray to go ahead
as planned.
22 Aug 2007: Classified
Advertisements Section.
11 Jul 2007: News
Items Section - Wensleydale Interbreed Successes at the Great Yorkshire Show.
10 Jul 2007: News Items Section -
Wensleydale Honours at the Great Yorkshire Show.
1 Jul 2007: News Items Section -
Wensleydale Honours at the Royal Show.
28 Jun 2007: News Items Section - Wensleydale Honours at the Royal Norfolk Show.
25 Jun 2007: Wool
Sales Section - Wensleydale Wool now the highest priced BWMB wool.
19 Jun 2007: News
Items Section - Great Yorkshire Show entries.
27 Apr 2007: New Section - Provides the
facility to download Registration Application Forms.
10 Mar 2006: News Items Section
-
Registration on United Kingdom Breeds at Risk Register.
Register now! It may be too late when
the slaughterers in white coats arrive!!
 | Breed Secretary
and Membership Enquiries
| News Items | National
Scrapie Plan | Classified
Advertisements | Latest
Photographs
| |
Membership enquiries and requests for details of the Association's Annual Show and Sale should be directed to:
Mrs. B Metcalfe (Barbara)
Oxmoor House Farm
Houghton Bank, Heighington
Co. Durham DL2
2UG Telephone:
01388 777852
Wonderwool Wales 2008
The 2007 Wonderwool Wales event was an outstanding success and the 2008 event is likely to be even better. It is to be held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on Saturday and Sunday 26th & 27th April. See www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk for details. A Wensleydale stand is to be provided by Juliette Morris and Jim and Sandra Thompson The stand generated considerable interest in the Wensleydale sheep last year, not only because of the high quality wool exhibits on display but also for the Wensleydale's dual purpose role of crossing sire and exquisite wool provider/improver.
The Association's stand at Wonderwool Wales 2007
2007 Trophy Winners
To be presented at the Annual General Meeting on 26th April:
The William Rhodes Perpetual Challenge Trophy (exhibitor of the year) - Mrs Sue Holdich.
The Ruth Pedley Memorial Trophy (outstanding inter-breed success of the year) - Mrs Sue Holdich.
2008 WLSBA Annual General Meeting
The 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders' Association will be held at 2pm on Saturday 26th April at the Tempest Arms, Elslack, near Skipton, North Yorkshire. The agenda is included in the Spring Newsletter that has been distributed to members.
Sheep 2008
The Association will have a stand at Sheep 2008, co-ordinated by Dr. Graham Steventon and Dr. Lynn Clouder. The event is to be held on the Three Counties Showground, near Malvern, Worcestershire, on Wednesday 30th July.
Scotsheep 2008
The Association will have a stand at Scotsheep 2008,
co-ordinated by the WLSBA representative for Scotland, John McHardy. The event
is to be held on Wednesday 4th June at the farm of Northhouse, Teviotheads, Hawick.
Urgent Requirement for Black Ram
Lambs from White Parentage
Breeders of Black Wensleydales urgently require Black ram lambs from White
Sires/Dams in order to provide new bloodlines. Any breeder who has a ram lamb
that meets this description is asked to place an advertisement on this web site,
by contacting Frank Pedley (01677 450579). These lambs are likely to command a
premium price. Registration rules are given in the flock book.
Wensleydale Interbreed Successes
at the Great Yorkshire Show
On the second day of the Great Yorkshire Show the Wensleydale
Champion (JN & SM Prescott's shearling ram) won the Longwool Male
Championship, whilst the Wensleydale Reserve Champion (BR Field's Yearling Ewe
in full wool) won the Longwool Female Championship. These were outstanding
successes for the Wensleydale breed, with strong competition from the male and
female champions of the Bluefaced Leicester, Leicester, Lincoln and Teeswater
breeds!
Further details: www.greatyorkshireshow.org
Wensleydale Honours at the 2007 Great Yorkshire Show.
Best Male - JN & SM Prescott (Shearling Ram). Reserve - JA & F Elliott (Aged
Ram).
Best Female - BR Field (Yearling Ewe in full wool). Reserve - JA & F Elliott
(Shearling Ewe).
Champion Wensleydale - JN & SM Prescott's Shearling ram.
Reserve Champion - BR Field's Hogg in Wool.
Further details: www.greatyorkshireshow.org
Wensleydale Honours at the 2007 Royal Show.
Champion Wensleydale - Dr G Steventon & Dr L Clouder, Warwickshire
(Ram).
Reserve Champion - Mr & Mrs M Leech, East Sussex (Yearling Ewe in Wool).
Wensleydale Honours at the 2007
Royal Norfolk Show .
A Wensleydale Hogg in Wool bred and entered by Mrs Sue Holdich of Stowmarket
took the Supreme Championship at the country's largest two day show, the Royal
Norfolk Show, held on 26th/27th June, narrowly beating the Charollais champion
into second place. She
Mrs Holdich also won the interbreed pairs competition with the same
sheep, partnered by a yearling ram in full wool (earning a £300 award for the
Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders' Association).
Mrs Holdich has previously won the supreme sheep championship at the
East of England show.
Great Yorkshire Show Entries.
There are 59 Wensleydale entries for the 2007 Great Yorkshire Show (10 - 12
July). Entries, by
classes, are as follows:
| Aged Ram - 5 entries. |
| Shearling Ram - 9 entries. |
| Ram Lamb - 6 entries. |
| Yearling Ewe (in full wool) - 11 entries. |
| Shearling Ewe - 13 entries. |
| Ewe Lamb - 7 entries. |
| Group of Three - 8 entries. |
Registration on the United Kingdom
Breeds at Risk Register
Resulting from EEC Directive 2003/85/EC (article 15) a UK list of
rare breeds holdings is being compiled which, on any future Foot and Mouth
Disease (FMD) outbreak, would be considered for any special measures that may
apply at the time. Breeders should scroll down to the foot of this web site and
click on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust link, then click on the Breeds at
Risk Register for details. If
eligible, breeders are advised to click on the incorporated Registration Form
and register their flock. Registration may not be accepted following an outbreak of the
disease.
The above web site is relevant to keepers of other rare breeds of sheep, cattle, goats and pigs. Further information may be obtained from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust:
Tel: 024 7669 8763/8766
Email: bar@rbst.org.uk
A facility to enable members of the Association to advertise and sell registered stock. For simplicity, descriptions are limited to the number of sheep for sale in each of the following categories:
| Rams (Aged) - born prior to 2006. |
| Rams (2Sh) - born 2006. |
| Rams (Sh) - born 2007. |
| Ewes (Aged) - born prior to 2006. |
| Ewes (2Sh) - born 2006. |
| Ewes (Sh) - born 2007. |
| Ram Lambs - born 2008. |
| Ewe Lambs
- born
2008. |
| "In Lamb Ewes" - registered ewes put to a registered ram in the Autumn of 2008. Potential buyers should enquire from vendors whether or not the ewes have been scanned in addition to being marked. |
A four figure number against a ram indicates the number allocated in the Association's Breeding Ram List. Other rams are either eligible for entry in the list, or have been entered but not yet allocated a four figure number.
Telephone (or e-mail) advertisers for details (pedigree, show successes, genetic resistance to scrapie, prices, whether "in lamb ewes" have been scanned etc.) and to arrange visits.
Advertisements are normally placed from 1st July onwards, but an early advertisement has been received and others are now invited, on the lines of the following examples:
Section A (White) Sheep
HOPE, Mrs. I.N., Sheepwash, Devon. Tel: ..... ...... MV
Accredited.
2 x Rams (Aged) 1234 and 1235, 2 x Rams (2Sh) incl 2345, 2 x Rams (Sh), 5 x Ewes
(Aged), 4 Ram Lambs and 5 x Ewe Lambs.
OTHER, Mr A.N., Sheepy Parva, Leicestershire. Tel: ..... .......
E-mail: arthur-other@yahoo.co.uk
1 Ram (2sh) (2222), 4 x Rams (Sh) and 6 "in lamb Ewes" (all scanned by
vet and recorded as carrying 5 x twins and 1 x triplet).
Section B (Black) Sheep
SMART, Ms. I.B., Blacko, Lancashire. Tel: ..... ...... E-mail:
smart@ ..........
3 x Ram Lambs, 2 x Ewe Lambs and 6 "in lamb Ewes" (all marked by Ram
3333, but not scanned).
Please note that this advertising facility is only available to members. The cost is £12, with no additional charge for an amendment or later addition in the same year - for example, the addition of an "in lamb ewes" advertisement in the Autumn.
2008 ADVERTISEMENTS
Section A (White) Sheep
MORRIS, Ms J.,Ystrad, Carmarthenshire. Tel: 01267 202465.
E-mail: morris@ystradorganics.co.uk
Website: www.ystradorganics.co.uk
MV accredited. 1 Ram (Aged) 6890, 2 Ewes (Aged), 2 Ewes (2 Sh) and 3 Ewes (Sh).
Section B (Black) Sheep
MORRIS, Ms J.,Ystrad, Carmarthenshire. Tel: 01267 202465.
E-mail: morris@ystradorganics.co.uk
Website: www.ystradorganics.co.uk
MV accredited. 1 Ram (Sh) and 2 WB Rams (Sh) - all from newly registered WB ram
out of black ewes.
The lustre and purl of the Wensleydale fleece is well portrayed on this champion ram of Mr & Mrs M Leech.
The breed is widespread throughout the United Kingdom, with some small flocks in Holland, France and Denmark. A "breeding up" programme is developing in the USA, using Wensleydale ram sperm in English Leicester, Lincoln and Cotswold ewes and their female progeny.
Originated in North Yorkshire early in the 19th Century from a cross between a long since extinct local longwool breed from the region of the River Tees and an outstanding Dishley Leicester ram named "Bluecap". The breed was developed to produce hardy rams for crossing onto hill ewes, together with high quality and valuable lustre fleeces.
The breed is probably unique in that its Association is able to not only identify a foundation sire, but also trace that ram's parentage, year and place of birth and breeder. "Bluecap" was born in 1839 in the hamlet of East Appleton, five miles NNW of Bedale in North Yorkshire. His unique qualities, which determined the breed type without any further infusion of Leicester blood, were his dark skin, superb quality of wool and size - 203 kgs (448 lbs) as a two shear. The breed type was not named until 1876, when a name was required for classes at the Yorkshire Show. Two rival breed Societies were formed in 1890, amalgamating in 1920.
The Wensleydale is a very large longwool 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 bold and alert carriage which is accentuated by its broad, level back on wide quarters and strong thighs. It has a distinctive deep blue head and ears, which should be clean except for a well developed forelock of wool, usually referred to as the "topping". Both sexes are polled.
The Wensleydale breed has been developed to provide rams for crossing onto hill ewes, mainly Swaledale, Blackface, Rough Fell, Cheviot and Dalesbred and latterly Beulah, to produce a prolific, milky and hardy breeding ewe (the original Masham) and also a wether which can produce under natural conditions on marginal ground a quality carcass at higher weight with no excess fat. The Wensleydale ram gives that extra size and quality to its cross bred progeny, enabling any recognised terminal sire to fulfill its potential.
A Wensleydale ewe will produce two lambs with minimal lambing problems. Twin lambs average 6 kgs each at birth with a growth rate that enables ram lambs to reach 73 kgs at 21 weeks and be used with confidence on hill breed ewes in the Autumn.
Though developed as a Crossing Sire the Wensleydale is equally well known for the exceptionally high quality of its lustrous Wool, making it an outstanding dual purpose sheep. Wensleydale wool is the finest and most valuable lustre longwool in the world. Fleeces are of 20 - 30 cms staple length and 33 - 35 micron thickness, with yearling fleeces weighing from 6 to 9 kgs. Fleeces are entirely kemp free as a result of the unique characteristics of the wool-producing follicles. This special quality is genetically transmitted to cross-bred lambs, characterising the Wensleydale ram as perhaps the leading wool improver sire in the world. Wensleydale wool is used for its special effects and handle in hand knitting yarn, knitwear and cloth and sometimes in upholstery fabrics. Because of its similarity, it is regularly used to blend with mohair.
| Shearling ewes | Mature ewes |
|---|---|
| 200% | 250% |
| Lamb bodyweights at 8 weeks | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 25.8kg | 25.8kg |
| Twin | 22.0kg | 21.4kg |
| Mature ewe | Mature ram |
|---|---|
| 113kg | 136kg |
(Source: Meat and Livestock Commission recorded data)
Though Wensleydale sheep are predominately white, the Breed Society incorporates a black section within its flock book, but does not permit breeding between sheep of the two sections.
The Wensleydale has the highest genetic resistance to scrapie of all recognised sheep breeds in the United Kingdom, with PrP tests revealing a 92% codon 171 R/R genotype in the breed. The commercial significance of this is that the buyer of a Wensleydale ram has a 92% chance that the ram will be of this genotype and that on using it as a crossing sire none of the crossbred progeny will be of the genotype susceptible to scrapie.
The last MLC Ram Breed Comparison trials revealed that the Wensleydale Ram, though not a recognised terminal sire, produces the heaviest class 3L lamb out of Scotch Half-bred, Mule and Greyface ewes.
Wensleydale (and Teeswater) wool is now the most valuable British wool by far (see 2007 British Wool Marketing Board price schedule), with producers paid £1.93 per kilo by the BWMB for the 2006 clip. Non commercial farm gate sales to hand spinners attract significantly higher prices, particularly for wool from yearling ewes. Large and small quantities of both white and naturally coloured wool can be obtained through the British Wool Marketing Board, Wool House, Roydsdale Way, Euroway Trading Estate, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD4 6SE, UK, which promotes and handles wool sales on behalf of UK sheep farmers.
Tel: 01274 688666
email: mail@britishwool.org.uk
web site: www.britishwool.org.uk
The 117th Annual Show and Sale is to be held at Skipton on Saturday 30th August 2008, in conjunction with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust event.
SUMMARY OF 116th ANNUAL SHOW &
SALE HELD ON 12th OCTOBER 2007.
In addition to the uncertainty caused by Foot and Mouth Disease and
Bluetongue outbreaks, DEFRA's 20 day standstill regulations had a severe impact
on the 116th Annual Show and Sale of the Association, held at Skipton on the
re-arranged date of 12th October. Potential buyers whose livelihoods depend on
sales later in the month of their mainstream commercial flocks and herds were
understandably absent, and accordingly the prices enjoyed by vendors last year
plummeted. The quality of stock forward was of a consistently high quality and
the few buyers present were spoilt for choice.
The Supreme Champion was a home bred shearling ewe from the Hunton Flock of the
late Mrs Ruth Pedley, which realised 155 guineas. Reserve Supreme was a
shearling ram bred and entered by JN & SM Prescott from Longhorsley,
Northumberland, one of many fine sheep that were not sold. Both the aged ram and
ram lamb classes were won by Mrs YT Mudd from Knaresborough, whilst both the
aged ewe and ewe lamb classes were won by the Hunton flock of the late Mrs Ruth
Pedley. Mrs YT Mudd's winning ram lamb also took the best fleshed ram lamb
award.
The Supreme Champion and both the aged ewe and ewe lamb class winners were
purchased by the Benham Stud from Marsh Benham near Newbury as the foundation of
a new Wensleydale flock.
Challenge Trophies
The "Burton" Silver Teapot ,
re-presented by P. Ashby Esq. for the best Shearling or Aged Ram - JN & SM
Prescott.
The "Fawell" Silver Coffee Pot re-presented by P. Ashby Esq. for the
best Ram Lamb - Mrs YT Mudd.
The "Nettleton" Perpetual Silver Salver for the best fleshed Ram Lamb
- Mrs YT Mudd.
The "John Percival" Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best Shearling Ram
bred by the exhibitor - JN & SM Prescott.
The "John Percival" Trophy for the best female of any age - FH Pedley.
The "Smalley" Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best Ram of any age - JN
& SM Prescott.
The "Outlane" Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best Ewe Lamb - FH
Pedley.
The "Fawell" Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Champion Sheep - FH
Pedley.
2008 SHOW & SALE. To be held at Melton Mowbray on 12th and 13th September. Entry forms and catalogues will be available from Melton Mowbray Market (01664 562971) or email info@meltonmowbraymarket.co.uk Entries close 12th July (on line entries 20th July).
SUMMARY OF 2007 SHOW & SALE (Judge Mr Allan Duffield).
The champion was a shearling ram, bred and entered by Mrs Susan Holdich from Bacton, Suffolk, which sold for 280 guineas to HMP Hewell Grange. Reserve Champion was a shearling ewe bred by the late Mrs Ruth Pedley and entered by Mr Frank Pedley, which sold for the highest price of the day (330 gns) to Mr Trevor Elston from Torrington, Devon.
Both the ram lamb and ewe lamb classes were won by Mr Roger Field,
Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.
Challenge Trophies
The Outlane Perpetual Cup, presented by Mr PE
Titley for the champion Wensleydale sheep - Mrs Susan Holdich (shearling ram).
The Upper Mill Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best black (coloured)
Wensleydale sheep - Mrs Susan Holdich (ram lamb, 2nd in class).
MEMBERS' WEB SITES:
JN & SM Prescott,
Northumberland
Ms J
Morris, Ystrad, Carmarthenshire
Organic Meat (including mutton) and Wool production.
OTHER USEFUL WEB SITES:
British
Wool Marketing Board
Pride of Lammermuir
For
fabrics woven from Wensleydale wool.
Yorkshire Agricultural
Society
Links to the Great Yorkshire Show web pages.
Skipton Auction Mart
Location
of the Annual Show and Sale of the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders'
Association.
Peasridge
Mail
Order Suppliers of Livestock Showing Equipment.
North American Wensleydale
Association
The home page of the North American Wensleydale Sheep
Association, founded in November 1999, to establish Wensleydale sheep in North
America.
Carlson
Farm
Wensleydale sheep near Sacramento in Northern California, USA.
National Sheep
Association
Wensleydale Longwool
Sheep Shop
Quality Knitwear, Wool and Yarns
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
English Beef and
Lamb Executive
Better Returns Programme
Wonderwool
Wales 2007
19th and 20th May 2007 at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd,
Powys
Original site design by Mark Pedley