Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep explained

The Badger Face Welsh Mountain (Welsh Defaid Idloes in Welsh pronounced as /ˈdevaɪd ˈɪdlɔɪs/; also known as Badger Faced Welsh Mountain or Welsh Badger-faced) is a distinct variety of the Welsh Mountain breed of domestic sheep bred for sheep farming in Wales.[1] It is a hardy upland breed known for producing a high percentage of twins and triplets under good conditions. It appears in two sub-varieties of its own: the Torddu (in Welsh pronounced as /tɔrˈðiː/, "black-bellied"), which has a white fleece with dark face and belly, and the Torwen (pronounced as /[tɔrˈwɛn]/, "white-bellied"), which has a black body with a white belly and white stripes over the eyes.[2] The Torddu is the more common of the two types. In both types, ewes are polled and rams are horned.[3] Although this breed grows wool, it is primarily raised for meat.[4]

Characteristics

This breed is extremely hardy and able to graze rough hills and terrain. On average at maturity, rams weigh 55kg (121lb) and ewes 45kg (99lb).[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Welsh Mountain Badger Face . Breeds of Livestock . Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science . 2009-05-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100606033946/http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/welshmountainbadgerfaced/index.htm . 2010-06-06 .
  2. Web site: Badger Face Welsh Mountain. nationalsheep.org.uk. The National Sheep Association. 2009-05-14.
  3. Web site: Badger Face Welsh Mountain. Sheep Breeds A - Ba. Sheep101.info. 2009-05-14.
  4. Web site: Badger Faced Welsh Mountain/United Kingdom. Breed description. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. 2009-05-15.