North Country Cheviot is a common breed of sheep raised mainly for meat production. Originated from Scotland.
North Country Cheviot is a common breed of sheep raised mainly for meat production. Originated from Scotland.
In 1791, Sir John Sinclair brought ewes from the Cheviot Hills near the English border to the counties of Caithness and Sutherland in north Scotland. He named these sheep "Cheviots" after the hill area they originated. Another hill breed was introduced into the ranges of central Scotland thus the Scottish Blackface created a definite separation between northern counties of Caithness and Sutherland and the border region in southern Scotland. Most authorities speculate that both English and Border Leicesters may have been introduced into the North Country Cheviots at this time. The result was a larger sheep that had a longer fleece, and one that matured earlier. The North Country is about twice the size of its southern relative.
In 1912, Caithness and Sutherland breeders formed the North Country Sheep Breeders Association to manage shows and sales. In 1945, the organization was reformed into the existing North Country Cheviot Sheep Society for registration, exporting, promotion and breed improvement. [1]
North Country Cheviots are considered a large breed of sheep, they are deep, broad, and long throughout the body. Their head and legs are covered with white, short hair. They have a long roman nose and are polled. the nostrils and eyes are typically outlined with black.
They are a hardy, strong willed, independent breed of sheep that do well in harsh climates and on rough pastures. They are lamb easily with excellent mothering instincts. Their off spring are vigorous at birth and have high survival rates, although they only have an average rate of gain they make up for it in the quality and yield of their carcass. North Country Cheviots are excellent for crossbreeding both through the dam and sire, they pass on their maternal strengths and desirable carcasses to any offspring. The breed has a considerably longer working life than most of the other breeds. [2]
Rams weigh form 100-120kg, ewes weigh form 55-80kg, and their fleece weighs 2–2.3kg [3]
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The Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) is a longwool breed of sheep which evolved from a breeding scheme of Robert Bakewell, in Dishley, Leicestershire in the eighteenth century. First known as the Dishley Leicester, and then the Hexham Leicester, because of the prevalence of the breed in Northumberland, the name Bluefaced Leicester became known at the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1970s, the Bluefaced Leicester was exported to Canada. Exported frozen semen from the United Kingdom is now used to expand the genetic diversity in Canada and the United States. This breed is raised primarily for meat, but their fleece is becoming increasingly popular for handspinning. Bluefaced Leicester sheep may also have brown on their face. The sell record has been set by a brown ram lamb selling for 23,000 guineas.
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The Dalesbred is a breed of domestic sheep originating in England. Derived from the Swaledale and Scottish Blackface breeds, the Dalesbred is a northern hill breed distributed in the Yorkshire Dales and into Lancashire. The Dalesbred is genetically distinct from the other northern hill breeds, the Herdwick and Rough Fell.
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The Brecknock Hill Cheviot is a domesticated breed of sheep having its origin approximately 400 years ago from Wales. They are a result of crosses with the Welsh Mountain, the Cheviot and the Leicester breeds. This breed is primarily raised for meat. It was introduced into the US in 1838.
The Canadian Arcott is a breed of domestic sheep native to Canada. The latter half of its name is an acronym for the Animal Research Centre in Ottawa, where it was developed along with the Rideau Arcott and the Outaouais Arcott. This breed was a result of a crossbreeding program of Suffolk (37%), Ile de France (28%), Leicester (14%), North Country Cheviot (7%) and Romnelet (6%); the remaining 8% was contributed from Shropshire, Lincoln, Southdown Dorset, East Friesian, Finnsheep and Corriedale.
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