Learn More About the Breeds on Glendinning Farms
The farms carry around 1800 pure bred South Country Cheviot ewes and 1000 Scottish Blackface ewes. Both breeds are ideal for extensive grazing systems on rough hill pasture.
The farms specialise particularly in the South Country Cheviot which is a hardy alert breed of white-faced sheep originating in the Cheviot Hills on the border of England and Scotland. Recognised as a hardy sheep as early as 1372, Cheviots did well in those bleak, windswept conditions with their strong constitution, easy lambing and well-developed mothering instinct. When bred pure, the ewe is capable of coming through the winter on the highest hills on low grade forage with minimum supplementary feed, and this makes the breed ideally suited to low input systems.
Genetic improvements over the past decade have resulted in a bigger stretchier sheep with better conformation. The cocky breeding female, famed for her character, displays strong mothering instincts and milkiness and is easy to work with. She will easily rear one lamb on the hill, or a strong pair of lambs on improved pasture.
The South Country Cheviot ewe is equally at home in a more marginal or upland environment where she can be successfully crossed with the Blue faced Leicester to produce the Cheviot Mule which can then be crossed with a terminal sire, the resulting progeny inheriting the desirable hardy characteristics and the high health status of the Cheviot breed.
The breed is increasingly sought after for its many qualities and is now attracting significant interest throughout the UK and internationally. Although the circle of breeders remains small, our enthusiasm and dedication to the breed ensures its survival in the future.
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If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’ll be happy to help.
