Dalesbred

Dalesbred
Dalesbred sheep in pen
Conservation status At risk
Country of origin England
Distribution Lancashire, Yorkshire
Type Upland
Use Meat, wool, crossbreeding
Traits
Weight
  • Male: 55-75kg (121-165lb)
  • Female: 45-60kg (99-132lb)
Wool color White
Face color Black
Horn status Horned
Dalesbreds have a distinctive white spot on either side of the muzzle, and the rams have large curling horns.

The Dalesbred is a breed of domestic sheep originating in England. Derived from the Swaledale and Scottish Blackface breeds[1], 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.[2]

Very similar in appearance to its parent breeds[1], both rams and ewes have distinctive horns[2] and a white carpet-quality fleece.[1] Scurs are absent in the breed.[2] It can be best distinguished by having a white spot on each side of its black face, with the end of the muzzle becoming grey. This breed is primarily used for meat and wool production.[3] The legs are free of wool and are mottled black and white. Dalesbred ewes weigh 45 to 60 kg (99 to 132 lb) and rams 55 to 75 kg (121 to 165 lb).[4]

Dalesbred are a hardy breed capable of surviving the harsh conditions of upland terrain. They are generally bred for several generations in this environment, then ewes are sold to lowland farmers for cross breeding to produce mules. Ewes are often crossed with Teeswater rams to produce the Masham which is one of the most famous of British crossbreeds.[5]

Due to the location and small extent of its distribution, this breed was threatened during the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in 2001. It is still considered at risk due to its distribution.[2]

Ewes have strong mothering characteristics.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dalesbred". Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University Dept. of Animal Science. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bowles, Dianna (January 2014). "Genetic Distinctiveness of the Herdwick Sheep Breed and Two Other Locally Adapted Hill Breeds of the UK". PLoS One. 9: e87823. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0087823 – via ProQuest.
  3. ↑ "Dalesbred Sheep". heritagesheep.eu. Archived from the original on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  4. ↑ "Dalesbred". nationalsheep.org.uk. National Sheep Association. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  5. ↑ Susan Schoenian, Sheep & Goat Specialist, University of Maryland. "Sheep Breeds D-F". sheep101.info. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  6. ↑ Maldonado, Ana (March–April 2015). "Changes in mother-offspring relationships with the increasing age of the lamb in hair sheep (Ovis aries)". Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research. 10: 166–170. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2014.11.008 – via ScienceDirect.

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