Sheep Breeds and Production

Sheep Breeds and Production

• National Importance
  Sheep production accounts for about 4 – 6% of agricultural production in Ireland.
  Wool, milk and cheese production are of minor importance. The main product of the industry is sheepmeat.
  We export sheepmeat to France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Middle East.
  Lamb is slaughtered at age 3-12 months and is leaner than hogget mutton which is slaughtered over 12 months.
• Sheep Production in Ireland
  Sheep production is divided into mountain or hill sheep and lowland sheep.

 

• Blackface Mountain
  Horned, black or black and white faces and legs. Small carcass.
  Hardy. Good mothers
• Wicklow Cheviot
  Polled, white wool, white head and legs.
  Mountain breed but not as hardy as Blackface Mountain. Good mothers.
• Galway-Only native Irish breed. Long white wool, polled. Good growth rate.
• Belclare Improver
  Developed by Teagasc from Galway breed, more prolific than the Galway.
• Border Leicester
  Large long wooled breed, upright ears, very prolific breed.
• Texel
  Polled, white head, short ears, no wool on face or legs.
  Excellent carcass conformation. Used as terminal sire.
• Suffolk
  Polled, short white good quality wool.
  Black head and legs
  Very fast growing and good conformation.
  Used as terminal sire.
• Breeding Strategies
  Mountain sheep farmers use ewes of a mountain breed and cross them with rams of the same breed. Lambs are used as replacements or sold to the Italian market as they like a small carcass.
  Hill sheep farmers use “cast” ewes off the mountain and cross them with prolific breeds such as the Border Leicester to produce crossbreds.
  Lowland sheep farmers use these crossbred ewes and Suffolk or Texel rams. This results in a large numbers of good conformation lambs ready for slaughter.
• Replacement Ewes
  Most of these criteria can be applied to the selection of any breeding female:
  –Health of the ewe
  –Body condition score
  –Conformation
  –Good mouth and teeth
  –Sound feet and legs
  –Good udder with functioning teats
  –Prolific ewe
• Selecting Breeding Rams
  The same criteria can be applied to the selection of any breeding male:
  –Type of breed
  –Pedigree and performance tested
  –Conformation
  –Body condition score
  –Sound feet and legs
  –Mouth and teeth
  –Age of ram