Scottish Blackface
(a.k.a. “Blackie” in the
The Scottish Blackface is a hill breed found literally
at the top of the pyramid in the stratification of the British sheep industry. In Blackfaces both sexes are horned, with the rams
having a double spiral. They have a roman nose, a clean face with black and white markings; legs are free of wool and mottled black
and white. There are four types of Scottish Blackfaces, and all are renowned for their hardiness and thrifty use of sparse grazing,
and the ability to withstand harsh weather. Purebred ewes are drafted to marginal upland farms where they are crossbred with a Bluefaced
Leicester tup to produce the ever popular Scotch Mule ewe.
Lanark type: Dominant
type in much of
Newton Stewart type: The original Newton Stewart or ‘Galloway’ type is a compact, burly sheep with a short, thick rain resistant coat, and is found in
its native south-west
Northumberland type: Found
in the North of England, it is large framed, soft wooled, and popular and influential in breeding the North of England Mule.
Avg. lambing percentage: 100% on the hill,
150% in upland areas.
Avg. ram weight: 180 lbs.
Avg. ewe weight: 140 lbs.
Wool:
Website: www.SBBU.org
Website: www.scottish-blackface.co.uk