We established our White Wensleydale Sheep flock in 1986. Two years later we bought our first Black wensleydale sheep, a black ewe and a black ram called Scotston Moor. Since then we have concentrated on achieving good conformation, size and wool quality in both flocks. We now have the largest flock of Wensleydale sheep in mainland Britain. We also have a small number of Dalesbred ewes on which we are using a Wensleydale ram to give Masham ewes to put to a terminal sire.
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Our sheep are MV accredited and are vaccinated against toxoplasma and enzootic abortion. The rams are all tested for scrapie resistance and are R1. For your reference our white flock number is 694, and our black flock is FID
We show white sheep regularly at the major shows and have achieved many successes. In 2000 we had the Champion and the Reserve Champion at the Royal Highland Show (repeating our success of the previous year), Champion at Masham, and Reserve Champion at Wensleydale and Rydale shows - and made the top price for a ram at the W.L.S.B.A. show and sale.
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The Wensleydale Society now has strict rules that require black and white flocks to be managed as separate flocks, the outcome of which is that now white ewes hardly ever throw a black lamb. Fortunately we have a number of good bloodlines in the black flock.
We are now one of the largest and most successful breeders of Black Wensleydales .The flock has won the R.B.S.T. trophy for the best Black Wensleydale in 1993, 94, 98, 99, and 2000. Unfortunately Black Wensleydales cannot be shown at most major events but in 1999, at the R.B.S.T. annual show and sale, where blacks and whites are shown together, our Black Shearling ram , West End Unity, was Reserve Champion Wensleydale. and in 2000, West End Warrior was Reserve Champion Longwool in the Rare Breeds section at Masham Sheep Fair.
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Last year the newly formed North American Wensleydale Sheep Association selected semen for their breeding programme from our Highland Show winner, West End Ambassador and from our senior black ram, West End Cole.