Our Stock...

The principal features we look for in our sheep are character, size, conformation, vigour, coat and muscle. Therefore our selection of sires has to reflect this. The tup has to look alive, be bright and alert and stand well on his legs. He has to have a good muzzle. Vigour is crucial in hill sheep.

All progeny are recorded and now with the aid of a computerised programme, giving easier access to our records and the involvement with Sheep Ireland it will be easier to identify the best performing sires and dams and their offspring.

Lanark stock produced on the farm for sale each year include shearling rams, ram lambs, stock rams, five year old ewes, younger ewes,  hogget ewes, ewe lambs and mule ewe lambs.  All are reared on our farm and are fully vaccinated, dosed and clipped etc at time of sale.

Feedback from customers indicates that rams from our farm are improving the quality of sheep in many hill flocks around the country, likewise females purchased are producing good crops of quality pure and crossed lamb for our customers

History And Bloodlines...

The origins of the breed are uncertain. It was developed on the Anglo-Scottish border but it is not clear exactly when it became a distinct breed. It replaced the earlier Scottish Dunface or Old Scottish Short-wool, a Northern European short-tailed sheep type probably similar to the modern Shetland.

Records show that in 1503 James IV of Scotland established a flock of 5,000 Scottish Blackface Sheep in Ettrick Forest in the area south of Peebles in the Borders.The Blackface epitomises the mountain sheep. They are able to survive the harshest winters in the most extreme parts of Ireland.

The origin of Lanark sheep lie in the south of Scotland . Their infusion with the Newton Stuart strain has formed a distinct breed known today as the Lanark or South type . Characterised by their grey noses and eyelids , good conformation and tight softer wool. They are a very prolific and vigorious sheep. Sire blood lines used to develop our flock have come from the following flocks:-

Some Flock Facts...

Lamb conformation grades 83%  r 17% u

Fat score 3-4.

The ewes are drafted from the flock for sale at 5 years of age.

The ewes remain productive to 7-9 years under lowland conditions.

Lambs are extremely hardy at birth.

The Ewes are excellent mothers.

Hogget rams retained for breeding are not fed meal through the summer (Overfed rams do not service ewes properly).

Purchased sires come from bloodlines with a history of proven performance