Border Leicester
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The Border Leicester is a British
Description
The live weight of a mature Border Leicester ram is in the range of 140–175 kg (309–386 lb) and a mature ewe 90–120 kg (200–260 lb). A yearling ewe is around 64 kg (141 lb).
Border Leicesters are all white with a distinct long body, well-developed chest, well-sprung ribs and a wide, strong back. The nose should be black and the ears should be large, upright and alert. Feet should also be dark in colour.[5] The head and legs should be free of wool and only covered in short white hair making it easier for shearing. Sheep of this breed should also have a distinct Roman nose much like the North Country Cheviot.[4]
There are key strengths associated with the Border Leicester making them an excellent breed for farmers. They have excellent maternal characteristics meaning that they make good mothers while producing quality lambs. Lambs finish quickly due to their high growth rate and produce high quality, desirable meat. The breed is also hardy and easy to keep and manage.[7]
History
The Border Leicester was developed in 1767 in
Internationally
Registered flocks are now found in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Border Leicester sheep have been exported to British Guiana, Canada, China, Colombia, South Africa, France, Spain, Portugal, United States, India, Japan, Yugoslavia, Iran, Hungary, Russia, Turkey and Switzerland.
Border Leicester sheep were imported to Australia in 1871, where they now have a large number of stud flocks. Border Leicester rams are used for mating with Merino ewes to breed the first-cross mothers that are so valuable for the production of prime lambs. Border Leicester Merino cross ewes produced in this way offer the greatest overall performance when breeding meat type sheep, with a well proportioned carcase, high fertility, good foraging ability and good milk production.
Border Leicester Merino cross ewes are mated to shortwool rams (e.g.
Border Leicester sheep also contribute about 50 percent of the genetics used in the
The breed was imported into New Zealand in 1859, and after refrigeration was introduced in the 1880s, the Border Leicester was used as a crossing sire to produce heavyweight lambs and wether mutton. The Border Leicester was later used to develop New Zealand's Border-Romney cross (
The first breed association was formed in 1888 in the United States[12] The American Border Leicester Association is the only registry in the USA. Breeders show their sheep at county shows and fairs throughout the year with the annual National Polly Hopkins Show traveling between The Big E in Springfield, Massachuetts and North American International Livestock Exposition held in Louisville, Kentucky.
See also
References
- ^ Watchlist 2017–18 Archived 2017-08-06 at the Wayback Machine. Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed May 2017.
- ^ "About Us". Australian Border Leicester Association. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "Border Leicester/United Kingdom". Breed Data Sheet. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
- ^ a b "American Border Leicester Association » What is a Border Leicester?". www.ablasheep.org. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ a b Stokeld, Ellie. "Description of the Border Leicester Sheep Breed". www.borderleicester.com. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Border Leicester Sheep". www.wool.ca. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Society of Border Leicester Sheep". Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-60342-036-5.
- ^ Stokeld, Ellie. "About the Border Leicester Sheep Breed". www.borderleicester.com. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ISBN 1-74036-216-0
- ^ Sheep breed compendium, Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX), 2010
- Oklahoma State University Dept. of Animal Science. Archived from the originalon 21 March 2009.