Border Cheviot sheep & why we like them& whats not to like

Posted on: May 8, 2006 - 9:05pm
Border Cheviot sheep & why we like them& whats not to like

I think The Border Cheviot sheep is hard to beat, but they are not for everybody. The Cheviot is an alert hardy active breed . They are wonderful mothers ,very protective, that lamb easily . The lambs are up and moving almost immediatly. They often twin and have lots of milk . They can raise lambs ready for the freezer off grass alone .A properly finished Cheviot lamb of ours is about 90-100 pounds at about 6 1/2 months .Cheviots have a wonderful carcass quality, with very little waste etc.They produce a medium wool that has nice crimp and staple length .Their fleece is a true white. I love to dye cheviot wool,as you get the true color of your dye. Their dark hoofs are strong. We never have foot troubles.They are a hardy, healthy breed. BUT, what makes them such good sheep can also be their downfall.What makes them such great mothers, healthy, active and hardy souls is their spirit!!Maybe too much spirit! They are active ! They can be flighty...big time!! They,overall are not Docile ! Their ears are not the only thing thats up...LOl. We have had them and love them for years and I wouldnt have another breed for meat. They fit my farm perfectly......I like sheep like the cheviot.


Posted on: May 29, 2006 - 7:21am #1

wow sounds like they are wonderful to have easy to keep and raise, what do they look like? How much feed do they eat and what kind? Are they hard on fencing? Do they blend well with llamas or alpacas?

Posted on: May 30, 2006 - 11:15pm #2

Border Cheviots and Brecknock Hill Cheviots are fine sheep. There are also the larger North Country Cheviots that are still very active but not quite so flighty as Border Cheviots and are somewhat more hardy in their nature.
These and the Scottish Blackface make up the majority of the Hill Breeds in the UK and are the basis of the Scotch and Cheviot Maternal Ewe Mules from which most market lambs are bred by English Suffolk Terminal Sires. For those possibly interested we breed the entire 3 tier system and we will provide additional information to any enquiry.
You can also get information on www.mulesheep.com
Your Friends
Graham & Margaret
Littledale

Posted on: May 31, 2006 - 12:23am #3

Yes Kathy, they are easy keepers . Are they easy to raise? Yes! Are they easy to keep? Well, they are in lots of ways. They dont have alot of herding instinct though and can be hard to move sometimes & can be exitable when handling them such as worming or hoof trimming etc . I must say though that we have a new Border Collie who is coming along nicely and working and moving the sheep is getting easier. Our old Border collie had to be put down this winter, she was a tough dog and they respected her, but she was retired for a year or so so we must re-train the sheep to dogs again. .In any event, cheviots are very very hardy . I have owned different breeds over the years , but none compare to the Border Cheviot and the Shetland for that matter except for the Blackface possibly. I Think the Scottish Blackface is a beautiful breed, with all the traits I appreciate, but I am not too fond of their fiber. My girlfriend owns cheviot crosses with llamas and they are fine . I am not so sure how they would be with Alpacas. We have had our sheep in with a large donkey before and they were the best of pals!Thanks for your interest

Posted on: May 31, 2006 - 12:26am #4

Graham and Margaret,
Nice site !