Low Ground
As a breed, the Welsh Mountain Sheep is perfectly adapted to thrive in the
difficult conditions of upland Wales; however they are also well suited to live
on lowland areas. Those farming lowland areas can also benefit from the
excellent qualities of the breed by purchasing Welsh Mountain ewes to cross
with other breeds such as the Texel, Suffolk or Charollais to produce finished
lambs of high quality, meeting the high standards and requirements of a
demanding market, maintaining the reputation of Welsh Mountain Lamb for
producing delicious meat.
A study carried out on an upland farm in Mid Wales showed that the Welsh
Mountain Sheep is able to produce strong lambs when crossed with the
Texel ram. On average, the survey lambs weighed 39.5 kg at 170 days old;
recorded a weight of 17.3 kg per carcass after slaughter and 84% rated ‘R’ or
better. The lambs were produced from grass only, reducing the need for
further feed-intensive feeding.
Welsh Mountain Sheep are long-lived and still produce lambs at a mature
age. There is ample evidence, for example, of mountain sheep of five years
old and more producing two Charollais cross lambs in March with a live
weight of 40 kg in late June when the lambs are ready for sale.
