| | If you're planning to play i-spy as you drive around the Dales, there's one thing you're almost guaranteed to spot - Swaledale sheep. This iconic breed are such a strong feature of the Dales, a Swaledale sheep's head is used as the emblem of the Yorkshire Dales National Park So what makes Swaledale sheep so special? They're easy to recognise with their distinctive horns, black face, white muzzle and white markings around their eyes, with a thick fleece. |
Swaledales are a hill breed ideally suited to upland farms and the harsh conditions many farmers face in the Yorkshire Dales. They are known to be good mothers and good foragers so can rear lambs in exposed areas, existing on sparse grazing. Breeding prize-winning Swaledales isn't the easiest way to make a living but many say it's addictive as the hugely successful film, Addicted to Sheep showed (see trailer below). A really good pedigree tup (ram) may sell for around £25,000. The record at auction is £101,000 but those sort of figures are pretty elusive.
For the most part Swaledale sheep are kept for their meat. Their fleece tends to be more grey/brown than white and is quite coarse so it's best for use in carpets, rugs and insulation. And before someone asks - no, shearing sheep doesn't hurt them - it keeps them cool in summer and prevents some disease. It's the ultimate renewable fibre, growing back again and again.
While we're on the subject of sheep, did you know there are thirty times more sheep in the Yorkshire Dales than people: more than 600,000 sheep! Their influence on life in the Dales continues. Wool and sheep literally knit Yorkshire Dales communities together. Thanks to sheep, we have a wonderfully rich calendar of events with lively country shows through out the summer months. Many of our most stunning buildings and villages owe their existence to the riches gained from wool trading many years ago. I'll write about some of these in future blogs.
For the most part Swaledale sheep are kept for their meat. Their fleece tends to be more grey/brown than white and is quite coarse so it's best for use in carpets, rugs and insulation. And before someone asks - no, shearing sheep doesn't hurt them - it keeps them cool in summer and prevents some disease. It's the ultimate renewable fibre, growing back again and again.
While we're on the subject of sheep, did you know there are thirty times more sheep in the Yorkshire Dales than people: more than 600,000 sheep! Their influence on life in the Dales continues. Wool and sheep literally knit Yorkshire Dales communities together. Thanks to sheep, we have a wonderfully rich calendar of events with lively country shows through out the summer months. Many of our most stunning buildings and villages owe their existence to the riches gained from wool trading many years ago. I'll write about some of these in future blogs.
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