Brecknock Hill Cheviot
Also known by: Brecon
Cheviot, Sennybridge Cheviot
The Brecknock Hill Cheviot is found in middle Wales. It is a breed developed from Cheviot sheep introduced to Breconshire in the mid-nineteenth century with some introduction of Welsh Mountain breeding. They are well adapted to the high rainfall uplands and hills of their native region. The breed is now found over much of the Brecon Beacons range.
Brecknock Hill Cheviot have erect ears with white face and legs and a ruff of wool behind the ears. They have no wool on the face or legs below the knee or hock. The ewes are polled and the rams are usually polled but there are occasional horned rams.
Staple length is 6 to 10 cm with a fleece weight of 1.5 to 2.5 kg. The spinning count of the wool is 50's to 56's. The fleece has some kemp but usually no red kemp. It is used mainly for tweeds and knitwear in Britain.
References:
British Sheep and Wool, British Wool Marketing Board, Oak Mills, Station Rd., Clayton, Bradford. 112 pp.
Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.
Photographs:
British Sheep and Wool, British Wool Marketing Board, Oak Mills, Station Rd., Clayton, Bradford. 112 pp.