Bluefaced Leicester Sheep

You’ve Got to Feel the Fleece to Believe It!

I fell in love with the Bluefaced Leicester breed as soon as I ran my fingers through their lustrous, long, silky ringlets. I’ve found no other sheep fleece that compares with a well-bred Bluefaced Leicester (BFL). I have to say that I’m hooked and can’t wait to see the lambs that our first ewe produces in Spring 2007. I look forward to many years of raising a small, but exceptionally well-bred flock of BFLs! Fleece quality is my highest priority when it comes to my BFLs as I intend to use the fleece from my breeding ewes for my own hand spinning projects. Read on to find out more about this fascinating breed:

History of the Breed

The Bluefaced Leicester, an English Longwool type sheep, originated near Hexham in the county of Northumberland, England during the early 1900's. The breed was originally developed to use in the production of high quality crossbred ewes which were pastured in the neighboring hills of the region. They originated from Border Leicesters selected for the blue face (white hairs on black skin) and finer fleeces.

Breed Standard

The Bluefaced Leicester should have a broad muzzle, good mouth, a roman nose, bright alert eyes, and long erect ears. The color of the head skin should be dark blue showing through white hair, with no wool on the head, or neck. Both sexes are polled. There should be a good length of neck laid into broad shoulders, a good ‘spring of rib’, a long strong back, with no weakness behind the shoulder. The hind-quarters should be broad and deep, the legs clean, well positioned and strong boned. The rams have a proud, stately carriage and the ewes exhibit a feminine look. The wool should be tightly purled, fine, dense, semi-lusterous and opening cleanly to the skin.

Color

The Bluefaced Leicester, though predominately a white wool breed, does carry a recessive black gene and natural colored lambs do appear. On a white animal, small dark spots are permissible on the face, ears, neck and legs. Lips and nostrils are preferably black, mottled grey is acceptable.

Wool Characteristics

The Bluefaced Leicester is classified as a Longwool breed with a staple length of 3- 6”, a fleece weight of 3 to 6 lbs., and a fiber diameter of 56s – 60s count, or 24-28 microns, creating high quality luster yarns with beautiful drape. The wool is classified as demi-luster & is the finest of any of the English native sheep, it blends well with silk or mohair and the wool is much sought after by home spinners. The high quality wool is a trait passed onto the cross bred offspring.

Size

The mature Bluefaced Leicester has one of the largest body weights of the British breeds: A ram at maturity will weigh 250-300 lbs, but fear not, they are know for their pleasant disposition and ease of management. A mature ewe typically weighs 170-220 lbs.

Lambing Traits

The Bluefaced Leicesters are know for being a prolific sheep with lamb crops of 200-250% being common. In additon, they produce plenty of milk for their multiple lambs and are good mothers.

Health and Constitution

BFLs are know to be genetically resistant to Scrapie and are therefore a top choice in the UK for crossbreeding sire. They are a hardy breed, well suited to many climates, including the long, cold winters of Michigan.

Uses for the BFL Breed

The BFL is an excellent multi-purpose breed, popular with handspinner’s for their exceptional fleece, gaining popularity as pure-bred breeding stock, and exceptionally useful for producing hardy crossbred stock for meat production.

*The preceding information was derived in part from The Bluefaced Leicester Breeders Association website. The BFLBA has been involved for a decade with promotion the BFL breed in the USA. They are dedicated to insuring the future of the breed through infusion of high quality genetics from the UK and education of breeders. More fascinating information can be found at www.BFLBA.com

“The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson