Scottish Blackface Sheep

Scottish Blackface sheep are primarily used for their meat and wool. They are a hardy hill breed, known for their ability to thrive in challenging environments and produce good quality lambs. Their wool is also used in various textile applications, including carpets and tweeds. 

The Scottish Blackface is an

attractive, hardy, old breed whose origins are lost to us. It is likely that the breed developed in the border area of Scotland and England.

Monastery records show that monks in the Twelfth Century raised sheep that are the progenitors of the modern Scottish Blackface breed. The monks used the wool of the dun-faced sheep, as they were often called, for their own clothing and exported large amounts to Europe. Later records show, in 1503, James the IV of Scotland established a flock of 5,000 Scottish Blackface in Ettrick Forest.

Today the Blackface is numerically, and probably economically, one of the most important in the United Kingdom. In 1989 their wool accounted for nearly 40% of the total wool production of Scotland and one twelfth the wool production of the United Kingdom. The fleece that the Scottish Blackface has today is the result of selective breeding since medieval times from a short coarse wooled ancestor. The fleece of the modern Scottish Blackface weighs from 1.75-3 kg with a staple length of 15-30 cm.

Blackface ewes are excellent mothers and will defend their offspring against any perceived threat. They are good milkers and are able to yield a lamb crop and a wool clip even when on marginal pastures. The breed spread from the border areas during the 19th Century to the highlands and the islands and also to Northern Ireland and the US. There are small flocks scattered across the USA but this robust little breed has remained a minor breed.

The Scottish Blackface are excellent on brushy hillsides and can be useful for improving pastures. They are very adept at regaining condition after lambing or a hard winter.

Blackface lambs yield a carcass ideal for the modern consumer. The meat is free of superfluous fat and waste and is known the world over for its distinct flavor. Although they are not large sheep they have enormous potential for the production in the US of high quality lean lamb for today's health conscious consumer.

Elaboration:

Meat Production:
Blackface sheep are a maternal breed, meaning their ewes are excellent mothers, and their lambs are known for their lean, flavorful meat. They are often crossed with other breeds to produce prime lamb. 

Wool Production:
The Blackface fleece varies in length and fineness, with coarser wool used for carpets and finer grades for tweed. Some finer wool is also used in tapestry and rug-making. 

Hill Country Grazing:
Scottish Blackface sheep are well-suited to grazing on hill and mountain terrain due to their hardiness and ability to utilize marginal pastures. 

Ecology:
They play a role in managing upland ecosystems by grazing vegetation and contributing to biodiversity. 

Other Uses:
Blackface sheep are sometimes used as "marker sheep" in large flocks to help shepherds count the sheep. They are also prized for their mothering abilities and their ability to raise lambs in extreme conditions.