Border Leicester sheep: they fare well even under primitive conditions. (The sheep shed).

The Border Leicester breed has what it takes for commercial operations, meat sales or handspinners.

Breed development

The Border Leicester's ability to transmit it's characteristics, has made it an invaluable asset both in the development of other breeds and commercial production. Highly adaptable, the Border Leicester remains a top breed in Australia and the United Kingdom. In Australia the Border Leicester is the number one commercial lamb sire. Sheep men in the US have been impressed with this breed as well.

Dr Lyle G. McNeal, Utah State University sheep and wool specialist, is renowned for his preservation work with the Navajo Churro breed. He has fond memories of his experiences with Border Leicesters under tough range conditions:

"For many years during the late '60s through the early '80s, we conducted research in Southern Utah under harsh range conditions and a traditional migratory sheep band of 1,400 ewes. The sheep were shed lambed in the spring in drop-lots. The ewes were wintered near Eastern Nevada under saltbush and sagebrush grazing conditions. Water came in the form of snow. Then in the spring the pregnant ewes were herded a few hundred miles back to the shed lambing facilities.

"Once the ewes had lambed they were turned out on to the Spring range, usually on a Pinon-Juniper type of range. Later the sheep were then trailed up into the high mountains.

"We utilized rams of three different genotypes: Suffolk, Targhee, and Border Leicester. The breeding ewes were Western-white face. The ewes nursed their lambs under high mountain range conditions until fall, when lambs were either selected as replacements or sold

"We found that the Border Leicesters gained well under these primitive conditions. The rams had less health problems, i.e., feet and legs, and remained sound under the difficult herding and trailing conditions. The Border Leicester was hardy, and still gained weight under those conditions. We also found that Border Leicester carcasses were more tender and yield more cuts to their carcass weight. They herded well with our stock dogs. The ewes rarely abandoned their offspring like I witnessed with the Western-white face ewes. Overall, we found them to be a breed of sheep grossly underrated and tough enough to function under the West's harsh range conditions."

Productivity

The Border Leicester ewe is noted for excellent mothering abilities, high fertility, good birth weights, and high milk production with sound, long-lasting udders.

Lambs show high growth rates, feed efficiency, and muscling. When crossed with other breeds, the offspring tend to retain these traits.

Temperament

The Border Leicester is well known for their sensible temperament. Even the rams are typically well behaved.

Ron and Dorothy Whiteman, of Sonnybrier in Elma, WA already raised other breeds of sheep. They bought their first Border Leicesters strictly for working and training their dogs, which they compete in sheep dog trials. "Handlers are looking for sheep which are not temperamental and flighty, or mean/defensive, and which herd well," said Dorothy.

Handlers around the country commonly use Border Leicester sheep or crosses derived from Border Leicesters. Dorothy puts it rather succinctly, "Borders are just plain easy to get along with."

Showing

The Border Leicester is a joy to exhibit. They are steady yet posses an innate presence that makes them eye-catching in the pasture or the show ring. With his good manners, the Border Leicester is an excellent choice for youth. In addition, the American Border Leicester Association has an active youth program.

Luster longwool 

The Border Leicester belongs to a unique group of sheep due to a characteristic of the scale formation on the wool fiber. This characteristic causes light to be reflected and gives a lovely glow or luster to the wool. Their wool has long been held in high esteem by handspinners and fiber artisans--it's a handspinner's dream, strong yet soft and silky to the touch.

ABLA 

The ABLA has been serving the Border Leicester breed since 1973. To learn more about the Border Leicester or the ABLA contact Secretary Di Waibel at 503-266-7156 or momfarm @canby.com; or visit the ABLA website at www.interrain.com/abla

New sheep ID rule affects animals crossing state lines

Sheep raisers who move their animals across state lines must now have the animals officially identified with a USDA ear tag. That new regulation is part of the National Scrapie Eradication Program, according to Kent Thiesse of the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

"The regulation applies to all sheep that are transported across state lines for sale, slaughter or show," says Thiesse. "This will impact any breeding sheep that are sold and any sheep going to livestock shows in other states."

Young people with 4-H and FFA sheep projects must comply with the new scrapie regulation.

The USDA ear tags and more information on the scrapie eradication program are available from your state Board of Animal Health. Information on the program is also available from county offices, or on the website of the National Institute of Animal Agriculture at www.animalagriculture.org/ scrapie.