The Dalesbred sheep is a dual-purpose breed of domestic sheep from United Kingdom. It was originated in England form the Swaledale and Scotissh Blackface sheep breeds.
It is a hill sheep breed and is most common in the Central Pennines in England (particularly around Upper Wharfedale and Nidderdale). The Dalesbred sheep is very similar in appearance to it’s parent breeds.
The breed was threatened by culling in a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001, mainly due to the location and small extent of it’s distribution. Read some more information about this British sheep breed below.
Dalesbred Sheep Characteristics
The Dalesbred sheep is a medium sized breed primarily with white body coloration. Both rams and ewes usually have horns, and horns of the rams are long.
The breed has black face, and it is easily characterized by a white spot on each side of it’s face, with the end of the muzzle becoming grey.
Legs of these animals are free of wool and are mottled black and white in coloration.
As a medium sized animal, average live body weight of the mature Dalesbred rams is between 55 and 75 kg. And average live body weight of the mature ewes vary from 45 to 60 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Dalesbred sheep are dual-purpose animals. They are raised for both meat and wool production.
Special Notes
The Dalesbred sheep are very hardy and strong animals. They are capable of surviving the harsh conditions of upland terrain.
They are usually bred for several generations in their local environment, then ewes are sold to lowland farmers for cross breeding to produce mules. As a dual purpose breed, it is raised for both wool and meat production.
The Dalesbred ewes are often crossed with Teeswater rams for producing the Masham which is one of the most famous of British crossbreeds.
Meat of the Dalesbred sheep is of good quality. And both rams and ewes produce white colored carpet-quality fleece. However, review full breed profile of the Dalesbred sheep in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Dalesbred |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Meat and wool |
| Special Notes | Very hardy and strong animals, capable of surviving the harsh conditions of upland terrain, usually bred for several generations in their local environment, the ewes are often crossed with other breeds, good for both meat and wool production |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Weight | Mature ram’s live body weight vary from 55 to 75 kg, and the mature ewe’s live body weight is between 45 and 60 kg |
| Horns | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | Local climates |
| Color | White |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | United Kingdom |
