The Rough Fell sheep is a breed of domestic sheep from United Kingdom. It is mainly found on the Fells of Westmorland, Cumberland, Northumberland and on the Yorkshire Dales. It is also common on fell and moorland farms.
Distribution of this breed embracing a large proportion of South Cumbria, parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire, North Lancashire and more recently upland parts of Devon.
The Rough Fell sheep is one of the largest mountain sheep breeds in Britain. Today the breed is raised mainly for meat production. Read some more information about this sheep breed below.
Rough Fell Sheep Characteristics
Rough Fell sheep is a medium to large sized animal. It is easily recognized for the broad white patch across their black faces. It is a horned breed and both rams and ewes are usually horned.
As a medium to large sized breed, average live body weight of the mature Rough Fell rams is around 80 kg. And the mature ewes on average weight around 50 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The is a meat sheep breed. It is raised mainly for meat production.
Special Notes
The Rough Fell sheep are very hardy animals. They are an exceptionally docile sheep breed that excels in hardiness and has no equal in their power to exist under adverse conditions.
They are very hardy and, as the name suggests, they have proved to be well-suited to endure the hardships of exposed and high moorland and mountains.
Their hardy constitution enables the ewes to mother and rear their lambs whilst feeding mainly on the poor upland grasses and heathers found on their native moorland.
Rough Fell sheep requires no housing, even in the most inclement weather, mainly because of their fleece type.
They are mostly raised by the farmers on their native fell farms for pure breeding, but many are used for crossing with other sheep breeds, contributing their hardiness and adaptation to upland conditions.
However, review full breed profile of this breed in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Rough Fell |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Mainly meat |
| Special Notes | Very hardy and strong animals, exceptionally docile, well suited to high moorland and mountains, they require less housing even in the most inclement weather mainly because of their fleece type, mostly raised by the farmers on their native fell farms, currently raised mainly for meat production |
| Breed Size | Medium to large |
| Weight | 50 to 80 kg |
| Horns | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Color | White |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | United Kingdom |
