Welsh Mountain sheep

A White Welsh Mountain ewe

Welsh Mountain sheep (Welsh: Defaid (sing;"Dafad") Mynydd Cymreig, pronounced [ˈdevaɪd ˈmənɪð ˈkəmrɛɨɡ]) are small, hardy sheep from the higher parts of the Welsh mountains. The males have horns, and the females are polled (hornless); they have no wool on the face or legs, and they have long tails (normally left undocked).

There are a number of varieties. These are mainly colour variations, but some are being developed as separate breeds.

Varieties

• White Welsh Mountain sheep, all-white. The most common variety in the Welsh Mountains; also kept elsewhere.
• Badger Face Welsh Mountain (Defaid Idloes, [ˈdevaɪd ˈɪdlɔɪs]). Two varieties:
  • Torddu ([tɔrˈðiː], "black-bellied"), white with dark face and belly.
  • Torwen ([tɔrˈwɛn], "white-bellied"), black with white belly and white stripes over the eyes.
• Balwen Welsh Mountain, black (fading to brown in sunlight and greying with age) with white blaze on face, white socks on legs below hocks and part-white tail.
• Black Welsh Mountain (Defaid Mynydd Duon, [ˈdevaɪd ˈmənɪð ˈdɪɔn]), all-black. Many flocks of white Welsh Mountains have one or two black sheep, but they are now also bred as a consistent black variety.
• South Wales Mountain. Similar to other Welsh Mountains, but rather larger. White, with tan markings on legs and face, and a brown collar.

External links

• Welsh Mountain, Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science