Pedigree & Crossbreeding
This guide is intended for anyone that is interested in learning more about using Wensleydales for crossing with other breeds, or that would like advice on pedigree breeding- both to produce registered offspring for continuation of the breed or crossing. Please see the breed standard page if you would like to learn more about the physical characteristics of Wensleydales and what is true to type
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Wensleydales were traditionally established as a crossing sire in the 1800s (more can be read on the breed history page), and enjoyed a level of popularity throughout the Yorkshire Dales for this purpose. They improve the fleece quality of their offspring as well as producing a large, lean carcase. Though less common now due to trends in the sheep breeding industry, Wensleydales are still bought by some farmers to cover hill ewes, resulting in a traditional Masham; they can be crossed with any number of breeds for the purposes of wool production; or can also be used either as sire or dam in order to produce a Mule. Wensleydales are a milky and maternal breed, and when crossbred offspring are kept as Mules, their progeny enjoy the added benefits of their hybrid vigour, with lambs growing quickly
The breed also benefits from an increased predisposition to Scrapie Resistance. While it isn’t guaranteed that every Wensleydale is ARR/ARR genotype, an exceptionally high percentage of the breed feature this valuable trait, and of course half of this genetic tendency is passed on to the offspring of any resistant animals. There are also several breeders with Maedi Visna accreditation from which to source stock, if you keep an MV accredited flock
The fleeces that are the result of crossing Wensleydales are often highly sought after by crafters when kept in good condition and sold privately. Wensleydale wool is naturally free of kemp and this is a very heritable trait. A quick search on Facebook and shopping platforms such as Etsy will demonstrate the value that Wensleydale wool has in every stage, from raw (fresh off the sheep) through to washed and pulled locks or even commercially spun yarn. Selling fleeces this way does require a level of effort (buyers can’t find you if you don’t advertise your wool!), however the specialist fleeces that are produced by Wensleydales and their crossbred offspring can carry considerable value
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Pedigree breeding of any breed or species is naturally something that benefits from planning and conscientious decisions. There are several considerations to make when choosing stock to purchase, or when deciding which of your own lambs to register. Unfortunately it is a fact of any pedigree breeding that not every animal will be of a high enough standard to register, and that it is for the betterment of the breed that they are castrated, culled, or used for crossbreeding purposes instead. This is even more important when keeping rare breeds, as when undesirable traits are retained it is easy to introduce genetic faults to the national population of the breed when selling stock on
Particular areas of note are to check pasterns and mouths of any sheep that you intend to use or register. Of course they should be true to type as previously mentioned, but these basic areas of conformation are important to improving the health of the breed for everyone, and unfortunately are sometimes overlooked. If you are unsure and would like any specific advice on whether an animal is true to the breed standard and worth registering, please contact your Regional Representative or the Breed Secretary
Thankfully, it is relatively easy to source outcrosses within the Wensleydale breed when choosing white ewes and rams, with breeders maintaining a variety of bloodlines throughout the UK and Ireland as well as overseas. Black Wensleydales are recognised and registerable under the Association, however they do suffer from a reduced gene pool and sourcing black sheep while avoiding inbreeding can be slightly more difficult. Breeders are working on widening this pool by breeding white sheep that are found to carry a recessive black gene and registering the black progeny. More about colour genetics within Wensleydales and registering black lambs from white parents can be found on the registrations page
Stock can be sourced at the annual breed sales found on the Events page, at a variety of unaffiliated rare breed sales (though if purchasing from an unaffiliated sale, please ensure any stock you purchase are pedigree registered prior to buying if you intend to register offspring from them, as Wensleydale sheep can only be pedigree registered by the breeder in the year of birth), or privately from members advertising on the stock for sale page. Pedigree registered white Wensleydales have a circular blue “button” tag with a Ⓦ symbol; black Wensleydales have the orange equivalent. This pedigree tag has their flock number, year of birth and individual number divided by forward slashes
