Welsh Mule Sheep Breeders Association

Welsh Mule Sheep Breeders Association

About us

Welsh Mule sheep are breeding ewes used by sheep farmers to produce the finest quality lambs for today’s discerning consumers.

Welsh Mules are the progeny of a registered Bluefaced Leicester ram crossed with the Welsh Mountain, Beulah or Welsh Hill Speckled-face ewes, all hardy, healthy Welsh hill breeds which impart their best qualities to their offspring.

Even the ewe lambs produce prolific lamb crops and their superior mothering instinct and excellent milking qualities ensure a very high percentage of live lambs reared.

The Welsh Mule adapts readily to a wide variety of management systems.It is easy to house and handle, while its hardiness, good foraging abilities, superior mothering qualities and prolificacy ensure a relatively trouble-free lambing season.

Welsh Mules also produce fine, high-quality wool, a characteristic inherited from the Blue-faced Leicester ram.

Breed Characteristics of the Welsh Mule

The Welsh Mule is the progeny of a registered Bluefaced Leicester ram crossed with a Welsh Mountain, Beulah Speckled-face or Welsh Hill Speckled-face ewe, hardy, healthy Welsh hill and mountain breeds which impart their best qualities on their offspring.

  • GENERAL APPEARANCES

    The Welsh Mule is a sharp, alert ewe showing good length and having depth throughout.  It has strong bone, stands squarely on sound feet, and is strong on the pastern.

  • HEAD

    The head can vary in colour, reflecting the character of the parent ewe. The Welsh Mule from the Welsh Mountain ewe can be white or slightly tanned, while the Mule from the Beulah Speckled-face or Welsh Hill Speckled-face will preferably show a distinctly marked brown mottled or speckled-face. However, ewes with very dark or even black faces should be recognised as Welsh Mules provided that all the other characteristics of a Welsh Mule are evident, including skin, ears, shape of head and type of wool.

  • MOUTH

    Correct dentition is important with short, broad teeth.

  • EARS

    Ears are obliquely set and not too thick, of medium length.

  • BODY

    The body is long and deep with well-sprung ribs, having good hindquarters with width between the hocks.  The udder must be sound.  Legs should be similar in colour to the face.

  • TAIL

    Tails should be three to four inches long and must cover the vulva.

  • WOOL

    A close-textured fleece, slightly crinkled and of high quality.  Black wool is undesirable.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact the association secretaries or field officer Holly Page on 07582 629423

Welsh Mules Sheep Breeders Association Ltd
PO Box 8, Gorseland
North Road, Aberystwyth
Ceredigion, Wales
SY23 2WB

Tel: 01970 636688
Fax: 01970 624049
Email: info@welshmules.co.uk

Auctioneers

Welshpool Livestock Sales
Buttington, Welshpool SY21 8SR
Tel: 01938 553438

Builth Market Auctioneers
Market Office, The Smithfield, Builth Wells, LD2 3ED
Tel: 01982 553228

Ruthin Farmers Auction Co. Ltd
Market Street, Ruthin LL15 1AU
Tel: 01824 702025

Jones Peckover
33 High Street, Wrexham LL13 8LD
Tel: 01978 364283