| |
General
Information
General
Information: Body Weight: up to 54.4kg Fleece Weight: 2.7kg average
Lambing%: 100% up to 150% Birth weight of pure Rough Fell:
- Single
lamb: 5kg average
- Twin
lamb: 3.8kg average
Whilst
the ewe lambs are kept for replacements, wether lambs are fattened off
grass or sold
at special store lamb sales held throughout this region. They
make excellent feeders with a quality carcass of up to 22.7kg after
the New Year.
Breed Secretary: Amanda Croft
High Newstead Farm
Jervaulx
Masham
Ripon
North Yorkshire
HG4 4PJ
Tel 01677 460241
email: roughfell@fsmail.net
Top
Description & History
of Breed: Although this breed is little
known nationwide, it is enormously popular on its native mountain
and moorland farms, embracing a large proportion of South Cumbria,
parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire, North Lancashire and more
recently, parts of Devon. This exceptionally hardy type of
sheep has proved to be well fitted to ensure the hardships of exposed
and high upland mountains. This is one of the largest
carcassed mountain sheep in Britain. Its strong and hardy
constitution enables her to easily mother and rear her lambs whilst
feeding mainly on the poor upland grasses and heathers found on
her native moorland. She requires no housing at all, not even
in the most inclement weather. This is due to her supreme
fleece of white wool.
| Rough
Fell rams are exceptionally fine looking large majestic horned
animals with black and white marked face and deep bodied carcass. Mostly
they are used by farmers on their native fell land farms for
pure breeding, yet many go for crossing, instilling the virtues
and qualities of the Rough Fell sheep in other breeds. |
|
Progeny: The Rough Fell Mule Lambs
Top
Wool:
The Grade quality of wool
is 32-36 and is sold mainly for exportation to Italy and France
for mattress making whilst it is used in this country for carpet
yarns.
Top
Annual
Shows:
Throughout
the summer months, there are a number of local and national
agricultural shows. Here the Rough Fell Breeders have a chance
to show off the breed and impress the judges with fine specimen
of the Rough Fell.
There are many small country shows around Rough
Fell Country - all having specific Rough Fell
classes.
Greenholme Show - Orton
- second Saturday in June.
The Great Yorkshire Show - Harrogate - second Tues, Wed, Thurs
week of July.
Cartmel Show - Cartmel - first Wednesday in August.
The Lunesdale Show - Kirkby Longsdale - second Tuesday in August.
Appleby Show - Appleby - second Thursday in August.
Brough Show - Brough - third Thursday in August. Barbon Show and Sheepdog
Trials - Barbon - third Saturday in August.
Ravenstonedale Show - Ravenstonedale - third Saturday in August.
Hawkshead Show - Hawkshead - fourth Tuesday in August.
Moorcock
Show - 06 September 2008, commences 12 noon at Mossdale which
is between Hawes and Sedbergh on the A684.
Selside
and Grayrigg Show - Kendal - first Thursday
in September.
Westmorland County Show - Crooklands
- second Thursday in September.
This is the highlight of the year for the Rough Fell
- The County Show - set in the
heart
of Rough Fell Country. |
Events:
Past events
photo galleries
Masham
Sheep Fair:
This
event is held every year. In 2001 when Foot and Mouth was here Masham
Sheep Fair went ahead, but scarecrow/model sheep had to be shown instead
of the real thing.
As we are now suffering with the Foot and Mouth virus and all the restrictions
it brings with it, Masham Sheep Fair 2007 went ahead again, but with
the scarecrows and models.
The Rough Fell stand was present as were two "sheep." On
the second day, prizes were given to the best exhibits and Rough
Fell came 2nd.
Photos taken at
Masham Sheep Fair 2007.
The
video and DVD are now on sale:Video £10.50, DVD £15.00
plus post and packing of £2.00
 |
|
The
Kendal Rough Fell Book is now out - price £10.00 plus post and
packing of £2.50 |
 |
|
DVD £15.00
plus post and packing of £2.00
Total: £17.00They are
available from Mrs F Jackson
Tel. 015396 23238Also available
are a range of clothing from tops to ties, jumpers and body
warmers. As well as umbrellas. |
Rough Fell
Sheep Breeders' Association Umbrella" |
|
|
Sales:
Sales 2008:
Ewe Sale to be held at Kendal Auction Mart on Saturday
27 September.
Tup Sale to be held at Kendal Auction Mart on Saturday
18 October.
In-lamb
Sale held at Kendal Auction Mart on Saturday 26 January 2008:
The
In-lamb sale was held on Saturday 26 January 2008 at Kendal
Auction Mart - the judge was Mr Michael German and the results
were as follows:
In-lamb Ewes:
1st Vic Guy, 2nd J T Capstick, 3rd G H Capstick & Sons, 4th Sarah Capstick
In-lamb Shearlings:
1st T, L, B & J Knowles, 2nd G M Sedgwick & Son,
3rd Tony Ellis, 4th Vic Guy
Hogg:
1st & 2nd, Master John Law, 3rd Adrian Ellis, 4th Tony Ellis
Champion: T, L, B & J Knowles
Reserve Vic Guy
Ewe
Sale and Ram Sale was held on Saturday 20 October 2007 at Kendal
Auction Mart.
Both the Ewe and Ram Sale were sponsored by Nigel Davis
Solicitors from Belper in Derbyshire.
Prior
to the sale, the showing of the Ewes, Shearlings and Gimmer Hoggs
took place. The judge being Mr Nigel Davis, the sponsor.
. 
The
results are as follows:
| Ewes: |
Shearlings |
Gimmer Hoggs |
| 1st N C Dodd |
1st G H Capstick & Sons |
1st E & K Bland |
| 2nd G H Capstick & Sons |
2nd G H Capstick & Sons |
2nd E & K Bland |
| 3rd V R Guy |
3rd T R Nicholson |
|
Champion
Pen - N C Dodd - Ewes
Reserve Pen - G H Capstick & Sons - Shearlings
Judging of the Rams was in the hands of:
Aged
Rams - G Udale
Ram Lambs - D Douthwaite
Shearling Rams - J S Handley & R A Steadman
Overall Champion & Referee - S Huck
The
results are as follows:
Aged Ram - Open: 1st M P Capstick, 2nd G H
Capstick & Sons, 3rd A J & C M Harrison,
4th M J Handley, 5th N C Dodd, 6th V R Guy
Best
Ram - 4 Shear & Over: A J & C M Harrison
Ram Lamb - Open: 1st
A J Croft, 2nd J R & L A Capstick,
3rd D & H M Watson
Shearling Ram - 10 Sheep or under: 1st R A Steadman,
2nd H Harrison, 3rd H Cook
Shearling Ram - Small Breeders - no more than 150 sheep: 1st
V R Guy, 2nd V R Guy, 3rd T Ellis
Shearling Ram - Open: 1st
M P Capstick, 2nd E & K Bland, 3rd T, L, B & J Knowles
4th N C Dodd, 5th G H Capstick & Sons, 6th V R Guy
Champion Aged Ram - M
P Capstick
Champion Ram Lamb - A J Croft
Champion Shearling Ram - M P Capstick
Overall Champion Ram - M P Capstick
External Links
Rough
Fell Lamb - Taste and Tradition:
Rough Fell Sheep,
often called, simply "Rough Fells" are native
to Westmorland and the North West corner of the Yorkshire
Dales.
As their name suggests,
they are the breed of the rough fells around Kendal. They
can be seen in their homelands of Kentmere, Long Sleddale
and the Howgill fells near Middleton, Sedbergh, Tebay, Cautley
and Ravenstonedale.
Their long full fleece
and black and white patchy faces distinguish them from other
breeds.
These sheep are kept
as distinct families, in the traditional way, grazing far
out on the open fells often in a communcal grazing system. They
are, in fact, sometimes the oldest families on the farms
and to their owners they are very special. Although
cared for in the centuries old, traditional system, the best
of the old is combined with the best of the new to reach
modern welfare standards, providing the customer with a naturally
reared wholesome product with the old fashioned taste.
Supplies of lamb
are seasonal and it is available from suppliers mentioned
on this leaflet between October and May.
Between May and October,
small supplies of particularly well flavoured, prime wether
mutton are sometimes available.
The following are
farms selling direct:
F B Dunning & Sons,
Raisgill Hall, Gaisgill, Tebay, Penrith, Cumbria.
Tel 015396 24418
J Wilson & Sons,
High Carlingill, Tebay, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 3XX.
Tel 015396 24661. E-mail: jhwilson@kencomp.net
T W L & B W Knowles,
Hollowgate Farm, Selside, Kendal, LA8 9LG.
Tel: 01539 823258
Markets
Rough Fell lamb is also
available from Orton Farmers' Market on the second Saturday of each
month, 9.30 - 12.30. A delivery service is available. Contact
015396 24899 morning or evenings or jane@ortonfarmers.co.uk
Butchers
The following butcher's
shops also supply Rough Fell lamb:
Messrs Watson & Wollard,
19 The Market Place, Kendal
Mr G Steadman,
2 Finkle Street, Sedbergh, Cumbria
Mr J D Hayton & Sons,
12 Main Street, Staveley
Launch
of Rough Fell Country Map and a little bit of the information
it contains:
The map - based on the French
Ecomusee concept - outlines the distinctive geographical area where
the Rough Fell Sheep are bred and gives information about the breed,
the community and the lifestyle of Rough Fell farming.The Rough Fell Country map
will be available FREE from the Rough Fell stand at the Westmorland
County Show on Thursday 8th September 2005.
Farm Visits
Steve Dunning
at Gaisgill, Tebay offers farm visits and farm walks. Here you can
see dairy cows being milked, learn about traditional and modern
farming methods, see clipping and sheepdogs in action; also see
a traditional cockpit, sites of archaeological interest and of course
Rough Fell sheep. You can buy Rough Fell meat here or visit Steve
at his stall at Orton and Pooley Bridge farmers Markets. Evening
walks can be booked throughout August. Events by appointment only
- Call 01539 24418 for details.Roger & Geoff
Sedgwick at Lockbank Farm, Sedbergh offer farm visits. See newborn
lambs here on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during April. Also
Roger offers demonstrations of dry stone walling, clipping and hedge
laying and you will learn all about the Rough Fell breed from Geoff.
All visits strictly by appointment. Tel 015396 20252 for details.John
Jackson at Weasdale Farm, Newbiggin-on-Lune welcomes visitors to
walk the Weasdale
Horseshoe – a famous Wainright walk over the fells above Newbiggin-on-Lune.
Also there is a great walk from the farm over the Howgills to Sedbergh.
Park by the farm. Also guided walks are offered where you will learn
about the area, the history, farming today and of course all about
breeding Rough Fell sheep. Guided walks by appointment from 015396
23238.
Accommodation
B&B at
The Barnaby Rudge in Tebay. Here you can also taste Rough Fell meat,
which is served in their restaurant.B&B, a Camping
Barn and Horse accommodation and afternoon teas are available at
Maggs Howe, Kentmere. Great accommodation, Farmhouse B&B, the
camping barn sleeps 12 – and they will even accommodate
your horse too! Good walking and mountain biking or just visit
for
a delicious afternoon tea. Tel.- 01539 821689. www.smoothhound.co.uk/hotels/maggs.htmlB&B
available at Hollowgate, Selside North of Kendal on the A6.
Lenore Knowles
has lived here all her life and enjoys sharing her memories
and the history of the area with her guests. Rough Fell meat
can be
purchased here. Tel- 01539 823 258Holiday House
at Lockbank Farm, Sedbergh. 'The Mount' is a beautifully renovated
farmhouse that sleeps 8 and is in an ideal location from which
to explore Rough Fell country. Visits around Lockbank farm
are an added
bonus for guests! Tel 015396 20252 www.holidaysedbergh.co.uk
Static Caravan at Moss Barn, Sedbergh. Available March-October.
Sleeps
5. A really
good setting as and part of a smallholding with plenty of
other farm animals. Good walking on the Howgills. Up to two
dogs welcome.
Tel 015396 21567Two 6 berth static
caravans set in secluded gardens at Beck House Howgill. Available
March-November. Wainwright walks onto the Howgills pass through
the farm where there are also opportunities to watch the cows
being milked and learn about farm life. Pets by arrangement
and children
welcome. Tel. 015396 20665 Self Catering
Cottage at High Swinklebank, Longsleddale. Open all year.
An ideal place to stay to experience life on a working farm.
Situated
in
great walking country. Sleeps 4. Pets by arrangement. Details
from 01539 823682 www.farmstayuk.co.uk
Places to visit
Dales Countryside
Museum at Hawes – a really great place to visit to see the
history of the area. Museum of Lakeland
Life and Industry – Abbot Hall, Kendal. Here you can see the
way industry and farming have evolved in the Lakeland area.Dent
- Find the story of the 'terrible knitters’.Farfield Mill
at Sedbergh – See the Rough Fell Exhibition. Here
you can also trace the history of the wool industry in this area.
The Sheep Dog Sales are held in September near Grayrigg. This is
a great
day out.
Here the professionally bred and trained dogs are put through their
paces and are then sold to the highest bidder. The Tup Sales
at Kendal. Come and visit the Tup sales held every October at Kendal
Auction Mart. This is a traditional auction where the sheep ate
shown, judged and sold. See the cream of the breed selling for thousands
of guineas.
Local events
There are guided
walks all around Rough Fell Country – see the
following websites for up to date information of local walks and events.
www.yorkshiredales.org.ukwww.golakes.co.uk
Common Land
In
Rough Fell country many sheep are grazed on common land under laws
which date
back to the medieval times, and which predate modern ownership.
To this day the farmers continue to exercise their right to put
their animals on the fells. It is on this huge acreage that he
makes a living, not the few fields in the valley bottom.Every
flock knows
its own territory, which is called a heaf. Each generation of
lambs learns the boundaries from its mother, so when the lambs
go back
up to the fell after winter they remember where they should be.
The foot and mouth epidemic threatened to destroy this system
which
is the keystone
of fell management. Loss of flocks has resulted in more stray
animals and many flocks ranging over large areas, making ‘gathers’ longer
and more difficult.This is when the
teamwork between man and dog comes into its own. A well-trained
sheep dog is invaluable for the hill farmer.The dogs hunting
instinct is used to run out to the tops of the craggs and drive
the sheep out of the hidden hollows and down to the valley.
Sheep Dogs
The best sheep dogs are those with a good pedigree. Ones those parents
and grandparents before them were good quality dogs where working with
sheep has become instinct. It takers a long time to train a sheep dog
properly. They are trained to lie down and stay. Then they are trained
by words to stop, start, lie down or go left or right. Only when they
have mastered this are they then trained to recognise a different whistle
for all those commands. Whistling allows the farmer to control the
dogs from a distance without having to shout.
The Gathering
The gathering
is a magnificent sight. Often several farmers will go up the fell
together with their dogs gathering up the sheep, looking for the
strays and bringing them back down to the lowlands. This activity
can be seen and heard – the whistles and shouts - as the farmers
direct their dogs - echoing across the fells and valleys. Once down
the sheep are then sorted and taken to their home farm. There are
several gatherings throughout the year – every time the sheep
have to be brought down off the fell. There is a gathering before
dipping,
a gathering before clipping and a gathering before the ewes
are put to the Tups. If you are in
Rough Fell Country between June and November – stop and listen
to see if you can hear the farmers with their dogs high up on
the fell. You will hear whistles and shouts and you will see long
lines
of sheep making their way down the fell side Hay Making
As
the summer moves on the farmers become really busy – making hay and silage.
The grass has to be cut when it is long and full of nutrients and
the weather is warm and dry. The grass is cut, and dried and either
stored in layers for silage or bailed for hay – both will be
used to supplement the sheep’s diet in the cold bleak
winter months. Again this can
be a social time with farmers coming together to work
on each farm in turn. Many members of the community will
turn
out
to help at
these busy times. In the upland
fells where the weather can be temperamental farmers now
often prefer to prepare silage as food because it can
be gathered
in while the
grass is still damp.
Rough Fell
Meat
Wonderful flavoursome lamb and mutton.The meat from
Rough Fell sheep is of a high quality. As the sheep
spend most of the year up on the fells they eat a
good diet. As these
sheep graze
consistently on grass their meat is closer to that of
a wild animal than any other farm animal. If you see
local lamb on
a menu be sure
to ask your waitress if it is Rough Fell.
Farmers
Markets
You can buy Rough Fell meat direct from the farmer at-
Orton Farmers market – second Saturday of every month and at Pooley Bridge
farmers market - last Sunday of the month, April –Sept. You
can also buy Rough Fell meat direct from the following farms – Raisgill
Hall, Gaisgill, Tebay. - 015036 24418 Hollowgate
farm, Selside, Kendal. - 01539 823258 High Carlingill,
Tebay. - 015396 246612
Top
|
