We breed our flock of pedigree Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep pure to produce both our own flock replacements, and stock to sell on for breeding. Any lambs not registrable with the Breed Society because of incorrect markings are used for meat.
We produce lamb, hoggett and mutton.
Our flock is known as the GARTHLOWEN FLOCK.
('Garthlowen' is Cornish for 'happy farmyard’.)
Registered flock number 271 of the BWMSS
Balwen are a small, hardy breed. They are easy to handle and manage, having very few of the health problems associated with many of today's larger 'commercial' breeds. They have excellent feet, requiring very little attention, and can get by with only the minimum of feeding at peak times of the year.
The ewes make excellent mothers, having very few lambing problems, with plenty of milk to feed the lambs.
We don't breed from ours until they are in their second year. According to the breed society’s information, ewes have single lambs the first time around, and after that many have twins, and sometimes triplets.
We find that our girls - kept here on our lowland grazing - often twin from the start.