HMFF White Knight , Improved Border Leicester.

Our Border Leicesters have been selected and culled heavily for years for classic type, hardiness, productivity and above all a spectacular fleece . While the breed is considered a Longwool or coarsewool, HMFF Borders have been selected for a finer diameter type with luster and uniformity. Their fleeces blend well with fine adult mohair and are of similar length and diameter. Borders produce the largest fleeceweights as well. The rams have easy dispositions and the ewes are excellent mothers with twins being common. Longevity and hardiness coupled with parasite and hoofrot resistance... these guys are my easiest keepers.

closeup of Border Leicester fleece

The photo above shows uniform large spiraled locks. Border Leicester fleeces are very popular with crafters and spinners alike.

 

GC Beechtree Blackpark , Bluefaced Leicester.

The BFL is a tall and long bodied sheep which is still a rare breed in the U.S. They are fast growing with a light fleeceweight of tiny and fine diameter purled locks. Although the BFL is considered a meat breed in the UK, the fine diameter purled locks are highly heritable and improve the fleece of almost any wooled sheep they are put on. At HMFF we have a small group of registered BFLs, and have used them with great success on some of the Border Leicesters to produce what we call our Hybrid Leicesters. The rams are easy to get along with and the ewes are fierce and prolific mothers with lots of milk. In my experience, they are not as long lived as Borders, but may produce just as many lambs in their lifetimes...twins are normal, triplets are not unusual. Their nutritional needs seem to be greater than the Borders, but they fatten well on summer pastures. With large open toes, they have few foot problems.

a closeup of a white Bluefaced Leicester fleece

With tiny purled locks, the BFL is fine enough to blend with bunnywool!

 

HMFF GrisGris, a Hybrid Leicester (rare silver blackbelly pattern)

Hybrid Leicesters produce our most popular spinning fleeces! Super fine, yet long stapled with incredible luster. Hybrid Leicester blends perfectly with yearling mohair, being similar in staple length and diameter. The fleeceweights are closer to Border-type weights . The best of both the BL and the BFL. The sheep is stout and hardy with excellent parasite and hoofrot resistance Good tempered rams and dependable mothers. Twins are the norm.

a multicolored, award winning fleece from the ram above

With the exception of the new BFLs, I have kept a closed flock for the past 10 years, which makes our lambcrop uniform and dependable.

All HMFF Leicester sheep have been selected for classic roman nose, upright ears, clean face and legs (which makes shearing a breeze!) sound structure and overall hardiness and mothering ability. I would not have a ram with a bad or destructive disposition on the place, and in fact, have only seen one over the past 20 years. They must be easy to handle, easy to shear, uniform and with a good hand to the fleece since I and my customers are handspinners afterall!

Lock comparison: Border, Hybrid, Bluefaced

Livestock availability changes throughout the year and is updated monthly in our farm newsletter, Seasons Bleatings! To receive a notice when each issue is published, please contact me at hmffarm@fidnet.com so I can put you on the mailing list. Fleeces from these fine sheep are available year round at our ebay store: Herbal Maid Gallery at http://stores.ebay.com/Herbal-Maid-Gallery