Category:Brecknock Hill Cheviot Sheep

Brecknock Hill Sheep, also known as Brecon Cheviot and Sennybridge Cheviot, originated in the Brecon Beacon Hills (Brecknock & Sennybridge Hills) in Wales UK in Wales some 400 years ago, but only recognize in the mid 1850`s. They descended from the original border Cheviots who where back then, a very small tan faced breed which closely resembled the Olde Welsh Mountain sheep, to which in fact they were related. Early on they were crossed with both Welsh Mountain to improve wool quality, then very late in the 1850`s they again added some new blood of Leicester sheep.

These crosses made the Brecknock Hill & Sennybridge sheep what they are today. Purebred Brecknock Hill sheep come in all colors except spotted. They tend to be naturally small like their ancestors, the great majority of them 23" in height sheared.

Brecknock Hill Cheviot have erect ears with white face and legs and a ruff of wool behind the ears. They have no wool on the face or legs below the knee or hock. The ewes are polled and the rams are usually polled but there are occasional horned rams.

Staple length is 6 to 10 cm with a fleece weight of 1.5 to 2.5 kg. The spinning count of the wool is 50's to 56's. The fleece has some kemp but usually no red kemp. It is used mainly for tweeds and knitwear in Britain.

Their wool is wonderful for handspinning and their nature is much more gentle than the other Cheviot sheep.

In Wales UK, these sheep stand alone and are not part of the three Cheviot sizes. They are a Welsh Hill breed of sheep, which the USA has forgotten.