I have a small flock of Wensleydale sheep numbering approximately 50. This includes 21 breeding ewes, of which 5 are pure black and 2 are what’s known as ‘white-blacks’ (WB). This always appears confusing to everyone outside of the ‘Wensleydale world’ as it seems to be a contradiction in terms. In a nutshell it means that they are white sheep that through genetics, produce black lambs (don’t get me started on genetics and recessive black genes – I am a self-confessed geek when it comes to this and find it amazingly interesting!)

The white and black flocks are kept entirely separately for breeding purposes and of course are bred with separate rams.

I think the blacks are fantastic – the whites are pretty good too! I am hoping over the next couple of years that I will be able to extend my black flock – the blacks being even rarer than the whites.