Welsh Mountain sheep

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Welsh Mountain sheep (Welsh: Defaid Mynydd Cymru, pronounced /ˈdevаɪd ˈmənɪð ˈkəmrɨ/) are small, hardy sheep from the higher parts of the Welsh mountains. The males have horns, and the females are polled (hornless); they have no wool on the face or legs, and they have long tails (normally left undocked).

There are a number of varieties. These are mainly colour variations, but some are being developed as separate breeds.

[edit] Varieties

• Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep (Defaid Idloes, /ˈdevаɪd ˈɪdlɔɪs/). Two varieties:
  • Torddu (/tɔrˈðiː/, "black-bellied"), white with dark face and belly.
  • Torwen (/tɔrˈwɛn/, "white-bellied"), black with white belly and white stripes over the eyes.
• Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep, black (fading to brown in sunlight and greying with age) with white blaze on face, white socks on legs below hocks and part-white tail.
• Black Welsh Mountain sheep (Defaid Mynydd Duon, /ˈdevаɪd ˈmənɪð ˈdɪɔn/), all-black. Many flocks of white Welsh Mountains have one or two black sheep, but they are now also bred as a consistent black variety.
• White Welsh Mountain sheep, all-white. The most common variety in the Welsh Mountains.