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Wensleydale
sheep are easy keepers and thrive on average pasture
conditions |
WENSLEYDALE SHEEP
I began raising longwool sheep in the
mid 1980s with purebred Lincoln Longwool sheep from a flock
that was known for its outstanding fleeces. Over the years,
I have bred to maintain these excellent fleeces as well
as selecting for outstanding conformation and strong maternal
qualities including heavy milk production. In 1999, I changed
the focus of my longwool production to Wensleydale sheep
which have a finer, more purled fleece with good luster.
Carlson Farm is a charter member of the
North American Wensleydale Sheep Association (NAWSA), which
was organized to establish Wensleydale sheep in North America.
Since importing live animals and embryos from the U.K. is
prohibited, developing purebred Wensleydale sheep must be
accomplished through the use of successive generations of
imported semen.
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Purebred lambs at 9 months of age. |
The original Carlson flock of Lincoln Longwool sheep built a strong foundation for my upgrading program. Their large size, excellent conformation and consistent, lustrous fleeces have been an asset to the progress being made to establish the American Wensleydale Sheep. The Carlson flock now consists entirely of purebred Wensleydale sheep.
Healthy sheep produce healthy lambs and fleeces, and I take care to protect the flock against diseases and conditions that may affect the species. Carlson Farm has been a closed flock since 1996, with new bloodlines introduced only by artificial insemination. The flock continues to test negative for ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP).
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