The Border Leicester is a dual purpose breed of
sheep, producing both meat and wool. Border
Leicester wool falls in long, shining locks that are
popular with hand spinners. The Border Leicester has
a regal, alert appearance. Its head and legs are
free of wool, and its arched Roman nose and long,
erect ears give the Border Leicester a stylish,
distinctive look.
Border Leicester wool is long and lustrous with
a spinning count from 40s to 50s (38-30 microns).
The ideal fleece falls in well defined “pencil”
locks with purled tips ending in a small curl,
usually measures 6-10 inches after a year’s growth.
Border Leicester wool is long enough that they can
be sheared once a year or twice a year. The clean
head and legs makes them an easy-to-shear breed.
Ewes average 8-12 pounds of grease wool annually.
And it’s not all grease! Border Leicester fleece
often yields 70% wool after scouring, one of the
highest of all.
Border Leicesters rank third in size among the
longwool breeds. A ram at maturity should weigh
175-300 pounds and stand about 32 inches at the
shoulder. He should have a wide, level back. Ewes
usually weigh 150-225 pounds. Border Leicesters are
hardy and well muscled. Ewes are prolific, excellent
mothers and heavy milkers. They are also good
foragers and get along on less feed than many other
breeds. Border Leicester lambs are active and
vigorous at birth. Border Leicesters are generally
calm and easy to handle, even though they are very
aware of their surroundings. A pleasant surprise for
many is the gentlemanly disposition of Border
Leicester rams.
Our group of Border Leicesters are wonderful
mothers and produce lovely, award winning fleeces.
The lambs, especially the ram lambs, seem to inherit
their sire's gentle giant disposition. Our
foundation sire, Anson, is the sweetest ram I have
ever met. He is proud and aristocratic and has never
shown a pushy bone in his body. We do sell
registered ram lambs and ewe lambs, usually in the
summer and fall after spring lambing. We also sell
the fleeces from these lovely sheep.