On the 5th of July Omagh show will host the largest display of North Country Cheviots in Ireland with both Park and Hill types on show.
Mr Allan Cowens, of Philipaugh Estates, Selkirk will be judging both types, Allan runs 220 pedigree North Country park type ewes along with 1000 Hill North Country ewes, selling rams throughout the UK.
North Country Cheviots have been present at Omagh Show for many years now but it is only the second year for the Hill type classes and has so far proved successful with demand for males and females increasing in the area.
The North Country Cheviot is one of the better known of the Cheviot breeds in Ireland for being big, long and having excellent carcasses. The breed has a very long pedigree, going back over 200 years.
The story begins with the noted 18th century agricultural improver Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster, in Caithness, in the far north of Scotland who took 500 Cheviots from the Scottish borders north to his Langwell estate in Caithness. The Cheviots were a great success and in the following years thousands and thousands were taken north – to Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire. Over the years the sheep adapted and developed to suit their new environment and the North Country Cheviot, as we know it today.
The North Country Cheviot is a proven performer when used as a terminal sire crossed on to both hill breeds and low land breeds to produce replacement females with style and durability. The female is unbeatable pure or crossed with other breeds always improving them with thriftiness, healthiness, prolificacy and strong maternal qualities
The Cheviot sheep that were developed on the hard and rugged hills of Sutherland are known as the Hill Type North Country Cheviots (they must not be confused with the South Country Cheviots.) The Hill North Country Cheviot has retained many of the visual characteristics of the original Cheviot of the late 18th/early 19th centuries. They are a breed with a great carcase, which is being increasingly used throughout Ireland due to their easy lambing and great maternal qualities. Over recent years breeders have noticed the Hill North Country Cheviot being used on many continental breeds due to these qualities.
Judging commences at 10am with a selection of breeders with stock on display.
North Country Cheviots Contact Alison Brodie (Secretary) 01461 600673.
(Source – Farming Life – 01/07/2014)
Allanshaws Nikki