THE BEECH HAY FLOCKS OF
ZWARTBLES & BLACK HEADED DORPER SHEEP

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ZWARTBLES

Click here to see our Zwartbles Sheep.

Zwartbles are a lovely looking sheep with striking markings, excellent prolificacy, good growth and easy temperaments. These sheep originated from the Friesland area of Holland, often running as a complimentary enterprise to the dairy herd as they produce good quantities of milk. They were imported into the UK in the early 1990's and the ZSA was formed in 1995

In some parts of Europe Zwartbles sheep are milked for cheese production. These milky ewes produce lambs that often achieve 40kg - 50kg at 5 months and require very little or no creep feed whatsoever.

We purchased our first Zwartbles from Mrs Philippa Ball (Woodston Flock) and entered them into the Maedi Visna scheme. We first saw Zwartbles at the Royal Show and were taken by their size, strangth and good temperament.

Beech Hay Zwartbles are being produced as quality pedigree breeding stock. We have been extremely successful in the show-ring having won numerous Breed Championships.

Click here to see our Dorper Sheep

Dorper Sheep were established in South Africa in the 1940's by crossing a Persion Black Headed Ewe with imported Dorset Horn rams. This created a hardy, prolific, milky breed with excellent vigour and maternal trait.

Dorpers were bred to adapt and flourish under different conditions; from severe drought to ultra cold and wet conditions and so must be able to survive and resist health hazards and disease.

Dorper females are excellent mothers with plenty of milk. They require no crutching or shearling as they are self molting, which makes them much less susceptible to fly strike and much less chance of them becoming stuck on their backs. They have a mature bodyweight of approximately 65 - 75 kgs. They are polyoestrus and so will breed all year around.

Dorper rams have a mature weight of 100 - 110 kgs and have a very high libido.