Our Breeding System

Stratified breeding (or Three-tier breeding) takes advantage of unique traits in several different breeds of sheep. Breeds are purposely chosen in to bring in specific genetic traits at each step of this system. The traditional approach we take was developed over hundreds of years of market lamb production in the United Kingdom.

Stratified Breading starts with what is sometimes referred to as a “hill or upland” breed. These sheep are typically smaller, very hardy, thick-coated, able-bodied and bold, which enables them to survive more hostile environments. Examples of upland breeds include Scottish Blackface in Scotland, Swaledale in Northern England, Welsh Mountain in Wales, and the Clun Forest in Shropshire. At Freith Farm out production system uses the Clun Forest as its upland breed. The female adults (ewes) of the upland breeds make excellent mothers.

The Stratified approach will cross breed upland ewes to a Bluefaced Leicester ram to produce progeny referred to as “Mules”. The Mule is the backbone of the UK’s prime lamb production system. Fifty percent of all UK commercial ewes are Mules. These Mules inherit the vigour and hardiness of its dam with the added benefit of increased body size, prolificness (consistent twinning), early maturity and increased milk production from her Bluefaced Leicester sire.
 
In the final tier of the breeding system the Mule ewes are bred to terminal sires, renowned for their heavy carcass genetics; the preferred ones being either a “British” Suffolk or the Texel. This third step in the system produces a high quality meat lamb that easily reaches market weights off milk and grass.
 
At Freith Farm we are replicating UK's traditional Three-tier system here in British Columbia. Our flock includes purebred Clun Forest ewes, purebred Bluefaced Leister rams, and the Clun Mules this cross produces. Our sheep are suited to the colder temperatures we experience at our higher elevation, produce twins, and thrive on the natural grass forage we feed. The prime lamb we raise is filling a growing niche in the specialty trade to restaurants, farm gate sales, the ethnic markets, and the ever growing demand by consumers for wholesome, healthy, grass fed lamb.