Michael G Diskin, Noel Claffey & Frank Hynes,
Teagasc, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway.
The Scottish Blackface breed accounts for approximately 22% of the 2.5 million ewes in Ireland. The majority of these Blackface sheep are maintained on hills or marginal land that is not suited to other sheep breeds or other farm enterprises. Profits from these hill sheep enterprises is very much dependant on prices obtained for lambs sold. A large proportion of these lambs become available for sale annually from August onwards. In recent years, prices for hill lambs and in particular light hill lambs have been disappointing. This paper briefly examines different options to improve the marketability and profitability. The main focus of this paper is on pure Scottish Blackface lambs with some minor references to crosses of the breed.