The Cottage Flock of
Vendeen
Sheep
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This pedigree Flock breed prize sheep for the pedigree breeder and commercial farmer
2011 Premier Sale:This was once again held in Roscommon. A new class was added this year for lambs participating in the LamPlus recording scheme. The winner was presented with the Pat Oliver trophy and it was won by the Cottage Flock with Cottage Knight which went on to be the Reserve Champion of the day. The Champion was Carane Kingston and was bought by The Cottage Flock.
2011 Showing:The All-Ireland Vendeen showing classes were held in conjunction with the All- Ireland Sheep Shearing Championships in Cillin Hill Kilkenny on the June Bank Holiday week end. The Cottage Flock did not participate because of time constraints with commercial lambing and the very early closing date.
Vendeen Breed Characteristics
The Cottage Flock HistoryThis pedigree Vendeen flock was established in 1994 following good results in the commercial flock with Vendeen rams over the previous 6 years. Since then the Cottage Pedigree Flock has grown and is striving to produce top quality stock for both pedigree breeder and commercial farmers. The commercial flock continues to produce quality lambs for the French market. Vendéen cross lambs from this flock consistently win carcass competitions in the export factories. Commercial lambs are produced from grass only with minimal chemical fertiliser used on the grassland. Show ring results from this flock are good, including numerous first prizes and championships. The 2001 showing season was disrupted by the Foot and Mouth crisis. 2002 brought a return to the winning ways of this flock, but it took until 2006 to win the coveted "Show FLock of the Year". This was won again in 2008 and 2010. The breeding strategy of the flock includes sourcing the best stock in Ireland, using imported French semen in laparoscopic artificial insemination to achieve the breeding goals as well as importing top quality stock from the parent French society. As well as quality goals we are now breeding high quality fast growing sheep that are genetically resistant to scrapie .
Visitors are welcome to come and see the quality stock.
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