For the first time since the two flocks were established at SRUC hill farm Kirkton, the 400 Blackface flock has scanned more lambs than the 200 Lleyns ewes. The Blackfaces scanned a rate of 132% up 5% on the six year average whilst the Lleyns were 105% down 35% on their average. The barren rate in the Lleyns was 18% compared to 8% in the blackfaces.

“The tups went out around the 24 November,” said Ewen Campbell, farm manager at Kirkton and Authertyre research farms. “The pre-tupping weights showed that the Blackfaces were heavier than the Lleyns which is unusual. I think the Lleyns suffered from the very wet summer and back end last year. We have had the highest number of snow days since we started recording around 15 years ago.”