airyolland farm where sheep and cattle are rearedbeltex sheep are very muscly with good conformationdutch texels are large meat producing sheep and a terminal sirebluefaced leicesters are crossing sheep to produce mule type ewesscotch mules are great mothers for prime lamb productionhighland cattle are rustic animals bred to survive in harsh conditionsnews stories about livestock and the farmcontact us for sales and other information.

Airyolland

Bluefaced Leicester flock 2801

The Airyolland flock of Bluefaced Leicesters was founded in the late seventies.  I had been fortunate enough to have purchased an excellent crossing ram from George Ferguson from Old Hall Farm near Newton Stewart.  The mule progeny from this ram were outstanding so I decided to purchase Bluefaced Leicester females to form the foundation of my flock using this ram.  "Old George", as the ram became known as, got me started on the right foot and his influence is still apparent in the flock to this day.

The main focus of our breeding programme over the last thirty years has been to produce BFL sheep that are for producing mules, can't think of any other reason for keeping them to be honest. 

Over the years, rams either produced by or used in the flock have produced 19 different mule ewe lambs to win the champion's rosette at various shows in the South West of Scotland.

Kelso Ram Sales
 Our Bluefaced Leicester tups are sold at Kelso as Shearlings. We try to use as many of them as possible, on the Blackfaces, as lambs, so that the buyers can see their progeny. Pictures of the Mule lambs some of them have bred can be seen in their pen at Kelso.
Kelso 2009
 Despite the fact we were first in the ring at this huge multi-breed sale trade was very good and we had 3 tups break the four figure barrier. The dearest was 2801 A8, a stylish tup with a good skin, sired by Riddings A5 and out of 2801 X24, a W10 Airyolland daughter. He went to Mr JK Hunter Wedderburn, Huntly for £1150. This was followed by his full brother making £1100 to The Duke of Montrose, Gartincaber. At the same price was 2801 A4 a triplet son of Riddings X5 and out of  2801 V11 a T10 Hewgill daughter. He sold to Messers McKie, Finniness,Castle Douglas.

                 Airyolland Shearlings, Kelso 2009.