VISITORS enjoyed an open day last Sunday (August 4) to learn all about Lleyn Sheep. 

The West Country Lleyn Sheep Breeders Club held their annual open day, which was hosted by Sarah and Paul Eckett at Hazelbury Bryan in Dorset. 

To start the day, Paul shared information about the farm. The pair began keeping a commercial sheep flock around 40 years ago, but changed to Suffolks 20 years later. Soon after, the pair fell in love with the Lleyn breed and changed again. 

Paul and Sarah own 10 acres at Hazelbury Bryan, but rent another 37. 

"We have 90 breeding ewes, which we lamb in two separate batches, to make best use of our barn space," said Paul.

"We retain our own ewe lambs as replacements and to rear on as pedigree shearling ewes to be sold at Lleyn Sheep Society Sales. We also rear ram lambs, starting with 25 or so in late summer. These are carefully weeded out, bit by bit over the winter, leaving us with the best four or five for sale at society sales the following summer.

"Due to the small number of sheep we keep and the range of ages, it is difficult to produce batches that reach uniform killing weight and grades at the same time, so we sell our meat lambs as stores at Sedgemoor Market."

After the talk, guests enjoyed some food and drink while exploring the animals on the farm. Visitors were invited to guess the weight of a sheep in a pen and also take part in some stock judging. 

The Eckett's vet, Jo Childs from Friar Moor Livestock Health, gave a presentation later in the day. She is working on a project comparing a range of commercial sheep colostrum substitues. After studying blood samples from newborn lambs given varous products, she has found there are dramatic differences in product quality and effectiveness. 

A spokesperson for the breeder's club said: "All in all, the open day was extremely friendly, enjoyable and inspiring, bringing together old friends and new faces."

The next Lleyn Sheep Society Sale will be held at Exeter Livestock Centre on Thursday, August 22 at 10am.