Greyface Lamb.

Having got nothing in the camera I nipped out after the evening meal to see what I could find.  I realised that I hadn't done any lamb shots this year so I looked for lambs.

This is despite what it looks like a this years lamb!  It is the product of "stratification" is the sheep industry.  Mountain breeds such as the Swaledale  (Mum to this one) live on the fells.  They are tough and hardy (can make do on poor fodder).  They are mated to an upland breed (probably in this case a Blue Faced Leicester).  These breeds are prolific and have high milkability (they can easily feed twins or triplets).

Their offspring known locally as Greyface or more widely as Mules are tough Hardy have good milkability and are prolific.  THis lamb (if it is female) will then move to better ground and be mated to a lowland breed such as a Suffolk.  They will probably have twins which because of the large meaty father grow quickly and produce high quality meat.  As a result Cumbria Greyface's are sold all over the country for good prices.