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HomeFarming NewsBadger Face Torwen added to watchlist
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Badger Face Torwen added to watchlist

The rare Badger Face Torwen has been added to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s Watchlist.

The Welsh Mountain Sheep breed’s numbers have declined by close to 30% since 2013.

The RBST Watchlist indexes the UK’s rarest native livestock and equine breeds. The breed will now benefit from focused RBST support to help its revival.

RBST is the national charity working to safeguard the future of native livestock and equine breeds, which have become rare.

The trust will work in partnership with the Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep Society to increase Torwen breeding numbers, prevent inbreeding, and safeguard the breed’s future.

Characteristics

Torwen sheep have a black face with white facial markings, and a black fleece with a white belly (Torwen means ‘white belly’).

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Its legs are tan with a black stripe, the underside of its tail is white, and rams have dark spiralled horns.

Their markings are the reverse of the Badger Face Torddu breed.

The Badger Face Sheep’s historic name, Defaid Idloes, suggests links to a 7th Century figure, Saint Idloes of Mid Wales.

The majority of today’s Torwen flocks are in Wales, but farmers have established flocks in England and a small number in Scotland.

Post-Brexit vision 

RBST chief executive, Christopher Price, said:

“The distinctive markings of Torddu and Torwen Badger Face Sheep have been a feature of the Welsh Mountains for centuries.”

“With numbers dwindling, action is needed to prevent Torwens from disappearing. Both the Badger Face Sheep breeds should play an important role in Government’s post-Brexit vision of a sustainable future for farming that works in harmony with the natural environment.”

Brian Eagles MRCVS, the Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep Society’s past chairman has kept Torwens for more than 20 years.

“Torwens are very useful on farms and smallholdings alike thanks to their hardy nature, medium-size and excellent mothering.”

“They are good for crossing, popular in meat boxes and ideal for conservation grazing work. They are not as well-known as their Torddu cousins.”

“I am thrilled that their addition to the RBST Watchlist will encourage more smallholders and farmers to keep them and will enable more promotion of the breed at agricultural shows through new Torwen classes, or through Torwen’s being included in the rare breed classes.”

How many Torwens exist?

Farmers registered just 491 Badger Face Torwen breeding females in 2019, down from 681 in 2013.

To note, Torwen and Torddu have previously been categorised as one breed.

The Badger Face Mountain Sheep Society has traced evidence that shows the two breeds have long been bred separately, with a genetic history and inherited characteristics that clearly distinguish the two breeds.

Furthermore, as breeding numbers have increased significantly, the Torddu is no longer categorised as rare, but the Torwen is lower in number.

Crosses between the Torwen and the Torddu are called a Wendu, and they are not considered to represent either breed.

Access more sheep-related news here.

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