The Irish Vendéen Sheep Society Sale features Inlamb ewes and ewe lambs at Roscommon Mart today, Saturday, 29th October 2002.
About the Vendéen breed
The breed is well established in the Vendée region of France for many 100’s of years. It’s said that they owe some of their blood to sheep saved from the wreck of Spanish galleons at the time of the Armada. More links were seen to be established with an importation to the Vendée of Southdown sheep a little over a century ago.
More recently Vendéen sheep have been selected to satisfy the typical French demand for lean meat, whilst they have also been chosen for their hardiness in the wet and windy conditions of the Atlantic coast of France and even for their prolificacy. The impression has been that these are very practical sheep which appeal to practical sheep farmers who are seeking the best possible results from sheep which do not make excessive demands in terms of management and labour. They are of a quiet temperament and easy to handle. They adapt well to being housed, particularly at lambing and they are good mothers.
The Vendéen breed is hardy and has proved to adapt well to most conditions in Ireland. The fleece remains close and so sheds water easily and does not open along the back, even in heavy rain. Vendéen lambs are fine to medium in bone and this contributes to the easy births, which are a feature of the breed. The lambs are born brisk and lively.
Growth rates of Vendéen cross lambs are similar to those for the majority of Continental terminal sires.
See the Catalogue here.
Register to bid here.
Contact Roscommon Mart: +353 90 662 6099.