Laingcroft Farm

    Being located in a Mid-Atlantic state (USDA Zone 7a), midway between the mountains and the ocean has its challenges.   Our winters can be cold, icy and wet, often without the blanketing effects of snow cover; while the summers are hot, humid and frequently stormy.   Hair sheep do well here, but they produce only one “crop” – lambs.   On the other hand, wool sheep produce two “crops”- lambs and wool, but they often suffer in our heat and high humidity.  After much research, we have decided the Blue Faced Leicester (a.k.a. 'BFL') is the best suited to our farm.  The BFL offers the best of both worlds - a dual purpose plus suitability for our climate.   BFL carry sufficient fleece of exceptional quality for hand spinning, while their legs, neck and belly are free of heavy fleece to help regulate body temperature...and they are incredibly cute too!  

        In addition to raising purebred BFL, we cross our best rams with Coopworth , Border Leicester and North Country Cheviot ewes. 

         A Texel ram will be added in the autumn of 2010 or 2011 (we must find the right ram!) for the production of exceptional market lambs. 

          Our BFL ram is genetically resistant to scrapie.  His sire, Titanium is RR at codon 171, so Piper is either QR or RR.  He will be tested this year.    The Laingcroft flock is also enrolled in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program.

Last updated 11-14-09