Cheviot sheep - Definition and Overview

The Cheviot is a breed of white faced sheep which gets its name from a range of hills in the Scottish Borders. It is still common in this area of the United Kingdom, but also in north west Scotland, Wales and the south west of England (especially Dartmoor and Exmoor) as well as more rarely in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. They are medium sized with rams weighing about 80 kg and ewes weighing around 40 kg.

Early records indicate that the Cheviot was roaming in the border country between Scotland and England as early as the 14th century, although it wouldn’t necessarily have borne much resemblance to the breed we see today. It has been steadily improved over the centuries and crossed with other breeds.

In the 19th century, the Cheviot became increasingly common, as its wool was said to be ideal for use in durable tweed cloth. Today, the Cheviot is a dual-use breed used for meat and for wool.

External links

• Cheviot description as a rare breed in Australia (http://www.rbta.org/cheviot.htm)
• American Cheviot Society (http://members.aol.com/culhamef/bcheviots/cheviot.htm)
• The United Kingdom Cheviot Sheep Society (http://www.cheviotsheep.org)