What is the Aberfield?
The Aberfield is a maternal composite line of hardy sheep bred by Innovis. Suited for indoor and outdoor systems, Aberfield sheep are known for fertility, good mothering traits and easy lambing.
The Aberfield sheep breeding programme was set up to provide UK farmers with an improved crossing sire which allows you to produce top-quality maternal rams and ewes, with fast-growing wether lambs. Innovis’ population of fully performance-recorded ewes is bred under commercial conditions and selected for lambing percentage, milking ability, maternal behaviour, longevity, and ease of lambing, as well as growth and muscling.
Aberfield Rams are:
- Able to produce better conformed crossbred lambs.
- Selected for maternal attributes as well as growth and muscling.
- Able to produce a crossbred ewe with a lambing percentage of 180%*.
- Bred off grass under commercial conditions at 1000ft.
- Bred for a maternal ram mating capacity of 80–100 ewes each.
*from a relatively low cost base compared to traditional crossbreds
History of the Aberfield Sheep
The Aberfield is a modern, hardy UK sheep breed, created by Innovis in the late 2000s. Bred to combine the best traits of Bluefaced Leisters with Texels, Aberfield sheep and subsequent crossbreeds are now found across the UK in many grass-fed and closed flocks.
Aberfield is best for you if you:
- Want to lamb earlier in the spring
- Have grass available in the autumn for flushing
- Want to reduce production costs but maintain lamb output
- Want to take advantage of assistance in marketing crossbred females
Additional Information
The Aberfield is a white, medium-sized sheep with a black nose and occasional black spotting on the face. Their bones are quite fine, and their appearance is gentle.
Innovis Aberfield rams are for sale direct from your closest regional advisor or at the auction sales we hold every year.
The Aberfield was created by crossing the Bluefaced Leicester with the Texel to combine the best of both breeds. This balance produces a lighter, more efficient ewe, supporting lamb production and sustainable UK sheep farming practices.
Innovation, Partnership and Performance
All our rams will be MOT’d, quarantine treated and supplied with full health treatment records.
We believe in our products and will work with you to help you to maximise returns from our genetics.
If you are interested in the Innovis Aberfield:
Contact us
Please fill in the form below and one of our sales team will be in contact.