The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2019 - Issue 65 | Page 30

30 LONDESBOROUGH WOLD FARM
‘I’ve always been a big cattle man and
love my cows, but I’ve also always liked
sheep and years ago when Patrick was
shepherd before his back went we had
around 500 breeding ewes. Keeping sheep
is a good way of keeping field clean too.’
‘When we’ve had sheep before we’ve had
Texels and I just fancied something differ-
ent. I’d seen Blue Texels over the past few
years and liked their fleeces, tight skins and
carcases. They are easier for lambing than
Texels as they are a bit smaller and still have
a good killing out carcase. We’re lambing
the Blue Texels at the beginning of February
with the commercials lambing around the
end of March.’
‘I’m building up to a decent sized flock
and will aim to sell rams at sales or off-farm.
In summer 2020 I may even sell a few ewe
lambs as well. I’d like to get to around 35-40
quality ewes in the next couple of years. I
don’t want any old Blue Texel. I want them
right. I’m breeding for colouration and a
sheep that it is exceptional on its feet. It was
our first Blue Texel lambing this year and
I’m keeping all the females at the moment. I
sold a couple of tup lambs.’
‘It’s a new experience, but I felt as though
we ought to try something different for the
farm. My granddad has a smile on his face
seeing sheep being farmed here again.’
An even bigger jump and newer expe-
rience for Mark has come this year as it is
the first time he has ever taken to the show
pens and rings.
‘It was a bit daunting and I was a bit nervy
going to my first ever show as an exhibitor.
We didn’t do any halter work before we
went to North Yorkshire County Show, but
we did card them out and my wife Amy is
now chief groomer. My good friend Richard
White of Nunburnholme also shows and
he’s been a great help. We had two firsts on
our debut with a ewe lamb and a shearling.
There were some respected Blue Texel
breeders there with far more experience.
We took five sheep and came away with
a rosette for them all. I was absolutely
chuffed.’
‘We ended up going to eight shows this
year and at both Driffield and Aldborough
& Boroughbridge we had champion AOB
OCT/NOV 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk
Continental; at Huby & Sutton we had
champion and reserve. Malton proved a
bit tricky, but we finished at Ryedale as
reserve champion with a shearling ewe.’
‘I bought some of my Blue Texels from
Henry Jewitt’s Sunnybank flock at Barnard
Castle and others from a breed society sale
at Worcester and at Carlisle.’
Mark is grateful for all the help and
assistance he has received from Cheralyn
Henderson, secretary of the Blue Texel
Society.
‘Cheralyn has been great. The Blue Texel
is ideal as a terminal sire and crosses well
with any breed or crossbreed of ewe.
Lambs are well fleshed and have a good
carcase conformation. We
may try embryo transfer
next year flushing the Blue
Texel ewes to put into the
commercial crossbreeds, we
may also AI. Flushing the best
shearlings or ewes will build
up the flock faster.’
Mark recently purchased his latest ram
lamb Cairnrock Dakota from Iain Lammie
at Carlisle (pictured here back home at
Londesborough Wold).
The Stephensons have long been linked
with the world’s oldest annual horse
race - the Kiplingcotes Derby that began
in 1519 – with the race finish on the lane
next to Londesborough Wold Farm. Guy
Stephenson, Graeme and Patrick’s father
and Mark’s grandfather, is a race trustee.
Graeme and Katie have three children
and live at Londesborough Wold; Mark
and Amy have one child and live at
Nunburnholme Wold; Patrick is married
to Helen and they live in Nunburnholme
village.
Proud suppliers to Graeme Stephenson of Londesborough
Wold Farm, wishing him continued success
Moor Lane, Full Sutton, York, YO41 1HX
Tel: [phone] (evening)
Fax: [phone]
www.edwardstrailers.co.uk
Proud suppliers to Londesborough Wold Farm, wishing them continued success
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