The ultimate fleece shedding, low maintenance, prime lamb sheep breed. Specifically bred for ease of lambing, low input costs and maximum meat production
Take the stress out of shepherding, use Easy Care. The future of sheep farming
The Easy Care Sheep is a revolutionary breed of sheep which requires minimal shepherding and veterinary care, sheds its fleece in the summer, does not need shearing and yet offers excellent meat yields and lambing ratios. The fleece is kempy, leaving a dense hair covered in lanolin. The shed fleece rapidly decomposes as a natural soil conditioner. The breed seldom succumbs to heat stress yet the dense nature of their fleece means they can withstand harsh weather.
The ewes seldom require assistance at lambing. They have strong maternal instincts, are milky and will rear their lambs without human intervention.
The breed is a well-established commercial sheep with flocks of 1,000’s all over the UK, yet it is also an ideal sheep for the small holder. The rams can be used over other breeds to remove the wool. In three to four crosses the fleece should be shedding, this is ideal for hefted flocks as it means the flock remains on the hill yet acquires the benefits of the fleece shedding coat.
The breed is proving extremely popular and successful with breeders in today's farming environment. The Easy Care Sheep Society was formed to promote this wonderful breed and to ensure its continued development.
The Society has Society Sales in various regions of the UK. We also have the Annual AGM and Open Day at a different Easy Care breeder’s farm each year. The farm visits are viewed as an excellent way to meet new friends and network. We also attend National Sheep Association Events throughout the summer months.
The Society has Regional Co-ordinators who are all volunteers. They are there to help promote and discuss the breed with anyone who is interested in Easy Care Sheep. See the Co-Ordinators list for details.
Society Membership
£ 25
Per annum- Sell stock on the website
- Sell stock through Society Sales
- Receive regular Society newsletters throughout the year
- Pay by cheque, bacs or standing order
Latest News
Derek and Cindy Steen take the top price at Carlisle
Longstanding Society Members Derek and Cindy Steen sold a MyoMax gene carrying yearling at 1,100gns at the Society Sale in Carlisle on 5th October 2018.
With strong bidding on the telephone from Southern Ireland and around the ring Mr and Mrs Steen achieved an average price of 1,000gns for all their rams.
Overall trade was slightly down on previous years but vendors and buyers alike were satisfied with the prices for a very good show of quality sheep.
Carlisle ends the Society's sales for the year but if you still have sheep to sell and have paid your subscription you can put an advert on the website with photos. £25 for an advert with photos has got to be a good deal.
Many thanks to everyone who supported the sales this year, both sellers and buyers, your patronage is much appreciated.
We will be attending NSA events throughout 2019 so come along and see us
Read moreThe Society Breed Statement & Mission Statement
The Easy Care Sheep is a fleece shedding, medium sized, white, polled sheep capable of lambing without assistance and rearing their lambs off grass. The sheep is a commercial breed. Easy Care Sheep cannot be entered into shows as the breed founder, Iolo Owen, feels that the sole object of showing is to emphasise traits that may ruin the easy lambing aspects of the breed he has spent half a Century developing.
The true Easy Care Sheep must not be appear to be over fed, over-sized or crossed with terminal type sires to enhance unwanted characteristics, these being broad chests, big heads, big back ends, poor feet or none fleece shedding coat – this list is not exhaustive and the Society reserves the right to remove any sheep they believe do not conform to the true Easy Care Sheep breeding from Society Sales.
Where Easy Care Sheep are being sold privately via either members or non-members, it is for the purchaser to make sure they are confident they are purchasing a true Easy Care Sheep.
What the Society does:
We promote the true Easy Care Sheep breed as developed by Mr Iolo Owen of Glantraeth, Bodorgan, Anglesey via the means of:
Society Sales
Newspaper adverts
Newspaper articles
Stands at National Sheep Association events
A website
A Facebook Page
Twitter
Society Open Days
We ensure the breed is represented correctly at Society Breed sales.
For clarification:
The Easy Care Sheep must not have been sheared
The Easy Care Sheep fleece must shed to leave a hair coat through the summer months
The Easy Care Sheep must be hornless
The Easy Care Sheep is white in colour
The Easy Care Sheep female is 60 – 70 kg at mature weight depending on where it lives
The Easy Care Sheep male is 80 – 100kg at mature weight depending on where it lives
The male should be wedged shaped at the shoulders to ensure ease of lambing
The Easy Care Sheep should have a slim ‘rat tail’ type tail
It is preferable that breeders keep the Easy Care Sheep’s tail intact but not essential
Legs must be strong and straight and feet must be sound
The Easy Care Sheep is a commercial breed we do not ‘show’ Easy Care Sheep
We provide a website as a platform for fully paid up members to sell their sheep from and to inform the public about the breed. The website has the details of upcoming events and is always being updated
We have annual open days and provide the means of allowing breeders to have more on farm events if they wish to
We provide voluntary regional co-ordinators to discuss the merits of the breed to prospective buyers
The Treasurer collects £25 annual subscription/member which helps to pay for the promotion of the breed
All office holders are volunteers
We have a steering committee which meets once a year to discuss the way forward for the breed. Any member is welcome to join. There is no payment for this commitment
A quarterly newsletter is sent to all fully paid up members via email
Read moreEasy Care Sheep Society Summer 2017 Newsletter
AN ABRIDGED AND PHOTOGRAPH FREE NEWSLETTER WHICH WAS SENT TO THE SOCIETY MEMBERS IN SUMMER 2017 VIA EMAIL
The Society met for the Annual Society Open Day and AGM on the weekend of 10th June 2017 in Southern Ireland. Our hosts, Jim and Allison Greer along with our Irish Easy Care Society Co-Ordinators, Steven Feehan and Steven Johnson and their families had put together an excellent itinerary of events for the members who travelled out.
Read moreEasy Care Sheep wanted in Europe
If you live in Europe and have Easy Care sheep why not join the Society?
I get lots of enquiries from people all over Germany, Holland and France wanting to start Easy Care sheep flocks as they are now realising that they are the most progressive type of sheep to own.
Read moreEasy Care Sheep - Take care when purchasing from social media sites
Easy Care sheep are not pedigree nor are they 'registered', nor do we have a flock book. The original Easy Care sheep have been bred over the last 50 years by Iolo Owen at his farm on Anglesey. The true Easy Care sheep is one derived from his flock. That sheep is derived from mixing breeds and a lot of hard work.
Read moreCarlisle Autumn Sale of Easycare Sheep
29th September 2017
Harrison & Hetherington held their Annual Autumn sale of Easy Care sheep on Friday 29th September, where an aged ram sold for the top price of the day of 750gns.
Read moreWebsite Advertising
You have to be a member to advertise on the website. You cannot upload your own information. Please send the wording you wish to use and photo/s to info@easycaresheep.com and I will place the advert on the site for you.
Read moreBrisk trade for Easy Care sheep at the Society Annual Sale in Worcester September 2017
An excellent show of strong, well shed and correctly presented sheep greeted buyers from all over the UK on Saturday 23rd September at the Society's annual breeding sale.
Read moreSociety Sales
Please note the Society Sales are for paid up members only. Please avoid us having to chase you for £25 on the day.
The rams are sold in guineas [one pound and five pence] and will have an upset price of usually 200gns but this can be altered if discussed and agreed with ram vendors on the day. Ram lambs and senior rams may be less than 200gns.
Read moreFirst Easy Care Sale at Skipton Market
The first Easy Care sale at Skipton had a smallish but good quality show of true to type Easy Care sheep. The mart had ensured the sale was well advertised with at least 6 entries in the Farmers Guardian and Yorkshire Post plus their own website and facebook pages.
Read more
