Balmoral Show: Preparations have started already to de-tatt fleeces for Valais Blacknose sheep breeders
She might be rushed off her feet already with the eldest of her four children only six-years-old, but Rebecca Henry plans to show seven of her best Valais Blacknose sheep at Balmoral Show.
The 30-year-old mum and Valais Blacknose breeder from a dairy farm in Coleraine is looking forward to meeting up with another three fellow breeders on Saturday so they can help each other get those Valais Blacknose tatts straightened out.
“We will be going legs and head on Saturday,” she said.
“That is why we are meeting up to try to help each other out.
“So you have to take all the tatts out of their coat.
“They have to have six months fleece for the show so their legs and everything get knotted. It is easier when you are bathing them the week they are showing.”
Jennifer added that he sheep “don’t mind getting washed with lukewarm water”.
“We are just back from Switzerland to see their ram because the sheep they have are just different to ours,” added Rebecca.
“They are bigger and their fleece is amazing and curly”.
The optimistic mum said she has “picked out seven sheep for Balmoral”, adding “it is a torture and I don’t know why we do it to ourselves?”
“But we have one and she is like a dog as she skips about after the children in the yard,” she added.
“They are a lovely breed. The group that I meet up with all live around the same area and are friendly anyway.
“We keep in touch and help each other out.”