Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep

{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}

File:Badgerface ewe, Wales.jpg

File:Torwen Badger.jpeg

Image:Torwen.jpg

The Badger Face Welsh Mountain (Welsh Defaid Idloes {{IPA|cy|ˈdevaɪd ˈɪdlɔɪs|}}; also known as Badger Faced Welsh Mountain or Welsh Badger-faced) is a distinct variety of the Welsh Mountain breed of domestic sheep bred for sheep farming in Wales.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/welshmountainbadgerfaced/index.htm

|title=Welsh Mountain Badger Face

|work=Breeds of Livestock

|publisher=Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science

|accessdate=2009-05-15

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606033946/http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/welshmountainbadgerfaced/index.htm

|archivedate=2010-06-06

}} It is a hardy upland breed known for producing a high percentage of twins and triplets under good conditions. It appears in two sub-varieties of its own: the Torddu ({{IPA|cy|tɔrˈðiː|}}, "black-bellied"), which has a white fleece with dark face and belly, and the Torwen ({{IPA|[tɔrˈwɛn]}}, "white-bellied"), which has a black body with a white belly and white stripes over the eyes.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=emailform&id=123 |title=Badger Face Welsh Mountain

|work=nationalsheep.org.uk

|publisher=The National Sheep Association

|accessdate=2009-05-14}} The Torddu is the more common of the two types. In both types, ewes are polled and rams are horned.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.sheep101.info/breedsA.html#badger

|title=Badger Face Welsh Mountain

|work=Sheep Breeds A - Ba

|publisher=Sheep101.info

|accessdate=2009-05-14}} Although this breed grows wool, it is primarily raised for meat.

{{cite web

|url=http://dad.fao.org/

|title=Badger Faced Welsh Mountain/United Kingdom

|work=Breed description

|publisher=Domestic Animal Diversity Information System

|accessdate=2009-05-15}}