A pink skinned, white haired face, with a small head and protruding eyes, white legs, deep body, covered in tight fleece of good quality. Excellent confirmation, short neck, well muscled loins and strong gigots. It has a ratio of meat to bone greater than any other sheep. Very alert and lively from birth. The small head assists easy lambing.
The Charmoise is a genuine hill breed – the first to be imported to Britain from the continent. The breed was formed in France in the late 18th century by the introduction of Kent rams from England, which were crossed on the indigenous hill and mountain breeds to give them a better back end and shape.
It’s influence on the modern sheep industry is considerable, as its good confirmation meant that when its ewes were crossed to a traditional Leicester ram it produced the fore-runners of several influential breeds, including the modern Charollais and Rouge, and after further out-crossing to long-wooled breeds, the Bleu du Maine and Berrichon.
It is found in the rougher hill areas of France today where it is bred pure to produce a high quality small lamb.
In France it is the only top confirmation breed to be classified as ‘race rustique’ (hardy breed).
Currently we have a number of sheep for sale.
To visit the Charmoise Sheep Society Site go to www.charmoisesheep.co.uk
