Badger Face Welsh Mountain
The Badger Face Welsh Mountain (Welsh Defaid Idloes [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. 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 ([tɔrˈðiː], "black-bellied"), which has a white fleece with dark face and belly, and the Torwen ([tɔrˈwɛn], "white-bellied"), which has a black body with a white belly and white stripes over the eyes. The Torddu is the more common of the two types. In both types, ewes are polled and rams are horned. Although this breed grows wool, it is primarily raised for meat. In 2021 the breed was added to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust watchlist due to a 30 percent decline in sheep numbers since 2013. The RBST partnered with the Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep Society, with both groups hoping to encourage further breeding of the sheep to prevent numbers declining further.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Badger Face Welsh Mountain
Finding a responsible Badger Face Welsh Mountain breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells sheeps commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Badger Face Welsh Mountain. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Badger Face Welsh Mountains appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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