EasyCare sheep numbers continue to grow across UK and Ireland
EasyCare sheep numbers are increasing exponentially throughout the UK and Ireland, and this growth looks set to continue.
This was one of the key points emanating from the recent annual meeting of the UK EasyCare Sheep Society and its affiliate organisation, EasyCare Sheep Ireland.
Both groupings combined comprise 250 member flocks.
The 2026 event was hosted in Northern Ireland.
Included in the itinerary was a visit to the Co. Antrim EasyCare flock of Campbell and Isobel Tweed. The couple manage a flock of 3,000 breeding ewes close to the village of Carncastle.
Flock recording through both Signet and Sheep Ireland is a key driver for the business, according to the Tweeds.
Increasing numbers
John Thomas, from Flemingstown in South Wales is the current chair of the UK EasyCare Sheep Society.
He attributed the increase in breed numbers to the growing recognition of the sheep’s ability to perform well under UK and Irish conditions.
He added: “Labour availability is an increasing challenge on farms across the board.
"The EasyCare breed has a proven track record of allowing shepherds to make best use of their time and resources.
“Wool shedding is only part of this story. EasyCare ewes have an innate ability to produce lambs of the highest quality in a low-maintenance: low-input context.”
According to Thomas, new flock owners, "both small and large", are joining the EasyCare Society at the present time.
William Hutchinson, from Kells in Co. Kilkenny is chair of EasyCare Sheep Ireland, running a flock of 500 ewes.
He also highlighted the low-maintenance aspect of managing the sheep.
He said: “A significant number of Irish flock owners have committed to both individually recording and genotyping their sheep.
“They see this investment as a way of improving overall flock performance in the most efficient way possible.”
Campbell Tweed agreed, adding: “Individual recording is the only way of identifying those sheep that are performing at a superior level. Visual assessment accounts for very little in this context.
“I use the recording data that is made available to base the breeding decisions that are taken for the flock as a whole.
“These figures also underpin the worth of the breeding rams and females that are made available for sale.
“The reality is that increasing numbers of sheep farmers are now actively seeking stock with comprehensive performance history when it comes to deciding which new bloodlines best suit their flock development needs.”
The Tweeds’ Ballycoose flock is totally self-contained, with all lambs not going for breeding brought through to finishing weights.
Every lamb born at Ballycoose is performance recorded from birth.
The entire enterprise is managed by three full-time staff. This, in itself, is a very powerful illustration of what ‘easy care’ sheep management is all about.
Tweed took the decision of going down the self shedding route after the wool price crash of 1999.
This gives him 25 years plus of experience in working with this particular type of sheep.
“EasyCare sheep have a key role to play on sheep farms of all types.
“They are particularly suited to flock owners who work out from 9:00a.m to 5:00p.m between Monday and Friday.
“To a large extent, the sheep can manage themselves," Tweed said.
Tweed is currently selling both breeding EasyCare ewes and lambs to flock owners throughout Ireland and the UK.
“We are offering fully recorded stock that can add significantly to any sheep enterprise.
"Demand for EasyCare bloodlines is on the up and this trend shows no sign of diminishing," the Co. Antrim breeder said.
