We’re proud to follow the tradition of natural British quality

Based in the stunning countryside of north west Shropshire, close to the Welsh border, we breed and raise pedigree Shropshire sheep and Red Ruby Devon cattle.

These beautiful native breeds were developed a long time ago. But far from being old fashioned and outdated, they are absolutely ideal for the modern kind of sustainable farming: Our cattle and sheep live outside most of the year, they thrive on permanent pasture and do not need expensive cereal feed. This traditional style of livestock management keeps the animals healthy – and it’s environmentally friendly too.

We’re proud that both our native British breeds produce meat with superb texture and flavour, and that the Shropshire sheep have fine wool that’s good enough for a range for hand-knitting yarns.  We aim to “produce the best, from the best”, and so we strive to achieve the highest standards of livestock quality and animal welfare. Our flock has a high health status and meets the current requirements for exporting pedigree breeding stock to the Europe. Exports to other countries may also be possible.

 

Please browse our website to find out more …

From the Blog

Alderon Magnus takes Signet Performance Award for Ram Lambs

1 August, 2019

Home-bred Magnus, ranked in the top 25% of the breed for Terminal Sire Index and the Top 5% of the breed for Muscle Depth, won the Signet Performance Award at Burwarton Show. He was placed 2nd in the Ram Lamb Showing Class and was the highest placed Signet Recorded lamb with a Terminal Sire Index above the breed average. Magnus was also CT scanned earlier in the year and he turned out to have the best predicted killing out percentage of any Shropshire in 2019. Magnus has now been sold to Peter Tavernor for his Shebdon Flock.

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Alderton Flock Celebrates 20 Years!

1 July, 2019

In July we celebrated our 20thAnniversary as Shropshire breeders. We started our flock back in 1999 with 25 ewes and a ram purchased from the Sidedowns flock of John and Pauline Bowles, based in Devon. At the time, the Shropshire was still a rare breed. We have greatly enjoyed being part of the Shropshire’s journey towards a brighter future as numbers have gradually increased and the breed was finally taken off the Rare Breeds “at risk” register in 2012.  We received a “Long Service” Bronze Award at the Society’s AGM in recognition of our two decades as breeders.

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Alderton becomes one of the first Shropshire flocks to undertake CT Scanning

18 July, 2018

Five of our Signet-recorded ram lambs were some of the first Shropshire’s to go through the mobile CT Scanner at Stoneleigh at the beginning of July. Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning is a high tech way of evaluating the carcase and bone structure of live animals to identify those that have superior genetics and will therefore make good sires for the next generation. CT scanning predicts to an accuracy of 98% the muscle shape, including gigot shape and eye-muscle area. It also measures the muscle to bone ratio, the muscle to fat ratio, total spine length, pelvic width and killing out percentage. All these attributes are important for breeders aiming to produce good meat lambs, and so the CT results enable the very best sheep to be identified.

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