Rams are generally horned but can be naturally polled whilst ewes are always polled. The breed has a grey to grey tan head and legs which are totally free from wool. The muzzle tends to be lighter, almost off-white in colour and usually lightens with age. This unusual colouring sets it apart from most other British breeds.
For a hill sheep, it is a heavy breed with a good length of body and width in the hindquarters, and standing on well set legs with good bone. The ewes have an extremely docile temperament, unusual in hill breeds. They are a hardy breed and are thrifty and good foragers.
The ewes have a strong maternal instinct and are well known for their exceptional mothering abilities. At birth the lambs are full of vitality, exceptionally well coated and good doers. Lambing percentages vary under different conditions but on good ground can easily average 150% upwards.
On lowland pastures, the lambs can reach a good weight at a young age, but in its natural environment the Hill Radnor lamb is a later finisher, fattening in the late autumn to winter. Very suitable for the hogget farm shop marketplace. Traditionally they also produce good mutton, and that potential remains with changing fashions.
The breed performs well in the show ring against other breeds, be they hill, lowland, rare and even continental. A five year old Hill Radnor ram was Royal Welsh Show Supreme Champion in 2011, demonstrating both quality and longevity. There are fourteen shows which put on specific Hill Radnor breed classes, ranging in size from The Royal Welsh and County shows to small village shows. Great success has also been achieved for breeders and the breed in mixed breed classes across the country.
The breed has also performed exceptionally well in young handlers classes across the country and is now becoming sought after for these competitions. So, if there are any budding child handlers out there, you know where to come.
Conservation grazing is also becoming a popular use for the breed. Several wildlife trusts around the country are now utilising the breed for this purpose. As land, heritage, conservation, traditional farming and similar themes come more to the fore, the breed is suitable for many of these. Do consider them.
The Hill Radnor is also a versatile breed and when crossed with other breeds, productive half-bred females and prime quality lamb is produced. A Hill Radnor ewe crossed with a Bluefaced-Leicester, Texel or Charollais or ram produces an excellent crossbred breeding ewe and in the case of the Texel and Charollais, a top quality carcass too.
The fleece is white and dense with a fine staple and contains far less kemp than many other hill breeds. The wool does not naturally shed and is usually retained in its entirety until shearing, when a dense white fleece is cut with an average weight of 2 to 2.5kgs.
In short, the breed has a great number of desirable qualities which can be harnessed and utilised to the full in coming years as future changes in fashions and the market emerge. With the current trend for easily-managed sheep, the Hill Radnor is a natural and traditional choice. Whilst it is an excellent Smallholder sheep it also has the size, confirmation and breeding qualities, especially when crossed, to compete in the commercial marketplace.