The Llanarth flock of pedigree Beulahs is owned by Aberystwyth University. It is one of the highest index Beulah flocks and has a long history of providing improved breeding stock.

The Llanarth flock was originally established in 1979 by a group of 10 forward thinking Beulah breeders who supplied 100 top quality 2- and 3-year old foundation ewes to act as a nucleus flock for improving the Beulah breed. Performance recording and genetic improvement was concentrated in the closed central nucleus flock, with the purpose of supplying high genetic merit rams back to the contributor flocks. Considerable success was achieved, particularly with improving the prolificacy of the breed.

In 1996, to build on this success, and widen the number of animals available for selection (and hence the rate of breed improvement), the Llanarth flock became a founder member of the Beulah sire reference scheme, supplying the first two high index reference sires for the whole scheme.

As a key member of this scheme the Llanarth flock now uses the Welsh hill index as the basis for selection, an index that balances maternal characteristics with the improvement of growth and carcass traits. At the same time, great care is taken to maintain breed type.

Continuing its long tradition of scientifically-based genetic improvement and ram-testing, this year the Llanarth flock is comparing two sires – one a high index recorded ram from John Yeomans; the other a high-priced but unrecorded ram bought from Llandovery in 2008.

Two high index yearling rams will be available for sale in the Aberystwyth University Recorded Ram Sale, 13th August 2009.