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The
Bleu du Maine originated in western France and was first
introduced into the United Kingdom in 1978. Since this
time, the breed has won Interbreed titles at both the
Royal Show and Royal Welsh Shows.
 Ewes
and rams from this breed are both specially noted for
being highly prolific. Purebred flocks have lambing
percentages of up to 240%. Ewe lambs mated at seven
months of age have produced 200% lambing. Ram fertility
gives a considerable boost to commercial flocks and
independent field trials suggest that the Bleu du Maine
cross females are more prolific than their traditional
counterparts and, at the same time, leave progeny with
much improved conformation.
The
Bleu du Maine is noted for producing big crops of small
lambs which lamb easily, are hardy, grow quickly and
have strong desire to live. Within minutes of birth,
lambs are on their feet and suckling the ewe's plentiful
milk supply, which ensures a very high growth rate.
 Bleu
du Maine Cross Breed Females
The Bleu cross female is an enthusiastic mother with
a fine head and bone to ensure easy lambing. Lambing
percentages in excess of 200% in commercial flocks frequently
achieved. Lambs are always vigorous at birth and keen
to suckle. Fleeces produced are of the highest quality
and command extra prices.
Carcass
lambs
 Those
commercial breeders who do choose to use Bleu du Maine
as a terminal sire find that lambs produced have a high
killing-out percentage due to its fine bone where heavy
weights of lean meat are required. Wether lambs produced
by cross breed females are also highly desirable due
to improved conformation of the Bleu du Maine breed.
The traits of prolific, easy lambing and hardiness associated
with the breed are all reproduced genetically. A Bleu
du Maine sire across a flock gives the commercial farmer
increased quantity with quality and therefore increased
output.
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