Sheep farmers across the south-west will again be flocking north to attend and buy in new breeding stock at NEMSA, the North of England Mule Sheep Association’s prestigious annual show and sale season this autumn.

One North of England Mule aficionado who has sold thousands of sheep over the years to sheep producers in the south-west of England – either with lambs at foot, or as shearlings or running lambs - is Joe Vickers, who farms near Alnwick in Northumberland.

In fact, the North of England Mule has played an integral part of the Vickers family farm for the best part of seven decades.

“In 66 years, they have never let us down. I have tried other commercial ewes over several seasons, but they were not as prolific or as easy to work with so I have stuck to the Mule. The lambs are very prolific. They are very easy to lamb,” said Joe.

"I think the Mule has come into her own this year, withstanding everything that the weather has thrown at her. And there’s no bonnier sight than a pen of nicely marked Mule lambs going through the ring.”

Another more familiar face who admits to being bowled over by the North of England Mule is England test cricketer and opening batsman Alastair Cook who, when not out on the field, is out in it looking after sheep with his wife, Alice, and father-in-law, Chris Hunt. They all farm in Bedfordshire and are dyed-in-the-wool Mule devotees.

While annual NEMSA fixtures for ewes and shearlings are already up and running at auction marts across the north of England, members are now looking forward to and busy preparing for the high profile 2018 ewe lamb shows and sales this September and October, again being staged at northern marts.

“Not only does the North of England Mule remain Britain’s most prolific sheep breed in terms of numbers, but it is also the country’s most popular commercial sheep. We are again looking forward to welcoming both regular and potential new buyers from all parts of the country to our 2018 highlights,” said NEMSA’s chairman, North Yorkshire farmer Kevin Wilson.