Using Bluefaced Leicester tups on horned ewes continues unchallenged as the most profitable way of running sheep on fell land – and for well known North of England Mule producer James Porter and his family who farm at Reeth, near Richmond it's an income that has never been more important as hill farms adjust to the new emphasis on the government's environmentally-based support for the uplands.

As breeders throughout the north prepare to sell over 200,000 North of England Mules at official sales starting in early September, James Porter is hopeful that the foot and mouth livestock movement restrictions will have eased.

And even if the start of the traditional sale season is delayed, he believes the long-standing reputation of the North of England Mule as the UK 's most popular commercial ewe will see buyers once again heading north this autumn.

“If hill farmers were forced to switch solely to prime lamb production there would be very few sheep kept on fell grazings; there wouldn't be enough sheep on that higher ground at the right time of year to maintain the upland environment and hill farm incomes would be badly hit.

“The higher value of gimmer lambs sold for breeding compared with producing prime and store lambs from these hill farms is a life-line to their long-term survival. It's the only chance we have of producing a sheep that's worth a premium” says James Porter, a past chairman of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association.

He farms in partnership with his wife Valerie, son Geoffrey and daughter-in-law Margaret at Riddings Farm just outside Reeth. The steading, perched at 1000ft above the village, is surrounded by around 200 acres of fenced land with additional fell rights for 400 ewes.

As well as the sheep stock – around 550 Swaledale ewes and a pedigree flock of 50 Bluefaced Leicesters – there are 50 dairy cows.

The Riddings name has long been associated with Bluefaced Leicesters as well as being a farm renowned for its North of England Mule gimmer lambs.

It was almost 40 years ago that William Porter, James' father, decided to switch from producing Mashams to the more “fashionable” Mule. It was a momentous decision and one that led to the foundation of the famous Riddings Bluefaced Leicester flock.

“My father went to Hexham mart and bought the first tup in the ring from Northumberland breeder the late Alec Peart who owned one of the first flock's to be registered in the breed's flock book. That was the start of our involvement in Bluefaced Leicesters and our move to producing North of England Mules,” recalls James Porter.

The first Bluefaced Leicester tup lamb carrying the Riddings prefix was registered in 1973. Since then the flock has enjoyed considerable success at shows and sales with tups selling to £8000.

But it was the shrewd purchase of a tup bought at Hawes for £1500 in the early 1990s that had the biggest impact. Bred in the Seahouses flock owned by Allison family who farm at nearby Arkengarthdale, this tup had a major influence at Riddings Farm and throughout the breed.

“He left his stamp in terms of conformation, strength, skins, mouths and overall correctness. Many UK flocks trace back to his breeding.”

James vividly recalls the family's first visit to Hawes many years ago to sell North of England Mule gimmer lambs: “We put too much dip in the tub and messed up the skins so didn't get a prize. But we learned our lesson and the next year we stood second. Since then we've won the championship at Hawes at least 23 times.”

It's certainly a remarkable achievement but James and Geoffrey Porter are aware that they, like all Mule breeders, must strive to meet the demands of the commercial sheep producers who buy their gimmer lambs.

“We have to be mindful of conformation in our Bluefaced Leicesters as the sire of the Mule; half the Mule crop are wether lambs and we need to remember that. Breeders can still achieve a Mule female of the correct size, milk and with enough prolificacy while at the same time maintain the conformation traits needed in prime wether lambs,” says James Porter.

Testament to the Riddings flock's ability to produce Bluefaced Leicester tups capable of breeding good quality wether lambs as well as gimmers, came at a mid-July show and sale at Hawes. A pen of newly weaned April-born Mule wethers weighing an average 44kg won the championship and made £48 apiece.

“Income from the Mule wether lamb must not be undervalued; we've even been selling surplus pure-bred Bluefaced Leicester gimmer lambs this summer and they've been making up to £48 a head,” says Geoffrey Porter.

This year the flock hopes to offer around 300 gimmer lambs at North of England Mule Association sales at Hawes and Leybun. Around 25 Blueface Leicester tup lambs will be sold at the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association fixtures at Hawes and Carlisle ; other tup lambs will be retained and tried at home and sold next year as shearlings.