The Montadale is considered a dual-purpose breed, raised for both wool and meat.
[1] Mattingly selected the Cheviot and Columbia breeds as the basis for his project.
It is a large, big-bodied sheep with heavy, good quality fleeces.
The first cross of Columbia rams on Cheviot ewes proved to Mattingly that his project was on track.
For nine years, the first Montadales were selected and line-bred to develop uniformity in breed characteristics and type.