lleyn ram

foxylock

Lads I'm in the hunt for a ram.

The majority of my flock are scottish blackface and I want to improve my lambing percentage. So after fluting around the web for a bit and reading various propaganda for the different breeds I have almost made up my mind to invest in a Lleyn ram. So my question is, does anyone have experience with crossing the blackface ewe with the Lleyn ram?

Are the lambs hard to fatten? My priority at the moment is prolificy and good maternal traits and if I can breed a good base flock of these sheep I can cross again with a terminal sire to "meat" up the lambs a bit. This seems like a good idea in my head , but I would like to get some opinions from some more experienced heads out there. Thanks again all the best.

supersean1999

foxylock wrote: »

Lads I'm in the hunt for a ram.

The majority of my flock are scottish blackface and I want to improve my lambing percentage. So after fluting around the web for a bit and reading various propaganda for the different breeds I have almost made up my mind to invest in a Lleyn ram. So my question is, does anyone have experience with crossing the blackface ewe with the Lleyn ram?

Are the lambs hard to fatten? My priority at the moment is prolificy and good maternal traits and if I can breed a good base flock of these sheep I can cross again with a terminal sire to "meat" up the lambs a bit. This seems like a good idea in my head , but I would like to get some opinions from some more experienced heads out there. Thanks again all the best.

i bought a pb lleyn last year, find the ram lambs slow to fatten ill squeeze earlier next year,and the twins behind that of a texel, i dont mind that, i bought him for the ewe lambs, , i cant tell you about the breeding part of it yet, i wont breed them until there hoggets, the ewe lambs look the part , prob more white in the face than the texel cross which sometimes brings brownish faces out of the horny, dont over commit to it, buy a ram lamb and let him to 15 -20 ewes, and you can run more sheep next year if need be

foxylock

supersean1999 wrote: »

i bought a pb lleyn last year, find the ram lambs slow to fatten ill squeeze earlier next year,and the twins behind that of a texel, i dont mind that, i bought him for the ewe lambs, , i cant tell you about the breeding part of it yet, i wont breed them until there hoggets, the ewe lambs look the part , prob more white in the face than the texel cross which sometimes brings brownish faces out of the horny, dont over commit to it, buy a ram lamb and let him to 15 -20 ewes, and you can run more sheep next year if need be

What kind of money would I expect to pay for a good ram lamb. I have a few hiltex ewes and it might be interesting to see what would be produced. Although the Lleyn society website seem to promote crossing with any breed to improve ewe quality. Will you put the hoggets back to a Lleyn ram again?

Johnsey

I bought a small batch of ewe lambs last year out of Swale ewes and by the Lleyn ram . Only 11 in the batch 2 were too small to breed and put them with a charrollais ram . Out of the 9 put to the ram 5 reared twins and 4 reared singles . All lambed on their own compared with nearly half of the continental type ewe lambs that needed help.never saw anything like the bags of milk on them for ewe lambs . I know this is really small scale .if I could get my hands on more of them I'd take the hand and all. Bought a Lleyn ram last year too to go with a wide variety of cross bred ewes so interested to see how they go . Paid 350 for the lamb last year think there a bit dearer this year

rancher

supersean1999 wrote: »

i bought a pb lleyn last year, find the ram lambs slow to fatten ill squeeze earlier next year,and the twins behind that of a texel, i dont mind that, i bought him for the ewe lambs, , i cant tell you about the breeding part of it yet, i wont breed them until there hoggets, the ewe lambs look the part , prob more white in the face than the texel cross which sometimes brings brownish faces out of the horny, dont over commit to it, buy a ram lamb and let him to 15 -20 ewes, and you can run more sheep next year if need be

I use Lleyns here, I castrate the ram lambs at birth with rings.....you have to, never saw a breed to get staggy so young, they start 'chasing' at about 10 -12weeks, very hard finished when they're at that. Ewes are lovely,''an old mans sheep''

supersean1999

foxylock wrote: »

What kind of money would I expect to pay for a good ram lamb. I have a few hiltex ewes and it might be interesting to see what would be produced. Although the Lleyn society website seem to promote crossing with any breed to improve ewe quality. Will you put the hoggets back to a Lleyn ram again?

no ill be putting them to a charolais , with the hope they will be easy to lamb with lots of twins id imagine 250 -350 all depends and competition for ram etc , a good ram is a good ram even if 250 or 350,

foxylock

Thanks for the replies lads, I think that makes my decision a little easier and will go ahead and see how the Lleyn ram works out on my flock. I suppose none of ye have one thrown around the place looking for a new home:D:D

Vandy West

foxylock wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads, I think that makes my decision a little easier and will go ahead and see how the Lleyn ram works out on my flock. I suppose none of ye have one thrown around the place looking for a new home:D:D

If your around the mayo area, may be able to give you a lead. Recently bought a three year old lleyn off a guy in north mayo, He had a ram lamb available that didn't suit me as i wanted a ram for a good few ewe lambs. I have no connection to the guy. If your interested pm me.

foxylock

Vandy West wrote: »

If your around the mayo area, may be able to give you a lead. Recently bought a three year old lleyn off a guy in north mayo, He had a ram lamb available that didn't suit me as i wanted a ram for a good few ewe lambs. I have no connection to the guy. If your interested pm me.

Thanks for that Vandy I probably should have said I was in Tipperary. But if there's nothing forthcoming round here I will give you a shout.

ceannfort

i have a few ram lambs for sale in fermanagh. pbnr pm if anyone interested. bought 10 ewe lambs last year and all lambed unassisted and reared lambs with no feeding.

supersean1999

foxylock wrote: »

Thanks for that Vandy I probably should have said I was in Tipperary. But if there's nothing forthcoming round here I will give you a shout.

go on done deal, some from offaly

rancher

supersean1999 wrote: »

go on done deal, some from offaly

Brian matthews and alan mc donald always do well with them, both from tullamore

foxylock

One last question (sorry for wrecking your heads)

How hardy are the Lleyn as a breed, will they survive all year round on the mountain like the Scottish Blackface will, or would a Scotch Lleyn cross manage the harshness of the hill in winter. The reason I ask is that I intend to keep a constant flock on the mountain as well as a flock in the fields. That's more than two questions

supersean1999

foxylock wrote: »

One last question (sorry for wrecking your heads)

How hardy are the Lleyn as a breed, will they survive all year round on the mountain like the Scottish Blackface will, or would a Scotch Lleyn cross manage the harshness of the hill in winter. The reason I ask is that I intend to keep a constant flock on the mountain as well as a flock in the fields. That's more than two questions

tbh it all depends on the hill, id be weary letting them out for to long at a time, you will soon figure out what there fit for,

JJayoo

Bump
Hiya foxy how did you get on with your Lleyn ram? Just bought two nice Lleyn Rams and have zero experience with the breed. Didn't have many crossbred lambs this year as I wanted to bring a bit of new blood into the breeding flock (all mountain) and got in some Dalesbred rams.

So now I have a Texal Hogget (was a great lengthy lamb but hasn't added much size but has produced nice lambs), an enormous Charollais ram (265 pounds weight) and the 2 new Lleyn rams. Will be dividing half the flock out between these rams.

foxylock

Between the jigs and the reels last year I never got the Lleyn ram in the end, I used all Scottish Blackface rams, reared some fantastic ewe lambs from them and started a flock for the hill. They have thrived and should do well for me. Where did you get the dalesbred rams ... a fine breed too I have some ewes with a touch of dalesbred in them and they are very hardy.

JJayoo

Sorry for the delay Foxy. To be honest I have no idea where the Dalesbreds originated from, as my dad just arrived with them one day.

My uncle,lives next door, has also bought a Llyen ram so now there will be 3 Llyen rams on the job. This time next year I will be able to give a good report on how they worked out.

Conmaicne Mara

supersean1999 wrote: »

i bought a pb lleyn last year, find the ram lambs slow to fatten ill squeeze earlier next year,and the twins behind that of a texel, i dont mind that, i bought him for the ewe lambs, , i cant tell you about the breeding part of it yet, i wont breed them until there hoggets, the ewe lambs look the part , prob more white in the face than the texel cross which sometimes brings brownish faces out of the horny, dont over commit to it, buy a ram lamb and let him to 15 -20 ewes, and you can run more sheep next year if need be

Don't want to start a new thread to ask one question.

Sean how did you get on with the Lleyn/blackface since?

supersean1999

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Don't want to start a new thread to ask one question.

Sean how did you get on with the Lleyn/blackface since?

There grand. Hoggets going to ram next week. There very lively. And iv had them on and off the hill when ever it suits. And they seem Fine. They will be at home most of time in winter.. Only problem i had was i ended up with 70% ram lambs both years. All in all they seem Fine not as heavy or Well made as a texel cross. But id say they Stick the hill better.

supersean1999

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Don't want to start a new thread to ask one question.

Sean how did you get on with the Lleyn/blackface since?

Also to Add. Next year when they have lambs reared is the only time it counts.

Dickie10

I bought a lleyn 2 tr old ram and have him with 20 ewes there texel cross ewes , he is out just over 2 weeks and still has 5 not serviced, is this normal or should I hit the panic button??

tabby aspreme

Sheep heat cycle is about 17 days so I wouldn't panic yet

rancher

Dickie10 wrote: »

I bought a lleyn 2 tr old ram and have him with 20 ewes there texel cross ewes , he is out just over 2 weeks and still has 5 not serviced, is this normal or should I hit the panic button??

You can panic when the fifteen served ones start coming in heat again

Dickie10

ah hopefully its just the cycle he had a bit of a scald on his back foot got him in to raddle him and put a bit of bluestone on it ,maybe this lameness didn't help, hopefully should be nice ewes the bit of texel in the ewes might leave the llyen x ram lambs fairly good

eire23

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Don't want to start a new thread to ask one question.

Sean how did you get on with the Lleyn/blackface since?

Heres a few lleyn/blackface wether lambs, gone to the factory tonight between 42/45 kgs. They done well this year, The hoggets are going to the ram next week so next year will tell a story

Conmaicne Mara

eire23 wrote: »

Heres a few lleyn/blackface wether lambs, gone to the factory tonight between 42/45 kgs. They done well this year, The hoggets are going to the ram next week so next year will tell a story

How did you find them for putting on condition, did you do much feeding?

eire23

They would be getting less than half a pound a day for the last month or so. This is our second year with them, find that they do well, probably easier fattened than the cheviot/blackface lambs. Whether the the ewes turn into as good a mothers as the cheviots will be another thing but cant see why they shouldnt.

Dickie10

my lleyn ram did well any way very prolific out of 22 ewes=19 doubles and 3 singles, all lambed bar 1 now all lambed themselves very quick to suck and extremely lively when born. I had them crossed with big texel and charollais cross ewes although mostly texel x. Be interesting to see how they grow seemed to be 75% ewe lambs any science or theory in this? all the better il squeeze the ram lambs at 12 wks

eire23

Dickie10 wrote: »

my lleyn ram did well any way very prolific out of 22 ewes=19 doubles and 3 singles, all lambed bar 1 now all lambed themselves very quick to suck and extremely lively when born. I had them crossed with big texel and charollais cross ewes although mostly texel x. Be interesting to see how they grow seemed to be 75% ewe lambs any science or theory in this? all the better il squeeze the ram lambs at 12 wks

Same story here this year dickie, great way to have it though.
Was the opposite last year though with the majority being ram lambs, these things have a habit of evenin themselves out

Dickie10

how do the grade flesh and weight wise as the summer progresses any stunted growth or other patterns too look out for?

Mac Taylor

Lads, how do they cross with suffolks. Even though we only keep 30 ewes was thinking of getting a second ram.

eire23

Dickie10 wrote: »

how do the grade flesh and weight wise as the summer progresses any stunted growth or other patterns too look out for?

Left the ram lambs entire, graded roughly half U and the rest R. Was happy with how well they done, had heard a lot of stories about them being hard finnished

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Lads, how do they cross with suffolks. Even though we only keep 30 ewes was thinking of getting a second ram.

Would you be keeping back the ewe lambs?

Mac Taylor

eire23 wrote: »

Left the ram lambs entire, graded roughly half U and the rest R. Was happy with how well they done, had heard a lot of stories about them being hard finnished



Would you be keeping back the ewe lambs?

No, usually buy any replacements hoggets we need from a few neighbours. Too much hassle keeping ewe lambs.

eire23

Mac Taylor wrote: »

No, usually buy any replacements hoggets we need from a few neighbours. Too much hassle keeping ewe lambs.

What rams have you at present? If your not keeping ewe lambs id be inclined to go with some other ram tbh. Main point of the lleyn is to breed replacements and when your not doing that your as well off using some terminal sire and having the lambs gone as quick and as cheaply as possible.

clarenman

I have a pbnr hogget Lleyn ram lamb left over.anyone interested?? pm me for details.Galway area .thanks

Mac Taylor

eire23 wrote: »

What rams have you at present? If your not keeping ewe lambs id be inclined to go with some other ram tbh. Main point of the lleyn is to breed replacements and when your not doing that your as well off using some terminal sire and having the lambs gone as quick and as cheaply as possible.

Fair point. We were out of sheep a long time, just got back into them the last two years. So learning all the time. Have a Suffolk at the moment, but he is one Wicked b#yard!

sea12

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Fair point. We were out of sheep a long time, just got back into them the last two years. So learning all the time. Have a Suffolk at the moment, but he is one Wicked b#yard!

Yep I sold a Suffolk this year aswell as he was so wicked. U couldn't go out in the field and he would attack u.

razor8

Sure mac isn't after buying your ram sea!!!!

sea12

razor8 wrote: »

Sure mac isn't after buying your ram sea!!!!

It's possible but I think he was destined for the big hook.

LambMaster

foxylock wrote: »

One last question (sorry for wrecking your heads)

How hardy are the Lleyn as a breed, will they survive all year round on the mountain like the Scottish Blackface will, or would a Scotch Lleyn cross manage the harshness of the hill in winter. The reason I ask is that I intend to keep a constant flock on the mountain as well as a flock in the fields. That's more than two questions

The Lleyn are meant to be able to look after themselves well enough, I'm trying some with a one of my own Vendeen rams this year. Anyone had any experience with crossing them with the Vendeen?

joe35

I taught the lleyn x horny were ment to give a small offspring not good for either breeding or factory. I asked a few Q's about this a couple of years ago and was put off. How are the fairing out? I did say a mayo horned. Maybe a bigger horned ewe would be better.

eire23

joe35 wrote: »

I taught the lleyn x horny were ment to give a small offspring not good for either breeding or factory. I asked a few Q's about this a couple of years ago and was put off. How are the fairing out? I did say a mayo horned. Maybe a bigger horned ewe would be better.

Had them crossed with a mayo horny here. Used a wicklow cheviot before the lleyn and went back to using a wicklow cheviot the last few years. In general they were two small, have maybe 20 left but these were the best of them and culled of the rest. Its a bit like the lleyn ewes themselves, in general their a bit small...imo. im trying to breed them as strong as possible. But thats just my opinion!

arctictree

Lads, I have a very big lleyn terminal Ram that i used last year and just looking at him there, he looks very unfit. Maybe I'm feeding him too much? Give him a handful of nuts daily. He's about to serve 70 Ewes, should I be worried? Would it be a good idea to get a ram lamb to clean up after him just in case?

Cran

arctictree wrote: »

Lads, I have a very big lleyn terminal Ram that i used last year and just looking at him there, he looks very unfit. Maybe I'm feeding him too much? Give him a handful of nuts daily. He's about to serve 70 Ewes, should I be worried? Would it be a good idea to get a ram lamb to clean up after him just in case?

Would you trust one ram? I wouldn't can go infertile any raise in body temp, lameness or infection etc

Dickie10

i tried the lleyn on various ewes, i find horny ewes too small. the lleyn crossed with a strong big suffolk ewe leaves a lovely speckled brown face ewe of medium size. it also puts a great bit of life into suffolk ewe and thier offspring. i find the llyn crossed onto a big cheviot ewe as my favourite cross. the docility of the llyn and its smaller size make the cheviot much more manageable also adds prolifiacy.strongly thinking of trying out a bluefaced leicster on llyn ewes

Green farmer

As I'm learning more about the breed, there appears to be a few different types and variation in the breed. Small , medium and large sized . All have different characteristics. The small ones can go short very fast, long ones which add length but can get too leggy and hard to fatten. I'm trying the medium type ram at the moment, which I'm hoping will fatten abit easier and give reasonable working sized ewes.

arctictree

Dickie10 wrote: »

i tried the lleyn on various ewes, i find horny ewes too small. the lleyn crossed with a strong big suffolk ewe leaves a lovely speckled brown face ewe of medium size. it also puts a great bit of life into suffolk ewe and thier offspring. i find the llyn crossed onto a big cheviot ewe as my favourite cross. the docility of the llyn and its smaller size make the cheviot much more manageable also adds prolifiacy.strongly thinking of trying out a bluefaced leicster on llyn ewes

A big cheviott Ram got at some of my Llyen Ewes a few years ago. Lambs were lovely. Great shape and thrive.

Dickie10

yes lovely cross. must put up a picture of them