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.