Sheep breeding - Advice needed

Mac Taylor

Hoping for a bit of advice. Keep 30 ewes here. Buy in replacements. Need to buy 10 this year. Have a good Suffolk ram and was wondering what type of ewe to cross with. Bought black faced suffolks last year and was not happy with the lambs. Gone too suffolky if you know what I mean. Tks.

gazahayes

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Hoping for a bit of advice. Keep 30 ewes here. Buy in replacements. Need to buy 10 this year. Have a good Suffolk ram and was wondering what type of ewe to cross with. Bought black faced suffolks last year and was not happy with the lambs. Gone too suffolky if you know what I mean. Tks.

Lleyn would be nice ewes and would be my choice.

weatherbyfoxer

We have belclare ewes from cheviot x suffolk ewes here and are very happy with them...would you consider mules?

sako 85

Personally I'm very found of Cheviot Sheep. The Ewes work very well with a Suffolk ram, ram lambs make a good factory lamb and good quality ewe lambs command a high price for replacement breeding ewes.

Kevin the sheep

http://www.donedeal.ie/view/7307481

Buy a texel ???????

Green farmer

I'd love to see what type of texel lambs you'd get out of that fellow !!!

Kevin the sheep

Green farmer wrote: »

I'd love to see what type of texel lambs you'd get out of that fellow !!!

Black ones :-)

derferjam

Texel hhmmmmm.....!!!!

How much about sheep does his guy know about sheep. A bit of advice stay clear of Doned... for livestock

Mac Taylor

Kevin the sheep wrote: »

http://www.donedeal.ie/view/7307481

Buy a texel ???????

What's wrong with that add?


Only joking!!!!!

Mac Taylor

Thanks for the replies. Was thinking Texel purely because around my neck of the woods there seems to be only three choices. Black faced Suffolks, specked face suffolks or texels!!!

Would'nt mind lelyn or mule but not sure where best to pick them up without driving half way round the country and not sure how reliable donedeal is. (see kevins link if in doubt!!!!)

eire23

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Was thinking Texel purely because around my neck of the woods there seems to be only three choices. Black faced Suffolks, specked face suffolks or texels!!!

Would'nt mind lelyn or mule but not sure where best to pick them up without driving half way round the country and not sure how reliable donedeal is. (see kevins link if in doubt!!!!)

Donedeal is grand most of the time, but some times the stock pictured might not be the ones actually for sale. My lleyn ram appeared it one day for sale in wicklow, thought it a good one:pac:

tabby aspreme

There are a few good lleyn breeders in offaly which way not be too far away from you

sea12

eire23 wrote: »

Donedeal is grand most of the time, but some times the stock pictured might not be the ones actually for sale. My lleyn ram appeared it one day for sale in wicklow, thought it a good one:pac:

How did they use the picture. Had u already bought it from the farmer?

eire23

sea12 wrote: »

How did they use the picture. Had u already bought it from the farmer?

No had never dealt wit the farmer before, persume it was lifted of another forum that i was on.

Willfarman

Speckle Suffolk always in demand. with good reason.

sea12

Willfarman wrote: »

Speckle Suffolk always in demand. with good reason.

Yep agree always good demand for nice speckled ewes

ganmo

same breeding with-out the 'nice speckled face' up to €30 quid cheaper as ewe lambs.
A couple of years ago we sold ewe lambs in 2 lots, one lot had 'nice speckled face' the other had a tan coloured face and from memory there was 25 quid in the difference and I thought the tan lot were nicer lambs

Willfarman

I like a strong Suffolk speckle lamb with the right ears as they say. Yes the speckle often aren't worth the premium? But I can tell you in the middle of March half 3 in the morning and you have a hogget that doesn't want to know its lamb the extra 10 20 30 euro wouldn't look a lot a lot of money to you!

sako 85

Willfarman wrote: »

I like a strong Suffolk speckle lamb with the right ears as they say. Yes the speckle often aren't worth the premium? But I can tell you in the middle of March half 3 in the morning and you have a hogget that doesn't want to know its lamb the extra 10 20 30 euro wouldn't look a lot a lot of money to you!

Sorry Will but I don't really get what you mean, do you reckon that the pattern on a sheep face will effect its mothering ability?

As said previously I cant see how a ewe with a darker face or tan face of the same breeding as a ewe with a speckled face would be any different.

Willfarman

sako 85 wrote: »

Sorry Will but I don't really get what you mean, do you reckon that the pattern on a sheep face will effect its mothering ability?

As said previously I cant see how a ewe with a darker face or tan face of the same breeding as a ewe with a speckled face would be any different.

No if they are the same breeding it won't. But I can't stress enough the importance of having sme upland sheep blood in them. Or belclare.

sako 85

Oh right fair enough Will, I'd a agree with you so