Which ram?

murrak123

Currently considering holding onto some of this years batch of texel x ewe lambs and i am trying to figure out which ram to put with them. Have it shortened down to either beltex or charlaois. Has anyone had any major experience with beltex or am i looking for trouble.
I intend lambing in shed but i dont have the space for weak lambs hanging round which i hear with charlaois can be a probem

Cran

murrak123 wrote: »

Currently considering holding onto some of this years batch of texel x ewe lambs and i am trying to figure out which ram to put with them. Have it shortened down to either beltex or charlaois. Has anyone had any major experience with beltex or am i looking for trouble.
I intend lambing in shed but i dont have the space for weak lambs hanging round which i hear with charlaois can be a probem

Charollais, not sure Texel x Beltex growth rate would be great.

charolais0153

Cran wrote: »

Charollais, not sure Texel x Beltex growth rate would be great.

+1 they would be shapy and I'd fear you might have to interfere in more lambings

Green farmer

I'd opt for the Charley, if beltex is anything like the texel. Texel on ewe lambs is looking for trouble. Had to c section one here earlier this year, as you'll have lots of singles. I have no issue putting the texel or beltex on them in the year 2 though, once they've grown abit and the "tracks where laid" after first lambing.

murrak123

What other breed rams should i be considering?

davidk1394

We've both. Charollais on the main ewes as the rams have good conformation. They put up good weight and trive. The beltex is uses on the ewe lambs. However since you've texel ewes I'd be inclined to lean towards the Charollais. The beltex are easy to lamb and get going fairly quick but the wouldn't reach the same weights as the Charollais

Future Farmer

Charolais all the way - terminal sire.

May look a bit slight a weak, but get going an live.

In terms of surviving up there with the mountain breeds (I would consider pure Suffolks & Blue Leicester the worst).

murrak123

Cheers for the opinions lads.

mcgiggles

We have texel x and we ran them with a Charollais ram last year, we're only in our first year with them so we've made a few mistakes so some of them haven't fattened as quickly as we would have hoped, but the ones that did are fine strong lambs. I've heard something about beltex and can't for the life of me remember what it was... if it comes to me ill get back on here

kk.man

I am after buying a Suffock PBR Ram Lamb (dob feb 16) he is a middle orf the road size...my questions will he be able to service 30 odd ewes (avg age 3.5 yrs)?

mcgiggles

We ran 2 charollais rams with our ladies (25 or so), our own one and a borrowed one, mainly because our one was unproven and we wanted to hedge our bets. I don't know whether it was because he was a bit smaller or what, but he seemed to be tipping only about one a day so it'd take a while if you had one ram on 30 ewes.. the other fella who was well used to it was tipping away goodo. I suppose it would depend on the ram? (others more experienced may be more equipped to answer this..)

Future Farmer

kk.man wrote: »

I am after buying a Suffock PBR Ram Lamb (dob feb 16) he is a middle orf the road size...my questions will he be able to service 30 odd ewes (avg age 3.5 yrs)?

Too many for him, 15 to 25 would probably be enough!

grassroot1

I would say he will be ok 30 ewes on his own,it would be easier than 20 with an older ram bullying him around. That is presuming he is fertile and capable of mating. I have a Jan 8 born ram lamb with 30 he seems very eager for more!!!

sea12

Future Farmer wrote: »

Too many for him, 15 to 25 would probably be enough!

Wouldn't agree. I say he will service the 30 no prob.

J.O. Farmer

Is there any other terminal sire worth considering other than say the texel charolais and suffolk. I'm looking at buying a ram for 20 to 30 ewes which are a real mixture of crossbred ewes.

I see rams like the beltex on done deal but while muscley they seem small and butty and so would it be hard to put lambs into good weights.

The millennium blue cross between a beltex and bleu du maine doesn't look bad but I wonder do they breed good stock or are they just a good butcher's lambs themselves.

Is the bleu du maine mainly a maternal breed. With the small flock I will be mainly buying replacements.

I see rouge but for some reason I associate them with bad feet/laminitis but I don't know why. Are they any good to fatten lambs.

I am thinking the charolaois might be a good option and I could let him with ewe lambs as well but I can borrow a ram for them if I decide to breed them.

The texel if I can get a longish sheep are good too. The suffolk will flesh lambs good too but some of my ewes have texel and suffolk breeding.

Is there another breed I should be considering or any thoughts on the ones I've mentioned.

ganmo

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

Is there any other terminal sire worth considering other than say the texel charolais and suffolk. I'm looking at buying a ram for 20 to 30 ewes which are a real mixture of crossbred ewes.

I see rams like the beltex on done deal but while muscley they seem small and butty and so would it be hard to put lambs into good weights.

The millennium blue cross between a beltex and bleu du maine doesn't look bad but I wonder do they breed good stock or are they just a good butcher's lambs themselves.

Is the bleu du maine mainly a maternal breed. With the small flock I will be mainly buying replacements.

I see rouge but for some reason I associate them with bad feet/laminitis but I don't know why. Are they any good to fatten lambs.

I am thinking the charolaois might be a good option and I could let him with ewe lambs as well but I can borrow a ram for them if I decide to breed them.

The texel if I can get a longish sheep are good too. The suffolk will flesh lambs good too but some of my ewes have texel and suffolk breeding.

Is there another breed I should be considering or any thoughts on the ones I've mentioned.

theres vendeens

charolais0153

ganmo wrote: »

theres vendeens

Or Hampshire down

nagshead

I would second the hampshire down , easy lambed and and hardy lambs will take plenty of weather and finish close to or quicker than suffolks, like any breed i have found a huge variation in the quality of rams but some good breeders in the north.

stantheman1979

Another vote for the Hampshire. They lamb easy enough and make a good long fat lamb. They grow as well as the char which I like also.

J.O. Farmer

Thanks lads I'd never have considered the Hampshire. It's another option anyway as it sounds like a good terminal breed.