Borris hogget v mule hogget

weatherbyfoxer

Seeking yet more advice on sheep lads! I'm set on buying 70 hoggets over the next 2 weeks, willing to spend up to 170 per head on the borris hoggets (cheviot ewe crossed with a pb suffolk ram) or mule hoggets (blue leister ram x horned mountain ewes)....both are good sheep but both have the downfalls

The borris ewe will scan with less lambs that the mule.their bigger sheep than mules so will probably require more feeding also they can be wild...but the plus side is their lambs are easier to finish and their cull value is much higher. Also the borris hogget is far more available locally here in co.kildare than the mule

Anyone have both types in the flocks that can compare?

Future Farmer

weatherbyfoxer wrote: »

Seeking yet more advice on sheep lads! I'm set on buying 70 hoggets over the next 2 weeks, willing to spend up to 170 per head on the borris hoggets (cheviot ewe crossed with a pb suffolk ram) or mule hoggets (blue leister ram x horned mountain ewes)....both are good sheep but both have the downfalls

The borris ewe will scan with less lambs that the mule.their bigger sheep than mules so will probably require more feeding also they can be wild...but the plus side is their lambs are easier to finish and their cull value is much higher. Also the borris hogget is far more available locally here in co.kildare than the mule

Anyone have both types in the flocks that can compare?

Hi,

For me the Borris (Speckled Face) scan (1.8 - 1.9) and lamb higher than Mule (1.6 - 1.8), and their lambs finish easier, we have had both over the years.

However, I prefer Mules, hardy sheep that are very durable.

Both good ewes for use with Terminal sires.

What is your ground like? Do you lamb out? What terminal rams would you plan to use?

FF

weatherbyfoxer

Cheers for the reply ff,

I'm indoor March lambing on good lowland ground...using new zealand type suffolk rambs..

Future Farmer

What would you base ewe be at the minute?

Surely, you don't want too much Suffolk in them.

weatherbyfoxer

Most ewes are from a belclare ram crossed with borris type ewes...white/grey face...looking at keeping my ewe lambs next year from the suffolk rams

Future Farmer

weatherbyfoxer wrote: »

Most ewes are from a belclare ram crossed with borris type ewes...white/grey face...looking at keeping my ewe lambs next year from the suffolk rams

On the suffolk? Very prolific.

What terminal sires you using?

weatherbyfoxer

Going to use suffolk on everything for this year to get as many good ewe lambs as I can.ram lambs will be ideal to finish too as the suffolk is nearly bred out of the whole flock at the moment..seen suffolks out of borris ewes yesterday at the mart looked like good lambs...I'm using 7/8 bred new zealand suffolks this year...taking to lads using them there spose to be miles ahead of the traditional suffolk