Raising different breeds

grayh0und

We are considering getting some rarer breed sheep to graze along with our cheviot / scotch crosses. I'm hoping you all might be able to give me some things to consider before I rush out and buy something!

Have come across some Jacobs on Donedeal and think these might suit as well as they are meant to be easy lambers. Assuming we didn't want to cross them with our sheep, am I correct in thinking we would be okay to have with the rest of our flock throughout the year, other than when the ram was ready to service the ewes. Conceivably for a month or so we could separate them out, and them put them back together?

Any experience with Jacobs?

thanks in advance

Donegalforever

grayh0und wrote: »

We are considering getting some rarer breed sheep to graze along with our cheviot / scotch crosses. I'm hoping you all might be able to give me some things to consider before I rush out and buy something!

Have come across some Jacobs on Donedeal and think these might suit as well as they are meant to be easy lambers. Assuming we didn't want to cross them with our sheep, am I correct in thinking we would be okay to have with the rest of our flock throughout the year, other than when the ram was ready to service the ewes. Conceivably for a month or so we could separate them out, and them put them back together?

Any experience with Jacobs?

thanks in advance

I have not had any personal experience with Jacob Sheep but I have seen them for sale at my local Mart on odd occasions and they were very poor sellers.
Perhaps you are not too concerned about selling price of this particular breed?

Jacob Sheep remind me of Goats; perhaps that is a bit harsh.

ganmo

They’re a fine wool breed who’s crosses are normally fully black

Lambman

Wouldn't go near the Jacobs there good mothers and have plenty of milk but lambs don't finish and as was said are very poor sellers in the mart and yea they throw a lot off black wool offspring when crossed had a few here for a couple years and they would always stay away on there own and wouldn't follow the rest off the flock when gathering them... dono if that's the trait off there's or I was just unlucky.

ganmo

Sheep are racist.

grayh0und

All good feedback - sounds like I might shy away from them if they don't sell well. Back to the drawing board!

Lambman

Kerry hills might be an option for you... I can't comment on them as never had any but a real nice looking sheep and has all the things your looking for.

Syrmaticus

Jacobs are a great maternal ewe, just don’t breed them pure if you’re going to finish the lambs. They’ll lamb themselves, have good feet and need very little looking after. Crossed with any terminal sire they’ll produce polled black factory lambs that are easily finished.

grayh0und

what about zwartbles?

thelegend1979

Bought a few zwartble suffolk cross ewe hoggets early last year. Master ewe to get through a tough winter. Great mothers with loads of milk and very quiet and easy handled.