Suitable ram for ewe lambs?

Runswithfeet

Hello all,

Have a bunch of ewe lambs bought in,usually wouldn’t tip them as lambs to let them develop but will have around 25 that will be 40kg plus by November and have taken a notion to tip them with an easy lambing ram.

They are Suffolk x,good long,well made sheep with tight wool.Would use Suffolk rams on my own ewes.

Debating on either putting a Cheviot or Charolais ram with them.Have used Cheviots before and their lambs are hardy when born .

Aren’t Charolais meant to be easy lambing too and quick to get up and suck?

Appreciate anyone’s thoughts on the above,

TIA🙂

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058426533/suitable-ram-for-ewe-lambs

Charollais are easily born and good lively lambs when born. They can be a little bare though.
Being Suffolk ewe lambs, they would want to be heading for 50kg + before tipping.
They recommend that they be at least 60% of mature ewe weight.

Runswithfeet

Thanks @White Clover,

Know nothing about Charolais tbh.Would it be fair enough to say they might be slightly easier lambed from compared to lambing from a Cheviot?……as their heads seem smaller.

So my plan would be to probably buy either a Charolais or Cheviot ram in about a months time.Might pick up a ram that worked tipping ewes for the Easter market and had a rest then for a few months.

Wouldn’t let him out till beginning of December to 25 strong lambs,only leave him in for one cycle or until all clearly raddled as would watch them lambing closely for a compact short period,and not have it dragging on.

Appreciate anyone else’s experience also of what rams they have used effectively with ewe lambs.

Mad about baa baas

Beltex or rouge would also have a handy sized lamb at birth..

Runswithfeet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123903102#Comment_123903102

That’s interesting,tbh you wouldn’t see many Beltex or rouge sheep around these parts.

From seeing them in marts I would have thought Beltex would be hard lambed from big texel like head.See very few rouge,what do they bring to the table as a breed?

Mad about baa baas

Beltex twnd to be born quite slight of frame and have much smaller heads than texel..lambs grow well then and finish fast at lighter weights than other breeds..a 42kg beltex will probably be fit to kill

Rouge would be similar to charrolais but ewes from a rouge ram are much milkier than charrolais ewes..rouge lambs have little pointy heads which helps lambing..they can be quite bare skinned at birth depending on the ewe..i have mixed breeds and suffolk ewes seem the best cross

Thats from my limited experience anyway