Swaledale Ewes @ What Breed of Ram?

gone up the hill · Oct 26, 2020

As above what breed of ram would be best put with Full Mouth Swaledale ewes that will produce a decent 44/46 liveweight R grade lamb??

Ideally an easy lambing breed with get up and go as well.

Also what lambing % would be average for the above on a lowland farm?

Or is the above a total non starter?

Northeastfarmer · Oct 26, 2020

Beltex

neilo · Oct 26, 2020

Northeastfarmer said:
Beltex

How long to get a 44-46kg finished lamb by a Beltex on a Swale? :scratchhead:

Surely a decent Charollais all day long, in a lowland situation like @gone up the hill describes.

Northeastfarmer · Oct 26, 2020

neilo said:
How long to get a 44-46kg finished lamb by a Beltex on a Swale?

Surely a decent Charollais all day long, in a lowland situation like @gone up the hill describes.

It was slightly tongue in cheek

Nithsdale · Oct 26, 2020

BFL. Forget about fat lambs, breed ewe lambs - have you seen the trade this year?!

Fill yer boots!

No. Wait. The Welsh might take that the wrong way

Agrivator · Oct 26, 2020

A good tight-skinned Texel.

Al R · Oct 26, 2020

BFL, Exlana, Charolais.

yellowbelly · Oct 26, 2020

gone up the hill said:
As above what breed of ram would be best put with Full Mouth Swaledale ewes that will produce a decent 44/46 liveweight R grade lamb??

Know nowt about Swales but we run some draft Herdwicks on some very poor lowland grazing and put them to Texels...............................

Sold some singles straight off their mothers between 39kg and 44kg.
Most of the twins went as stores - av, around £72. Kept a few females to try as breeders to see what they'll do to a Beltex.

Off the top of my head they did about 170%. Lambed outside on their own. Pulled only 2 or3 lambs.

What's not to like? Went to Cockermouth for another load a couple of weeks ago

Henarar · Oct 27, 2020

gone up the hill said:
As above what breed of ram would be best put with Full Mouth Swaledale ewes that will produce a decent 44/46 liveweight R grade lamb??

Ideally an easy lambing breed with get up and go as well.

Also what lambing % would be average for the above on a lowland farm?

Or is the above a total non starter?

Dorset

johnspeehs · Oct 27, 2020

Surely on good land would have to be a BFL, no bother getting the wether's fat and then you have a nice batch of mule ewe lambs,

BELOWAVERAGE · Oct 27, 2020

yellowbelly said:
Know nowt about Swales but we run some draft Herdwicks on some very poor lowland grazing and put them to Texels...............................
View attachment 916770
View attachment 916771
Sold some singles straight off their mothers between 39kg and 44kg.
Most of the twins went as stores - av, around £72. Kept a few females to try as breeders to see what they'll do to a Beltex.

Off the top of my head they did about 170%. Lambed outside on their own. Pulled only 2 or3 lambs.

What's not to like? Went to Cockermouth for another load a couple of weeks ago

@neilo , don't like to drag up the past, but perhaps I'm not quite the idiot you made out. (although I appreciate I'm still an idiot)

andybk · Oct 27, 2020

Henarar said:
Dorset

lol, be ok to breed females but better rams for terminals

tinsheet · Oct 27, 2020

When I had them I ran a Suffolk on them, good square black face lambs, the ewe lambs made good hard ewes live anywhere

Henarar · Oct 27, 2020

andybk said:
lol, be ok to breed females but better rams for terminals

Ahh but I could sell him a Flufffhead cross, unbeatable

Skintagain · Oct 27, 2020

Carefully selected Charley.

Or an even more carefully selected suffolk could work imo

Sandpit Farm · Oct 27, 2020

If you are lambing inside and killing all the offspring then any fast growing terminal would do the job. Charollais seems a good shout.

If you want to keep ewe lambs, there are other options. A maternal Texel may work, a BFL would do ok but you won't get heavy wethers and you've got to mess about providing the rams with suitable shelter... rather predictably, I would suggest a Roussin for this job if you want to keep females (just choose your breeder carefully). It is all pros and cons, mules are well known so you will sell the female progeny but compromise on the males. Exlanas another decent shout with the added bonus you get partial shedders, hardier rams etc but how well would the wethers grade? Is there a market for the partial shedding females?

You could easily achieve 170+% lambing percentage from these ewes if they are in good condition and they are on a high plane of nutrition when they ovulate.

Greythundercloudys · Oct 27, 2020

Bfl, really no other bred, a beltex on a swale what would that look like. Bfl is what you want., if l had a dry, rough hill, 200 bf ewes 3 bfl tups, winter on there, a block or two, then on to greener ground mid march, lmb 2nd week in April. Even if your new to the ewe lmb game, you'll still get a decent price and the weather's are always wanted.

neilo · Oct 27, 2020

BELOWAVERAGE said:
@neilo , don't like to drag up the past, but perhaps I'm not quite the idiot you made out. (although I appreciate I'm still an idiot)

I seem to remember you claiming 200% though.

I would 170% is damned good going for such a breed, even with a shepherd of @yellowbelly ‘s capabilities.

Nithsdale · Oct 27, 2020

tinsheet said:
When I had them I ran a Suffolk on them, good square black face lambs, the ewe lambs made good hard ewes live anywhere

Can't think I've ever seen Suffolk lambs out of a Swale (or Blackie)... I'm actually quite intrigued to see what the lambs are like

Northeastfarmer · Oct 27, 2020

Nithsdale Farmer said:
Can't think I've ever seen Suffolk lambs out of a Swale (or Blackie)... I'm actually quite intrigued to see what the lambs are like

Well you’re the man with Suffolk’s....we are your audience...

Swaledale Ewes @ What Breed of Ram?

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0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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