Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
Nowt but a part time job for most of them , follow the hounds watch the rugby watch the racing do a few summer shows and collect some of the bigger sub cheques.
Does the hill shepherd get a fair share of the pie?
- Thread starter hill shepherd
- Start date
Consistent genetics produce consistent characteristics which then can be used as you wish to produce a mixed breed sheep that suits your system. The innovis sheep have been developed by selecting sheep with the characteristics they want but you still have to have bred for that for a long time to know that’s what your going to get from that sheep.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Because they all originated from the same gene pool and were selected to suit the different areas when the flock books were founded. Breeds change in appearance but what they deliver doesn’t and that’s down to the genetics
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
The flock books were started 100 years ago pedigree sheep haven’t since then. Nothing wrong with crossing to improve sheep but you still need pures to cross with
I knew I must be doing something wrong, in future I'll spend less time on the farm and watch more rugby
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
With the greatest respect those flock books are not 100% accurate. There has always been people prepared to fiddle the truth - that's where rapid physical appearance changes happen... like the Crossing BFL... plus not all flocks record. And unrecorded stock can still end up in recorded flocks and get worked into the system.
A prime example is the fallout from the Jaegerbomb Limmy bull. They weren't DNA testing swales 70 years ago... the books are just what the 'herd said.
The 250 000 limi heifer had a double Charolais gene, I myself don’t think it’s right people do that
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
Well they have different letters for genes I can remember what, a pure limi should be FF I think and this had QQ just what I heard along the grape vine. So if that’s right it’s a red Charolais really. In France they have two herd books for pure and graded up cattle how it should be
- Location
- Cheshire
I just assumed someone had “accidentally” crossed a Kerry Hill with a traditional BFL too get the Crossing types.....
Discuss
Discuss
CopperBeech
Member
- Location
- A Welsh man lost in England
There’s that word again. Should.
- Location
- Isle of Skye
Yeah you're right, Of course they're quite right to not do more work than is profitable, but it riles me a bit when some moan about the job not being viable and always want more 'support' and grants. With subs they effectively already get a full time wage for what is at most a part time job.
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
It’s a way of life for us , weather or not we should be subsidised to continue that I don’t know , if I was in town working my butt off I’d say no.
- Location
- Isle of Skye
I do concede a little sympathy for the hill shepherd whose business and lifestyle is propped up by the taxpayer, and when they have such a good life to lose I understand why they get so defensive about it , but the reality is that life is much harder for an awful lot of people in this country.
I accept some subs, but tbh I view them as money for nothing. We don't make much money out of our flock, but don't spend much time on them either, so although the hourly rate is low I'm happy to earn it doing something I enjoy.
I really think that subsidy has pretty much destroyed the industry. It distorts all true values.
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Ffs
Who isnt subsidised today?
- Location
- Isle of Skye
Most small businesses, although I concede it is rapidly becoming the culture of our country to not do anything at all unless there's a grant or funding available.