TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

Boydvalley

Member

Location

Bath

• May 8, 2019

• #2,241

Thanks for posting pictures of the Gripper working in the race. I’ve an older prattley and it won’t fit in. It really needs to be on a solid floor so that’s a good solution. I twisted mine with big ewes working on the field.

If you ever up grade to weighing with it, try and use 1000mm weigh bar under it. Rancher sold it with a 600mm and it rocks around and catches on the frame when lambs enter at speed.Very quick weighing with it though. Easy do 250/hr.

Just remember when you’re getting wet at least it is raining. Very dry down here grass disappearing fast. This mornings rain will help for a bit.
You’re Lambs look well forward. Earlier lambing clearly working for you

 

S

sheepwise

Member

Location

SW Scotland

• May 8, 2019

• #2,242

Bill dog said:

I was looking at my tups earlier thinking not long now !
But there will be no photos put up this year after the dogs abuse last year by various “ pros “ about the stripes I may have left !

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You must have been poorly taught by that wool board instructor back in the day!

 

Bill dog

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Scottish Borders

• May 8, 2019

• #2,243

sheepwise said:

You must have been poorly taught by that wool board instructor back in the day!

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Hahaha ! I won’t hold you responsible!

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 8, 2019

• #2,244

Boydvalley said:

Thanks for posting pictures of the Gripper working in the race. I’ve an older prattley and it won’t fit in. It really needs to be on a solid floor so that’s a good solution. I twisted mine with big ewes working on the field.

If you ever up grade to weighing with it, try and use 1000mm weigh bar under it. Rancher sold it with a 600mm and it rocks around and catches on the frame when lambs enter at speed.Very quick weighing with it though. Easy do 250/hr.

Just remember when you’re getting wet at least it is raining. Very dry down here grass disappearing fast. This mornings rain will help for a bit.
You’re Lambs look well forward. Earlier lambing clearly working for you

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I was really pleased when I discovered the Gripper fitted inside the Alligator. It works well and is nice and firm sitting in there. There was 1 big ewe didn't fit in it though, that caused a problem.

I have considered putting a load bar under it, but I've been struggling to find one which would suit. Most companies seem to want to sell 2 bars and as you say the Gripper only takes 1. They are very expensive too... a friend has a gripper with the weigh bar and yeah he has said it isn't the most accurate depending where the lambs weight is.

We've had plenty rain this week, I would send some to you if I could. We all need a fair share of the stuff

 

Boydvalley

Member

Location

Bath

• May 8, 2019

• #2,245

Allied weigh is who you need to speak to. They will do a weigh bar and put a plug on to suit your weigh head and drill and tap the bar to suit the platform. Wasn’t silly money but I can’t remember now. Didn’t do it because Scotpen was supposed to launch gripper type weigh crush that has never materialised and now going to wait until I see Rappas in race weigh platform that’s supposed to be out at the end of the month.
Probably end up with the Allied bar and spend on a tag reader if the weights are consistent.

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 8, 2019

• #2,246

Scotpen were supposed to take over Rancher IIRC but it never happened. You can buy a brand new Gripper from Orangeworks, who took over Rancher when they went bust and are working from the same building in Castle Douglas.

Alligator actually do their own weighing system which sits in the rear half of the race (behind the shedding gates) so I have options... but I bought an almost new Ritchie weigh crate at a farm sale last September for next to nothing as my hand was forced so I've plenty time to decide what I will do going forward

 

Boydvalley

Member

Location

Bath

• May 8, 2019

• #2,247

I think ‘bought for next to nothing’ will last you for many years

 

scottish-lleyn

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

South east scotland

• May 8, 2019

• #2,248

Bill dog said:

I was looking at my tups earlier thinking not long now !
But there will be no photos put up this year after the dogs abuse last year by various “ pros “ about the stripes I may have left !

Click to expand...

still not got over it i see let it go man lifes to short.

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 8, 2019

• #2,249

scottish-lleyn said:

still not got over it i see let it go man lifes to short.

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Pride is a delicate thing

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 8, 2019

• #2,250

 

Bill dog

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Scottish Borders

• May 8, 2019

• #2,251

scottish-lleyn said:

still not got over it i see let it go man lifes to short.

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Right you ! I’ll improve my technique and get some pics up once I’ve clipped them !

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 9, 2019

• #2,252

Fetched the ewe hoggs in this afternoon and got them tailed. This set up really has made the job so easy, I feel like I've definitely justified the Gripper (which everyone asked WTF I bought it for) last year and Alligator in Feb.

A few of the hoggs were very dirty, much dirtier than other years... there's 2 aren't doing that great, but the rest I'm.very happy with and they seem to be doing well

There are 8 stray Blackies have appeared in amongst them. I know who they belong... But I didn't do their tails

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 10, 2019

• #2,253

So aye... thought I was finished lambing

Maybe that's why she got stuck in the Gripper on Wednesday... I thought she was just fat (I also had never even noticed she had no lambs at foot )

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 22, 2019

• #2,254

Just been plittering around this past week or 2... not too much of note, really

Sold 30 fat hoggs last week which I have struggled all winter to get walking. One apparently weighed 78kg at market made £90 so can't complain too much I guess. That was last Wednesday, absolutely scorching day so bunked off the afternoon and walked round Scotgrass. Must be a good 10 years since I last went to the event - maybe even longer. Not much caught my eye really, but I've never been into machinery too much - not even when I used to go contracting at 18 or 19... the real thing I noticed was how quiet new tractors are when even working hard. I think I'm getting old and miss the days of 90hp flogging it's guts trying to work a Mengele trailed chopper

It was a nice day out, though.

Our silage ground is all shut off, brothers started splashing some spray on thistles and docks. It's hot, and we are getting rain every few days so grass is doing well.

First group of 250 Texel lambs gathered this afternoon wormed against Nemo, and all given a multi vit dose, too. I used the passage through the shelter strip to hold the ewes and just set the race up at the bottom gate. It worked really well as the ewes flowed through thinking they were getting away.

Really pleased with how the lambs are doing - they are weighing like lead and really solid to touch/handle... the ewes are (mostly) in good nick, and milking well with plenty grass and kind weather - it is night and day difference from a year ago!!

I did take a video of the lambs, and a few other pictures of up the passage but I think the heat (and probably sweat in my pocket) affected my phone and meant these haven't worked for some reason... another mob same size to do tomorrow, so I'll take more then

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 23, 2019

• #2,255

Other half of the Tex lambs in and done today...

 

yellowbelly

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

N.Lincs

• May 23, 2019

• #2,256

Nithsdale Farmer said:

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I like to see lambs with skins like that - they're always good do-ers

 

Nithsdale

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Dumfries & Galloway

• May 23, 2019

• #2,257

yellowbelly said:

I like to see lambs with skins like that - they're always good do-ers

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Picture doesn't do that lamb justice. It is huge and seriously heavy!!

I wouldn't be so cocky as to say all the lambs have skins like that, but there is a lot do... They really are doing well

The job is so much more enjoyable than the fight this time last year.






I'm going back to school tomorrow, learning new skills from an old master. Really looking forward to it... pictures (if I can take some on the sly) and a post will be coming

 

Sheeponfire

Member

• May 23, 2019

• #2,258

Nithsdale Farmer said:

Picture doesn't do that lamb justice. It is huge and seriously heavy!!

I wouldn't be so cocky as to say all the lambs have skins like that, but there is a lot do... They really are doing well

The job is so much more enjoyable than the fight this time last year.






I'm going back to school tomorrow, learning new skills from an old master. Really looking forward to it... pictures (if I can take some on the sly) and a post will be coming

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I am very impressed with those pics of your stock..

whats the breeding in those ewes??

 

abitdaft

Member

Location

Scotland

• May 23, 2019

• #2,259

Can I be rude and ask what multi vit you are using, rough cost per dose and how long it lasts before needing to re-dose? We have always worked with blocks, licks etc, We bolus ewes but not lambs. The problem with blocks etc is obviously you can't assume that every animal is taking the optimal level. Your lambs are cracking!

 

Bury the Trash

Member

Mixed Farmer

• May 23, 2019

• #2,260

Nithsdale Farmer said:

View attachment 796406

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where did you get that poster from ? aamoi ... I had one but 30 - 35 years or so ago.iirc ..