The blackface ewes are a cross of swale x blackface there are no pure bred blackface left now . The blackie is a better ewe for the introduction of swale.
Mules are still supreme
- Thread starter Agrivator
- Start date
- Location
- Cheshire
There will, but the breed will HAVE to adjust too producing a sheep that the fat lamb producers (I.e. Me) find fit for purpose. The lack of a sub payment will hopefully make them realise that a narrow kipper of a sheep with horns that curve just so and all the black where it should be, same with the white will be worth cull value where an old fashioned swale with real body and bone but a bit grey will produce a lamb that's got real value in the market
- Location
- Cheshire
They are all better for a bit of crossbred. But you can't tell the purists that!!
Downtrodden Dad
Member
- Location
- Cumbria
We keep being told how much things will change when sub's go, just like things would change when it went to the area basis. I am sceptical that so many will change, they are farmers after all.
I'm in the mules are so last year camp, this will be the first year I won't have any mules at all since time began. 1500 all texel cross now.
I'm in the mules are so last year camp, this will be the first year I won't have any mules at all since time began. 1500 all texel cross now.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
So they have better feet than Texels and don't have such dirty arses as Suffolks? You have really set the bar high......
M-J-G
Member
This happens with everything, not just mules. Go to the bull or ram sales the year after a good sale and look that the garbage that some breeders have the face to present as a breeding animal.
I've seen Lleyn ewes at a sale that should never have seen their first birthday.
Don't get me wrong I'm not picking on the Lleyn because I like what I see of a lot of them, but no bred is immune from breeders wanting to sell sh1te.
Nothing does more harm to a breeds progress than popularity or big prices.
- Location
- North Wales
Farm near me run 1000 brought in ewe lambs, mules and Tex cross mules mainly, on to shearlings. Before the sales he was asking how to stop the prolific dirty back ends and lame ones as they get stuck with them as some don't make the grade to sell.
I said you kill them in march on a good trade. He was shocked and genuinely thought you could get everyone through to the breeding sales. I think he should be killing the poorest 5% to do the buyers a favour and cull off the poorest with faults.
I said you kill them in march on a good trade. He was shocked and genuinely thought you could get everyone through to the breeding sales. I think he should be killing the poorest 5% to do the buyers a favour and cull off the poorest with faults.
Maybe it’s time for some blackie back through the swale.They are all better for a bit of crossbred. But you can't tell the purists that!!
- Location
- Cheshire
Exactly! The ruination of so many breeds is popularity!!
- Location
- Cheshire
Big shearling man I know religiously kills the bottom 20% in Feb/march. Last February he culled the bottom 60%. Even with shearlings the trade they are he's still thinking he did right!
livestock 1
Member
Well there are 4 crop ewes sold usually better end is £140 ish all day long
Likely less than that but who knows
Much has changed in six months
livestock 1
Member
How are these sheep cropping percentage wise and how do they compare for lambing ease and maternal instinct?
So they have better feet than Texels and don't have such dirty arses as Suffolks? You have really set the bar high......
We keep all three in a stratified system: Mules, [Texel x Mules], and [Sufffolk x (Texel x Mules)]
The Mules have far bonnier heeds, and are less prone to foot problems compared to the Texel crosses. And both the Mules and the Texel crosses tend to stay cleaner than the Suffolk crosses. They are all on Clean Grazing, but even then, the Suffok crosses are still prone to shitty arses.
It's obvious;y a breed thing. Obviously I should keep Highland and Cambridge crosses, put to a Charollais tup. And then I would have to shoot myself, and be beyond caring.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Hmmm. Not sure I'd agree. The Blackie isn't the sheep she once was, and I'd say the Swale blood is one resson behind it...
Northeastfarmer
Member
- Location
- Cleveland
I have a few mules but only to keep the gimmers out of them otherwise I wouldn’t bother
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Is the exlana in the back of the photo, behind the two goats?
Stw88
Member
- Location
- Northumberland
And they say swales are narrowIs the exlana in the back of the photo, behind the two goats?
