A re-think on my sheep

[JP1]

Right . I have only kept sheep for a short while. I have a small flock of Wiltshire Horns

They sell ok pure as ewe replacements advertised in the Farmers Guide and I try to sell the rest of the lambs in half or whole boxes

Their grazing is not the best, much of it dried chalk or marshy bog

Been thinking of hanging tup to give better meat yield and better than 130 % with replacements

Hopefully the BFF regulars will be along in a while to put me right

 

[Tim W]

Hi JP1

I have had wilts for 20 years or so and find that they are some of the most awkward sheep to get along with! But they do have a market in the pedigree/smallholder world which is why i still have a few (down to less than 100 wilts ewes this year)
They don't have a high fertility rate ---i average 160% on grass only
A terminal sire may help your growth rates/carcase quality ---got to be worth a go?

 

[JP1]

Hi JP1

I have had wilts for 20 years or so and find that they are some of the most awkward sheep to get along with! But they do have a market in the pedigree/smallholder world which is why i still have a few (down to less than 100 wilts ewes this year)
They don't have a high fertility rate ---i average 160% on grass only
A terminal sire may help your growth rates/carcase quality ---got to be worth a go?

Yes I've thought of chopping them all in and having Chevease with a terminal sire like a Charly or Roussin. I've also thought of putting a Texel over them and retaining the replacement ewes, then top crossing a terminal

Good to see you're on here Tim

 

[matt. r]

Right . I have only kept sheep for a short while. I have a small flock of Wiltshire Horns

They sell ok pure as ewe replacements advertised in the Farmers Guide and I try to sell the rest of the lambs in half or whole boxes

Their grazing is not the best, much of it dried chalk or marshy bog

Been thinking of hanging tup to give better meat yield and better than 130 % with replacements

Hopefully the BFF regulars will be along in a while to put me right

Hi JP1
It was good to see you on wednesday. There were some RoussinX ewe lambs in hereford market last week, back in lamb to the Roussin, made £80. I didn't see them tho. I'm tempted to try putting the Roussin over a few cheviots this year.

 

[JP1]

Hi JP1
It was good to see you on wednesday. There were some RoussinX ewe lambs in hereford market last week, back in lamb to the Roussin, made £80. I didn't see them tho. I'm tempted to try putting the Roussin over a few cheviots this year.

Mattr - now I see. It was good to see you too and congrats on mini mattr too

 

[Ysgythan]

Have you tried a Border Leicester?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Have you tried a Border Leicester?

Are you on a mission to resurrect every thread from 2013?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Are you on a mission to resurrect every thread from 2013?

He’s pressed the wrong button and reversed the date order on threads.

 

[Bones]

Yes I've thought of chopping them all in and having Chevease with a terminal sire like a Charly or Roussin. I've also thought of putting a Texel over them and retaining the replacement ewes, then top crossing a terminal

Good to see you're on here Tim

Is there really any chevease sheep out there,

 

[unlacedgecko]

Is there really any chevease sheep out there,

It’s a stabilised Exlana x cheviot. I don’t really get the point myself...

 

[neilo]

It’s a stabilised Exlana x cheviot. I don’t really get the point myself...

More shape perhaps, and more hardiness for living on a hill?

Weren’t they originally Easycare x Cheviots? Maybe introduced Exlanas since then though.

 

[Tim W]

Chevease ---just shedding sheep bred up from Cheviots, Mr Elliot liked his Cheviots but knew he was on a loss with wool so bred it off them
I am sure he has used plenty of sires to do this including Exlanas

Same thing happens all over with people breeding wool off Mules, Blackies, Lleyns, Highlanders, Welshies etc etc
If you have a flock of ewes you like but want to get rid of the wool costs then cross breeding is obviously the way to go