Aberfield cross highlander
- Thread starter Owain2014
- Start date
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Highlanders are fantastic mothers, I guess from the Romney influence.
How hardy do you want them to be? I can’t imagine they could fail to be hardier than a BFL cross, but mine aren’t tested on a hill. They live outside on forage all year round though, and stay out to lamb, without buying concentrates.
You can expect more lambs compared to the Aberfields, but they will reduce mature weights and their heads won’t look as sharp.
How hardy do you want them to be? I can’t imagine they could fail to be hardier than a BFL cross, but mine aren’t tested on a hill. They live outside on forage all year round though, and stay out to lamb, without buying concentrates.
You can expect more lambs compared to the Aberfields, but they will reduce mature weights and their heads won’t look as sharp.
- Location
- Devon
Are Aberfields that bad??
Owain2014
Member
[emoji23][emoji23] what would put on them?
A Suffolk. It will be infinitely better than a Highlander - both for prime lambs and for replacements.
But the Suffolk must have fine tight wool, to produce tight-skinned lambs.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I’m a bit upset that I can only put one ‘WTF is he on, belly laughing’ smiley on your post.
Owain2014
Member
That won’t be happening, had Suffolk’s crosses with our welsh and everything was so bloody slow. So after the last one went I said never again.
I’m a bit upset that I can only put one ‘WTF is he on, belly laughing’ smiley on your post.
One can't deny that, second only to the Beltex/Texel, the Suffolk is the next most popular down ram in the UK. Come up to Kelso: there are three breeds which eclipse all others in numbers and congested rings - BFL, Texel/Beltex, and Suffolk.
And the buyers are from Caithness to Cornwall, Leicester to Limerick.
- Location
- Devon
But, just like the mule that you were telling us is so numerous in some recent thread, one cant deny that their numbers have seriously declined since their heyday. Certainly in this part of the world anyway.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Don’t worry, I’ve been to Kelso a few times.
It really was an experience (the night before in Kelso town much more so?). I went up with a friend a few times, we took a trailer and carted back the Suffolk ram lambs that several local farmers bought to go back to the Cotswolds, Kelso being the place to buy them after all . They were all cracking looking lambs to be fair, but NOT ONE ever made it to the next season. A crazy way to go on, and it opened my eyes to a lot.
I don't deny that those intensive feed Suffolks are a complete waste of time (I did once see a bunch of Suffolk shearlings tups with a hopper out with them in August), but the NZ suffolks and sufftexs from easyrams and British Suffolks from farmerjames couldn't be more different.
Norfolk Hill Farmer
Member
Would the easy dam be an option ? similar to the Aberfield in breeding, looks etc and without a woolly head if you are selling live.
Owain2014
Member
Yes thanks the easy fan could be an option although I don’t know a lot about them if I’m honest, can anyone shed any light on them please?
Norfolk Hill Farmer
Member
Haven't they introduced a new breed called the easy dam ( maternal sire ) I don't mean ther maternal Suffolk or Texel. From the picture on the website ,looks just like an Aberfield.
ISCO
Member
- Location
- North East
This is why we stopped going 3 years ago and only buy direct from flocks that are not pumped full of cake. Would never go back although it was a good day out.
exmoorromney
Member
The Easy dam is very similarly bred as a Highlander but with East Friesian instead of Finn providing the milk and early maturing for ewe lamb mating. Saw some in the flesh the other week and they looked impressive enough, was tempted to try one to see if the fir put system. @easyram1 will shed more light for you.
Owain2014
Member
Yes sorry I missed your post then, yes I’ve had a little look at them online now, I’ll give easy ram a call later and get a bit more info on them I think. [emoji106]