As ever it depends on your location, time of Lambing and when and how you want to market the lambs?I know this has been posted before , but it's been a few years now, what's people's verdicts on woolie type terminal rams to use on shedding ewes , lambing ease, lamb weights, that sort of thing,
This is the basis of my Hamp v Texel internal debate: More lambs worth less per head and less hassle v Possibly fewer lambs worth more (easier to sell?) but more hassle.From terminal sires put to (not shedders) but Lleyn x’s, so similar framed ewes as a shedder, I found, texels......twins lambed lovely, lost a load of singles, all swollen heads. Charly....... very soft in outdoor conditions, lost some to rain. Suffolk........singles lambed unassisted ( I was surprised), but a few looses in twins. Ewes lost patience with slow twins where one couldn’t keep up and just stood around. So at the end of my observations this year, looking for alternative breeds or going to forget the terminals completely and just put everything to the maternal rams for lower quality but higher survival rate lambs.
This is the basis of my Hamp v Texel internal debate: More lambs worth less per head and less hassle v Possibly fewer lambs worth more (easier to sell?) but more hassle.
After lots of comparisons we find on our system wool shedding ewes to a charmoise ram works extremely well.
I’m sure a certain member will be on in a minuite to tell me I’m wrong.
Second year putting texels over easycare ewes. Lost 3 singles which were huge and by time I got there heads were swollen. Majority no issues lambed outside like purges, bigger bodied lambs. Am definitely finding a new scanner next year to separate singles. Rams we used are not big in heads and we are now breeding our own texels having bought a grass reared flock with smaller heads than wevare used to. Interestingly the 3 lost were to first time oggs.From terminal sires put to (not shedders) but Lleyn x’s, so similar framed ewes as a shedder, I found, texels......twins lambed lovely, lost a load of singles, all swollen heads. Charly....... very soft in outdoor conditions, lost some to rain. Suffolk........singles lambed unassisted ( I was surprised), but a few looses in twins. Ewes lost patience with slow twins where one couldn’t keep up and just stood around. So at the end of my observations this year, looking for alternative breeds or going to forget the terminals completely and just put everything to the maternal rams for lower quality but higher survival rate lambs.
Not surprised was horrified by size of heads on texel rams my uncle has in Mayo, we are trying to breed narrower and longer heads and hope having bought flock off a vet who has similar views we can end up with a more practical proposition. Lambs are very smart having extremely short tight fleeces and crosses gave us our first u grades.Fair enough. I had two texel rams, got rid of bigger headed fellow and kept smaller one (by breed standards) but I still had complications. If you’ve an easy lambing one, stick with that, but they just aren’t working out here.
Not surprised was horrified by size of heads on texel rams my uncle has in Mayo.
Im guessing the issue of headed texels ain’t confined to mayo. Im sure you’d find abit of it on both sides of the water.
I'm surprised at the Hampshire being easy lambed, the ones I've seen were thick of the legs, and strong of the head,My experience based on outdoor lambing in April on an exposed farm on the east coast:
Hampshire: Used extensively. Good lambing ease and vigour (a few big singles pulled latterly this time). Carcase weight average 18kg approx. You would never know they were out of shedding ewes. Dags can be a downside.
Southdown: Pulled none from 10 hoggs this year and lambs growing well. A bit tender at birth, I felt. Limited use in previous years suggests that I wouldn't use in front of a good Hampshire except on hoggs.
Texel: I have used a shedding Texel on a recorded family to increase myomax frequency and growth rate. Lambing ease/vigour not much of an issue with them but lost a few lambs when used purely as a terminal on some of the bottom end commercial ewes. The pick of the female lambs have been excellent additions to the flock. Has the potential to produce the 'best' lambs (carcase weight and value/store price) IMO. However, I am very wary about increased lambing difficulties by using a Texel more extensively.
Beltex: Bought ewes in lamb to a Beltex when I expanded. Slower growth than Texel probably not compensated for by extra shape. Some big singles too. Friend of mine uses one on gimmers and gets on well.