Blackface ewes

[Swaley]

Hello all,
I keep a few swaledale drafts to breed a few north england mule gimmer lambs to sell at the back end, I buy them as 5 crops and they seem to do very well, but I quiet like the look of the Northumberland blackface does Anyone have any experience with the breed if so what are they like for lambing and are they as hardy as the swaledale, also would it be a good idea to move to a blackface from the swaledale are would it be best to stick with the swales.
Many thanks all.

 

[Agrivator]

Where are you selling the lambs?

 

[Swaley]

Where are you selling the lambs?

Lazonby gimmer lamb sales

 

[Stw88]

You will be the only one there with them out of blackies! you will have to go to Hexham or longtown with them.

 

[hill shepherd]

Stick with your swales and get back to Lazonby to buy yowes

 

[livestock 1]

In my opinion blackie ewes have better lambs.
However!
You will need to farm them slightly differently. They can be quite awkward they like space at lambing time. Sometimes less interference at lambing is better. I lamb ours in allotments and don’t attempt to put them inside. If you buy any make sure they know what feed is some have just lived on feed blocks.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Blackies and Swales are like chalk and cheese, streets ahead, however if your primary goal is to breed mules you’d think you’d be better sticking with the swale. Lots of buyers seem to buy on the colour of the face and you’ll get a lot more brown faced ones out of the blackies. The weathers will be worth considerably more though. That said I’m moving away from horned hill sheep altogether for white faced ones.