Breeding a good hill ewe

[shearerlad]

Yep, I hadn’t long moved in , it was a good way to meet the neighbours! I don’t think I made too much of an ass of myself
Were you there?

2019 I was at the top table, the nervous wee lad at the end
It was a great night, I don’t think I embarrassed myself too much either

 

[Old Tip]

Some of the scans quoted aren't from swales in the hills though, our pures tupped on hill ground usually do about 120/125 percent which is enough

My neighbours are all moaning one had 40 sets of triplets, just a complete waste

 

[egbert]

I lambed ShetlandXCheviots and Shetlands and I've yet to have an easier time doing an outdoor lambing.
The dropped Texel and Beltex/Texel lambs and stuck to them like glue.

I don't doubt that some will have bred with no selection and ruined some hobby flocks, just like has happened with Highland cattle.
But if anyone is bothered enough to do their homework there are populations of Shetlands that haven't been ruined by smallholders.

I haven't come across them being kept at any commercial level - or done any homework (ne'er been to Shetland).
I'm genuinely pleased to hear there's some scale of operation....it's what keeps breeds viable.
Good on you if they work for you.

And I've little personal experience with Highlanders.
I watched what -I consider- happened with Longhorns though.
The surviving population in the 80's were generally outstanding cattle, as only the best were kept and persisted in a shrinking herd,
but the quality nosedived as numbers went up very fast again.
It was a few years before they found their stride again I reckon.
It helps them no end that there's several commercial scale herds.
Highlands (and belts) seem to have a greater % of smallholders, and certainly with the belts it shows.

 

[MDL POWERUP]

I've a Kendal rough X texel. Wish I had 100 of them, milks for fun, twins every year. Like the look of a rough fell ewe, anyone any experience?

 

[scholland]

If you want Shetlands buy them from the Island, much better sheep, make a good cross with the Cheviot, think @scholland has some

Trying hard not too anymore

 

[JohnGalway]

A lot of people crossing them with a lanark/scotch as well to give a bigger type sheep. Not near as hardy as a true mayo ewe.

or one with plenty eye to get close enough with the cleek!


just to be controversial what’s caused more damage to the the Blackie breed - windmills, Irish or hot nuts.....

It's all fine tbh once the buyer is made aware of what it is he's buying. He likely won't be though. I know a ram breeder telling his clients the rams are all "off the hill". He's a neighbour, and I know the closest they get to the hill is seeing it from the trough in the field near the shed. They can't see it at all from inside the shed.

 

[Mc115reed]

It's all fine tbh once the buyer is made aware of what it is he's buying. He likely won't be though. I know a ram breeder telling his clients the rams are all "off the hill". He's a neighbour, and I know the closest they get to the hill is seeing it from the trough in the field near the shed. They can't see it at all from inside the shed.

Sounds like 95% of tup breeders ... always take a bag buying tups now give it a shame and you can tell how much corn they’ve had

 

[johnspeehs]

View attachment 949405
Couldn't resist it

A lot of people crossing them with a lanark/scotch as well to give a bigger type sheep. Not near as hardy as a true mayo ewe.

We got a batch of Mayo's as cast ewes 20 yrs ago when you could still bring them north, hardiest things ever but could jump up and stand on top of a strainer, my dad called them peep at the moon's because they always looked as if they were looking at the sky, just that flighty thing in them coming of the mountain.

 

[JSmith]

Thank you. Yes I do. They have sales in the autumn in Lerwick.

Bet that’s a journey an a half, be nice scenery though!?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Bet that’s a journey an a half, be nice scenery though!?

I get seasick on a mill pond so the ferry is purgatory.

 

[Woolless]

I get seasick on a mill pond so the ferry is purgatory.

I spent four of the worst hours of my life on the boat back from Lerwick with a hangover after finishing a student summer job. Purgatory doesn't cover it

 

[Hilly]

I spent four of the worst hours of my life on the boat back from Lerwick with a hangover after finishing a student summer job. Purgatory doesn't cover it

I have suffered similar fate after a week tour of Irish farms, I mean sipping Guinness, not nice character building .

 

[Woolless]

I have suffered similar fate after a week tour of Irish farms, I mean sipping Guinness, not nice character building .

With the black stuff working it's way through, you probably had both ends to deal with

 

[Hilly]

With the black stuff working it's way through, you probably had both ends to deal with

Managed to hold all together which was just as well as their was a a bit of a que for the shunkys iiirc

 

[Paul86]

We got a batch of Mayo's as cast ewes 20 yrs ago when you could still bring them north, hardiest things ever but could jump up and stand on top of a strainer, my dad called them peep at the moon's because they always looked as if they were looking at the sky, just that flighty thing in them coming of the mountain.

The mayo ewe is a great sheep, I do cross them with a wicklow cheviot. The ewe lambs of that cross are great sheep as well. That pic is some mayos in off the mountain for sorting for the ram. Hardy ladies

 

[JSmith]

I get seasick on a mill pond so the ferry is purgatory.

How long is the drive from you to the ferry??

 

[unlacedgecko]

How long is the drive from you to the ferry??

8hrs

 

[Fake it ‘til you make it]

8hrs

By the look of this thread, you might have a bit of company this back end...

 

[jamesy]

I think this sums up the pros & cons of Shetland sheep quite succinctly.

Five reasons to keep Shetland sheep - and five reasons not to

Why to keep them 1. Shetland ewes make fantastic mothers They are prolific, lamb easily and almost always bond immediately. Of all the lambs born into the Stokehill flock, only one was not accepted by his mother. This was because he managed to escape from his pen (a trait revisited in...

www.stokehill.com

 

[Old Tip]

I've a Kendal rough X texel. Wish I had 100 of them, milks for fun, twins every year. Like the look of a rough fell ewe, anyone any experience?

Big lazy things but as crossing ewes they are grand, far to big for a hill ewe.
Herdwick x BFL or Texan are tremendous