Charollais x Ile de France

[Damm family farms]

Hey there, wondering what people think about crossing Ile de France ewes with a charollais tup? Thinking of keeping some ewes back for replacements too. Hoping for a lambing percentage close to 200%. Hoping this cross will throw some nice lambs for meat too? Was also thinking of possibly using a charollais x texel tup on the Ile de France ewes for purely market lambs only.? Thanks for your comments in advance

 

[andybk]

ive been told from a very good source IDF are mental sheep very wary , would think a good cross very similar to poll dorset x char though ,

 

[cheviot53]

Used to have pedigree IDF and pedigree SUF anything not for breeding pure was crossed , S RAM x IDF ewes or IDF RAM x S ewes for January lambing , kept some of the crosses to produce 3/4 lambs decent ewes big with good carcass , 170% in jan milked well fairly calm only problem I remember was the white soft feet

 

[polk_farmer]

Just in my humble opinion. Great for fat lambs but I wouldn’t touch a char x ewe with a barge pole. Ones we’ve experienced are mental, hoofing great things that will milk for a few weeks and then start drying off.... good cull ewe value though

 

[Damm family farms]

Thanks for the reply’s. Wouldn’t the Ile de France influence bring better milk quality and quantity into the Ile de France x charollais cross ewe? Would also think the lambing rate would be darn close to 200% no?

 

[Damm family farms]

I also live here in Ontario Canada, couldn’t find any forums that talked about sheep. So figured I would ask on here. Was also wondering if I would get better lambing percentage going 3/4 Ile de France of 3/4 charollais? I have pondered trying Rideau Arcott due to them being pretty common around here. Just scared I will end up with massive litters of lambs instead of 2 or 3. Maybe use a rideau ram on the Ile de France or cross IDF x char ewes?

 

[NZDan]

I also live here in Ontario Canada, couldn’t find any forums that talked about sheep. So figured I would ask on here. Was also wondering if I would get better lambing percentage going 3/4 Ile de France of 3/4 charollais? I have pondered trying Rideau Arcott due to them being pretty common around here. Just scared I will end up with massive litters of lambs instead of 2 or 3. Maybe use a rideau ram on the Ile de France or cross IDF x char ewes?

Temperament might be an issue with IDF ewes, I see Sarto farms got out of IDFs for that reason, and the ones I see here are quite sparky as well. I've used an IDF ram over Finn and FinnTexel ewes this year, so I guess I'll get to experience it first hand.

 

[DanM]

I also live here in Ontario Canada, couldn’t find any forums that talked about sheep. So figured I would ask on here. Was also wondering if I would get better lambing percentage going 3/4 Ile de France of 3/4 charollais? I have pondered trying Rideau Arcott due to them being pretty common around here. Just scared I will end up with massive litters of lambs instead of 2 or 3. Maybe use a rideau ram on the Ile de France or cross IDF x char ewes?

In the U.K. the Charollais is used as a terminal sire. It does this job well. It has been selected as such and therefore does not exhibit the attributes or lend itself to being a maternal ewe. Plenty of maternally bred breeds better suited.

 

[Damm family farms]

Temperament might be an issue with IDF ewes, I see Sarto farms got out of IDFs for that reason, and the ones I see here are quite sparky as well. I've used an IDF ram over Finn and FinnTexel ewes this year, so I guess I'll get to experience it first hand.

Maybe try switching to more poll Dorset or Rideau? For the ewes and just a small percentage of Ile de France and charollais for lambing percentage. Keep the charollais for the terminal sire too.

 

[JD-Kid]

have IDF here. and don't. think they are too mad wee bit at times
can be a bit mad at shearing. but of the rams here seem ok most of the time have some 1/4 breeds and they are all nuts at shearing mad as hatters

 

[NZDan]

Maybe try switching to more poll Dorset or Rideau? For the ewes and just a small percentage of Ile de France and charollais for lambing percentage. Keep the charollais for the terminal sire too.

I think the PD will be just as temperamental. In NZ they certainly are.

 

[andybk]

Maybe try switching to more poll Dorset or Rideau? For the ewes and just a small percentage of Ile de France and charollais for lambing percentage. Keep the charollais for the terminal sire too.

always found 3/4 dorset -1/4 char , back to a char was good ewe , milked , good mother , high number of E grade lambs lambs had the woomf and vigour at lambing ., the 3/4 also lambed out of season ok .