Cheviot Mule vs NofE Mule

[hill shepherd]

Do they snort if someone surprises them? I always thought it was a characteristic of a real hill sheep.

I've never heard an inbye sheep do it.

It's a sharp short healthy sneeze, which is far different from the wheeze of many Beltex tups.

And have you ever been on hill ground in a thick mist, when sheep look like Buffalo, and grouse the size of turkeys.

I've no idea what you're on about

 

[M-J-G]

What’s that got too do with the price of fish? If your grouse look like turkeys I suggest you lay off the Grants blend in your tea!

Turns out it wasn't mist!

 

[Agrivator]

What’s that got too do with the price of fish? If your grouse look like turkeys I suggest you lay off the Grants blend in your tea!

It's got nothing whatsoever to do with the price of fish.

Anyone who has spent time shepherding or even just walking on hill ground or moorland in thick mist will have experienced the magnifying effect of water droplets. It makes everything look much nearer and bigger, and sheep and grouse appear to be at least twice the size of normal.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

It's got nothing whatsoever to do with the price of fish.

Anyone who has spent time shepherding or even just walking on hill ground or moorland in thick mist will have experienced the magnifying effect of water droplets. It makes everything look much nearer and bigger, and sheep and grouse appear to be at least twice the size of normal.

Wtf has this got too do with sheep snorting when they are startled?! Honestly mate, lay off the bottle. It’s making you look more of a fool than normal

 

[Nithsdale]

It’s making you look more of a fool than normal

That takes some doing, mind!

 

[M-J-G]

Wtf has this got too do with sheep snorting when they are startled?! Honestly mate, lay off the bottle. It’s making you look more of a fool than normal

Maybe it's the mist that has magnified the foolishness

 

[NFI]

I started following this thinking I would gain some knowledge on cheviot mules. But true to tff fashion we seem to have diverted into different directions.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I started following this thinking I would gain some knowledge on cheviot mules. But true to tff fashion we seem to have diverted into different directions.

I know what you mean. Sorry.
Cheviot mules are brilliant sheep. They keep their condition better than a NoE mule, and mine seem too match them on lamb numbers give or take a % or two.
they do need different farming as they get too fat here farmed like a normal mule.
lambing wise I find them no more trouble than anything else, definitely easier than texel crosses.
as you can see in the Hogg photos I put up earlier they rear a bloody good bodied lamb without the beltex or texel influence. But when they get too 2 shears and I put the big beltex texel cross tups on them they throw REAL lambs.
now for the cons,
They are belligerent, ignorant and bloody minded. Will take a flying leap at you as soon as look at you. At the moment they are in vogue and therefore very very dear. Wether that will take the shine off the lambs this year we will see.
I really like them, if I could afford them I’d run 800 of them. But I can’t.
Can’t really think of much more too add.
oh yes! Cull ewes are worth £10-20 more than a basic mule.
Hope that helps bud.

 

[M-J-G]

I started following this thinking I would gain some knowledge on cheviot mules. But true to tff fashion we seem to have diverted into different directions.

Giant snorting sheep and monster turkeys need to be discussed too!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Also, don’t forget there are different types of Cheviot used too breed CM’s. The park types are huge but I’m not sure the extra food they eat too maintain themselves is covered by the lambs.
Some out of hill types are little better than hill cheviots
Then some out of good hill ewes and by a good BFL are a handy size, don’t eat as much yet yield the lambs.
That’s what I’ve found. Some people really like the ones out of Park ewes, but they are just too big for where I am.

 

[Nithsdale]

I know what you mean. Sorry.
Cheviot mules are brilliant sheep. They keep their condition better than a NoE mule, and mine seem too match them on lamb numbers give or take a % or two.
they do need different farming as they get too fat here farmed like a normal mule.
lambing wise I find them no more trouble than anything else, definitely easier than texel crosses.
as you can see in the Hogg photos I put up earlier they rear a bloody good bodied lamb without the beltex or texel influence. But when they get too 2 shears and I put the big beltex texel cross tups on them they throw REAL lambs.
now for the cons,
They are belligerent, ignorant and bloody minded. Will take a flying leap at you as soon as look at you. At the moment they are in vogue and therefore very very dear. Wether that will take the shine off the lambs this year we will see.
I really like them, if I could afford them I’d run 800 of them. But I can’t.
Can’t really think of much more too add.
oh yes! Cull ewes are worth £10-20 more than a basic mule.
Hope that helps bud.

Good sum up I'd say.


I felt that I had one 1 or 2 more lambing problems with the Chev Mule than Scotch (I know, not NoE but I'm in the wrong place for them). But my Chevs all came from 1 farm when I tried them - so maybe that was something in their breeding, rather than the cross itself. Also felt like I had a few more singles from them, but I didn't scan back then so that's not to say the feel was right.

As you say, Texel lambs off them are something else!

But, I didn't give them a proper go. It was at the time I was getting out of Blackies and Mules and was putting on more ewes so gave them a go for a few years.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Good sum up I'd say.


I felt that I had one 1 or 2 more lambing problems with the Chev Mule than Scotch (I know, not NoE but I'm in the wrong place for them). But my Chevs all came from 1 farm when I tried them - so maybe that was something in their breeding, rather than the cross itself. Also felt like I had a few more singles from them, but I didn't scan back then so that's not to say the feel was right.

As you say, Texel lambs off them are something else!

But, I didn't give them a proper go. It was at the time I was getting out of Blackies and Mules and was putting on more ewes so gave them a go for a few years.

I have got one bunch of 40, all from one farm out of Longtown. Really smart, strong. Not massive but well proportioned ewes. 3 shears now. As hoggs they cropped well (138%) shearlings a disappointment (165%)
2 shears passable (183%) and this year they did bloody well (197% with not many 3’s) out of that initial 40, 37 left. 1 ran barren as Hogg and shearling and 2 went wrong in the bag.
others I’ve got/had crop really well all through. Much the same as other breeds really, it’s all down too breeding.
funnily enough because CM’s are so dear I’m trying a ruck of Scotch Mules instead of the NoE. So far, very impressed. Oldest ones have just had their 3rd crop this time starting as Hoggs. Bit more wild than the NoE but I can cope with that for better lambs!

 

[Nithsdale]

I have got one bunch of 40, all from one farm out of Longtown. Really smart, strong. Not massive but well proportioned ewes. 3 shears now. As hoggs they cropped well (138%) shearlings a disappointment (165%)
2 shears passable (183%) and this year they did bloody well (197% with not many 3’s) out of that initial 40, 37 left. 1 ran barren as Hogg and shearling and 2 went wrong in the bag.
others I’ve got/had crop really well all through. Much the same as other breeds really, it’s all down too breeding.
funnily enough because CM’s are so dear I’m trying a ruck of Scotch Mules instead of the NoE. So far, very impressed. Oldest ones have just had their 3rd crop this time starting as Hoggs. Bit more wild than the NoE but I can cope with that for better lambs!

Offt they've taken a couple years to get going!
As per your other post, depends if they're out of Park or Hill type ewes... and if the Hill type are actual hill ewes or ran on low ground. The current popularity of everything Cheviot means they're a mixed sort on sale day. Everyone's trying to cash in and selling females which should really have been culled. See it with every breed that comes into fashion.


IMO you're spot on with NoE/Scotch Mule. The carcase and fleshing of the Scotch, with the temperament of the NoE and you'd be onto a winner. Scotch Mule is getting too big these days though and both of them can eat a lot of feeding

 

[NFI]

I bought 20 last year off of a friend who bred them. I like them and they throw good lambs but yes they are a different breed. I used to keep pure Dorsets but have gradually switched to Dorset mules which seem to live allot longer. Lambed in January this year instead of the usual December which was soo easy, that extra month made a heck of a difference. Half the CM's were in lamb after scanning and lambed fine. The other half went back to the ram with some easycare's (don't ask) I bought but took their time lambing. Just wondering whether to get anymore. I'll need some taller hurdles if I do. Everyone around here (Somerset) seem keen on the Suffolk and texel crosses.

 

[glensman]

Giant snorting sheep and monster turkeys need to be discussed too!

Well I for one won't be walking those hills again unless I'm armed..... god knows what's out there!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Well I for one won't be walking those hills again unless I'm armed..... god knows what's out there!

I was always lead too believe it was the wild Haggis you had too watch out for. Guess I was wrong!!

 

[fieldsofgold]

The top priced sheep may be from high farms but often the ewes with ewe lambs are moved to lowland pastures. If the ewe has a wether lamb aswell thats often taken off and reared as a pet so that you can get a good big ewe lamb. Often Lambed earlier in March these days. That's the stuff you have to do to get top prices. Tow law sale not as good at Hexham. Alot of refugees now not quite good enough for Lazonby. Some of the better ones have moved to Middleton

I’d complete disagree. Having bought from both, the Gimmer lambs we’ve bought over the years seem to be the old fashioned type from the Tow Law Sale. Out of proper big Swale ewes. Not the fashionable ones like at Lazonby. Hence why we buy more now from Tow Law sale at Hexham.

 

[M-J-G]

I was always lead too believe it was the wild Haggis you had too watch out for. Guess I was wrong!!

Throw enough drink in the mix and a sheep, turkey and wild haggis all end up looking similar

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I’d complete disagree. Having bought from both, the Gimmer lambs we’ve bought over the years seem to be the old fashioned type from the Tow Law Sale. Out of proper big Swale ewes. Not the fashionable ones like at Lazonby. Hence why we buy more now from Tow Law sale at Hexham.

Now that is interesting too know…

 

[Estate fencing.]

An estate I help with the sheep on buys 530 NCM (as well as Scotch form Castle Douglass) of the same size sheep from Tow Law, Lazonby 1st, Lazonby 2nd, Skipton and off one farm. By far the best are the Tow Law 530, they have real power and even some shape, lazonby seem to be far to narrow and skipton ones never grow on as well as you think.