Cheviot Mules - Which type of blue

[jamesy]

Thinking to buy a blue faced Leicester to put across a few of my NCC (Lairg type) ewe’s. Having never tried this before & knowing nothing about BFL’s - which type of blue would be best for this, I believe there are different types?

Thanks

 

[Bob the beef]

Definitely only use a traditional BFL. If you use the crossing type you will end up with "mucky "faces, I.e. They will range in colour from white through to brown. The traditional blue will give a uniform white throughout the lambs.
Good cross but as has been discussed on here many times, the hardiness and longevity of the blues becomes a real compromise in today's economic times. Also the chevmule wether lamb can take a bit of finishing.

Another option would be an Aberfield tup. Good conformation lambs and very hardy .
Worth a visit to John Scott's great from grass sale next week, at Tain. Some cracking aberfields there.

 

[Top Tip.]

The traditional Blue used here, I’ve never found a problem fattening them in fact quite the reverse. I have swithered about the Aberfield but we breed them for sale and in my experience there just isn’t the market out there for the Aberfield crosses.

 

[Bob the beef]

The traditional Blue used here, I’ve never found a problem fattening them in fact quite the reverse. I have swithered about the Aberfield but we breed them for sale and in my experience there just isn’t the market out there for the Aberfield crosses.

Guess that could be the case further north. Definitely much more interest down here and into the north of England

 

[CharcoalWally]

If you use the crossing type you will end up with "mucky "faces, I.e. They will range in colour from white through to brown. The traditional blue will give a uniform white throughout the lambs.

Why does this matter? Is it not acceptable for good ewes to have slightly different coloured faces? Is this a buyer xenophobia thing? Should we be worried?

I feel we should be told. ........

( oh, so many questions. .....)

 

[CharcoalWally]

Thinking to buy a blue faced Leicester to put across a few of my NCC (Lairg type) ewe’s. Having never tried this before & knowing nothing about BFL’s - which type of blue would be best for this, I believe there are different types?

Thanks

So what's the score @jamesy. You breeding them to sell? Or for your own use?

 

[@dlm]

Why does this matter? Is it not acceptable for good ewes to have slightly different coloured faces? Is this a buyer xenophobia thing? Should we be worried?

I feel we should be told. ........

( oh, so many questions. .....)

So many using texel on them to sell as shearlings not tupped as lambs. At a good premium here at thame . Many pens over 150. Speckled faces most presume out of nc mules at less money. Though top run were these to be honest

 

[jamesy]

So what's the score @jamesy. You breeding them to sell? Or for your own use?

Just for own use, to try, they look a smart ewe. I’m quite happy to keep things simple with draft Cheviots that I put my Suffolk’s over but for interest I thought I’d try this.

 

[Nithsdale]

Why does this matter? Is it not acceptable for good ewes to have slightly different coloured faces? Is this a buyer xenophobia thing? Should we be worried?

I feel we should be told. ........

( oh, so many questions. .....)

Put that spoon down and stop stirring










We all know just as the Scotch Mule should have bright colour and strong markings, the Cheviot Mule should be perfectly white...

 

[CharcoalWally]

Put that spoon down and stop stirring










We all know just as the Scotch Mule should have bright colour and strong markings, the Cheviot Mule should be perfectly white...

Oh, I know. ....

I just find it ironic that the people who would criticise other breeds for colour preferences, should them insist on the same themselves. .... ( the smilies are playing up, so you'll all just have to imagine that I've used the puzzled smilies. ....smile, wink, angel. ...)

 

[Nithsdale]

Oh, I know. ....

I just find it ironic that the people who would criticise other breeds for colour preferences, should them insist on the same themselves. .... ( the smilies are playing up, so you'll all just have to imagine that I've used the puzzled smilies. ....smile, wink, angel. ...)

In the grand scheme of things, you and I both know it really doesn't matter about colourings/markings... but when you're selling a pen of sheep, they do look better when they are all the same.


We used to buy the whiter faced Mules, because they did just fine (so long as they were good sheep, otherwise) and could be bought cheaper


Why do Cheviot breeders demand their sheep are perfectly white... but the single black ones make more??

 

[neilo]

Guess that could be the case further north. Definitely much more interest down here and into the north of England

How long for? Aberfields are gaining a reputation for poor prolificacy round here. The Texel blood does seem to make them easier keeping sheep than ‘ordinary’ mules, but a lot less lambs to sell.

 

[noagain]

In your eyes @neilo what is the best maternal breed of tup? Would you go down the cris cross of maternal texel with say aberfield/ highlander to maintain quality and maternal attribiuts ? (sorry spelling never my strong pint)

 

[neilo]

In your eyes @neilo what is the best maternal breed of tup? Would you go down the cris cross of maternal texel with say aberfield/ highlander to maintain quality and maternal attribiuts ? (sorry spelling never my strong pint)

I’d happily introduce a maternal Texel into Highlander ewes (hence trying a NZ variety), but one cross would be enough or you’d start having to catch more at lambing I suspect.
I don’t see what the Aberfield brings to the party really, other than a clean, sharp head.

 

[CharcoalWally]

Just for own use, to try, they look a smart ewe. I’m quite happy to keep things simple with draft Cheviots that I put my Suffolk’s over but for interest I thought I’d try this.

If for your own use with no need to cater for the odd notions of buyers, then I'd happily use the crossing type .

 

[Top Tip.]

If for your own use with no need to cater for the odd notions of buyers, then I'd happily use the crossing type .

Even if it meant less lambs?

 

[CharcoalWally]

Even if it meant less lambs?

Why do you think that?

 

[liammogs]

In the grand scheme of things, you and I both know it really doesn't matter about colourings/markings... but when you're selling a pen of sheep, they do look better when they are all the same.


We used to buy the whiter faced Mules, because they did just fine (so long as they were good sheep, otherwise) and could be bought cheaper


Why do Cheviot breeders demand their sheep are perfectly white... but the single black ones make more??

Same as Suffolk mule buyers demand a jet black head, a brown headed ewe of the same body or sometimes better would be a lot cheaper to buy but both will produce the same type of fat lamb

 

[jamesy]

If for your own use with no need to cater for the odd notions of buyers, then I'd happily use the crossing type .

A, but I do think they look better white! ?

 

[CharcoalWally]

A, but I do think they look better white! ?