Commercial swaledales??

[Inchihamps]

Hi.im just wondering where farmers locate commercial swaledales?any of the big sales seem to have these tall narrow types but im looking for swales with a broader back and shoulder.do they still exist??

 

[muleman]

No.

 

[muleman]

Hi.im just wondering where farmers locate commercial swaledales?any of the big sales seem to have these tall narrow types but im looking for swales with a broader back and shoulder.do they still exist??

I'll help you to look cos im looking for that type too!

 

[Inchihamps]

I'll help you to look cos im looking for that type too!

Reading that st johns chapel has this type at the sale?any truth to this?

 

[muleman]

Reading that st johns chapel has this type at the sale?any truth to this?

Yes, i think they will have kept more size and confirmation to their ewes up those parts and also bred a rather darker ewe aswell, the fashion with most swales lately has been white legs,grey faced and a bit narrow. Have you been to many ewe sales this time?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Hi.im just wondering where farmers locate commercial swaledales?any of the big sales seem to have these tall narrow types but im looking for swales with a broader back and shoulder.do they still exist??

Sounds like you're looking for a blackie.

 

[Inchihamps]

Yes, i think they will have kept more size and confirmation to their ewes up those parts and also bred a rather darker ewe aswell, the fashion with most swales lately has been white legs,grey faced and a bit narrow. Have you been to many ewe sales this time?

No im watching sales online.im based in ireland where swales are still more "traditional types".i found pictures on swaledale website from the 40s and they are broad sheep with black poles and legs.i have some of this type from a breeder that sourced alot of his stock from the north of england and also have some of the more modern type.finding rams is difficult tho.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

This is why mules aren’t what they were

 

[muleman]

This is why mules aren’t what they were

Nothing to do with the bluefaced leicester tups? When you look back at old pics and videos i actually think the mule is as good if not better now,its just that the more extreme beltex/texel type sheep have become more prevalent now which has put the mule in the shade a bit,but it still has a part to play.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Nothing to do with the bluefaced leicester tups? When you look back at old pics and videos i actually think the mule is as good if not better now,its just that the more extreme beltex/texel type sheep have become more prevalent now which has put the mule in the shade a bit,but it still has a part to play.

It might be the blue tups but mules are definitely not as good as they used to be

 

[CharcoalWally]

Nothing to do with the bluefaced leicester tups? When you look back at old pics and videos i actually think the mule is as good if not better now,its just that the more extreme beltex/texel type sheep have become more prevalent now which has put the mule in the shade a bit,but it still has a part to play.

Blue tups up here in Scotland definitely have more body than they had 30 - 40 years ago. Back then they were too narrow and lacked conformation. The modern tups have far more frame.

 

[beefsheeparable]

Never been to stjohns myself but from what I gather they are just as shoved as any tup at Hawes, prob is the place for the more “old fashioned” type, but there is still “body” sheep at Hawes just anything that happens to be bonny as well makes allot of money

 

[beefsheeparable]

I don’t understand these tall, narrow Swales either, much prefer a slightly shorter wide sheep, they are a hill breed after all....

 

[Inchihamps]

I don’t understand these tall, narrow Swales either, much prefer a slightly shorter wide sheep, they are a hill breed after all....

Yes totally agree.this is a hogget tup i just sold.great deep wide tup.

 

[muleman]

Yes totally agree.this is a hogget tup i just sold.great deep wide tup.
View attachment 840170

Thats how they used to be 25 years ago here in england.....its a great sheep but it prob wouldnt get a bid now!

 

[Inchihamps]

Thats how they used to be 25 years ago here in england.....its a great sheep but it prob wouldnt get a bid now!

Ya its a good sheep for sure.its a shame theyve gone so light.whats the reason for the change?

 

[beefsheeparable]

Fashion I suppose, got to keep a top percentage of high price sheep that people aspire to buy/breed

 

[Lazy Eric]

Have you thought about Dalesbred ?
They similar to swale , but broader .
Tighter fleeced too. Produce dales mules, and the masham. We have some dales mules , happy with them.

 

[Paul E]

Have you thought about Dalesbred ?
They similar to swale , but broader .
Tighter fleeced too. Produce dales mules, and the masham. We have some dales mules , happy with them.

I think you'll find Dalesbred will outperform a Swale every time. And last longer. and not blow away when it's windy.

 

[1982]

How much does the average swale ewe weigh?