Dalesbred or swaledale ewes

Swaley

Member
Livestock Farmer
I would like to know which you all would prefer for breeding mules out of a dalesbred ewe or a swaledale ewe. And With the dalesbred being a bigger ewe compared to the modern type swaledale ewe, why hasn't the dales mule ewe become more popular in recent years.
Also would like to see some photos of dales mules if anyone has any.
Many thanks all.
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
I would like to know which you all would prefer for breeding mules out of a dalesbred ewe or a swaledale ewe. And With the dalesbred being a bigger ewe compared to the modern type swaledale ewe, why hasn't the dales mule ewe become more popular in recent years.
Also would like to see some photos of dales mules if anyone has any.
Many thanks all.
Where have you been looking??

The dales mule ewe lambs at Bentham have been pounds dearer that the corresponding swale mule lambs for a few years now! This year is the first time I’ve seen them less money.

The dalesbred mule throws too much wool on its lambs for selling live. If I wanted rough wooled lambs I’d keep mashams. Plus they are almost as mad as a masham. That’s my experience with them. Old fella was for swapping too all Dales mules a few years ago, better bodies than the swale mules. I had to get very very stroppy and ban him from a sale or two too stop that! After I drew all the lambs out of the dales mules off and penned them separate it was very obvious the difference in jackets.

(I know the wool doesn’t make a crap of difference selling on the dead but I’m still liveweight so I’ve got too breed what sells well)
 

Purli R

Member
1605401862592.png

1605401947976.png

1605402084387.png

Bentham Dales mules 2020. Pictures by Rebecca Nelson.
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
I run a fair few dales mules, they have much better mouths than the NC Mules and I think the lambs have a bit better birth coat on them. I sell mostly dead so wooly lambs are not a problem (though I don't see much difference in them to the NC lambs). I do find they are a couple of quid cheaper in Skipton and did buy a lump of them this year as small runners that are really going on well. I will try to get some pictures of the old ewes I have about later.
 

Moors Lad

Member
Location
N Yorks
Yeah,we all know how much milk a swale has :LOL: :ROFLMAO:
Looks like you`ve not had the right type of swales - rarely a problem here, and unlike some breeds most of `em can count lambs too!
I`d be the first to admit that there are some things in modern swales that could be improved but we have always thought of them as excellent milky mothers (well most of `em, there are exceptions to every rule ;)). I do genuinely think there are a lot of swale breeders now looking to make sure the swale/mule has a future - the tup sales this time reflected this too.
 

Agrivator

Member
What was the use of a lonk in the terms of crossing may I ask.

The Lonk has been used over Swaledale ewes to improve their teeth and add a bit more size. A bit of Lonk in the Swaledale also helps to produce better coloured mules, and particularly mashams.

Most of the North of England horned ewes, and Scottish Blackface ewes, all have the same ancestor - the Linton sheep from Peeblesshire. The Swaledale was produced from a cross between imported Linton and a Leicester Longwool. And the Dalesbred was developed as a cross between the fledgling Swaledale and the old-fashioned speckle-faced Scottish Blackface.
 
Last edited:

Swaley

Member
Livestock Farmer
The lonk has been used over Swaledale ewes to improve their teeth and add a bit more size. A bit of Lonk in the Swaledale also helps to produce better coloured mules, and particularly mashams.

Most of the North of England horned ewes, and Scottish Blackface ewes, all have the same ancestor - the Linton sheep from Peeblesshire. The Swaledale was produced from a cross between imported Linto and a Leicester Longwool. And the Dalesbred was developed as a cross between the fledgling Swaledale and the old-fashioned speckle-faced Scottish Blackface.
Thankyou that is what i was wanting to know.
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
Has the dales ewe almost died out now?
I used to be able to buy a load of dales mules out of Skipton but very few in there next week, which is sad because I like them for my own outside lambing flock.
 

Heatgereater

Member
Livestock Farmer
There are Swales and Swales sold plenty of full mouthed 6 crop ewes for breeding. With regards milkyness they seem to do lambs well there are always exceptions but I find having smaller ewes(ours tend to be around 50kg mark) they are more efficient. Can keep more to the acre and rear there own body weight easily when inbye on grass. They can far exceed it when put to large crossing breeds and on inbye grass. Very efficient sheep that easy to lamb and that can be cheap to buy and produce a premium lamb as well with the right tup.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.2%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.3%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top