Dingwall Tup Sale.

[Andy84]

There are certainly hill Cheviot tups being sold up here who’ve never seen a hill, nor there mothers.

The problem is the same with all hill breeds, everyone harps on about wanting hardy, hill bred tups but when they appear in the ring they hardly warrant a bid! Big condition sheep that have been fed and kept on good ground people get tup fever! It can’t be easy for the breeders to know what to do!

 

[Dave6170]

Some of the hill tups are the size of a park type.

 

[JockCroft]

it was I was just on the wind up heard a few fowk complaining it looked a bit “parky”

He does look Parkie. It is now quite a clouded area to define Hill and Park, but it seems to be working for both. Having suffered the 1970's style Northie, it had to lose its heavy bone, idiot heads and sh--t mothering. The blend of Sutherland Hill tups and a bit of other has made a huge difference. Just could do with a bit more fleshing. With the Park type on the hill ewes gave a bit more size to their lambs, and as most of the hill flocks feed(snacker) part of winter, better lambing percentages must have made quite a difference to the lamb cheque.
Big question on the North Cheviots. Where the H--l have all the horned ones come from?

Our fellow contributors don't seem to be biting for the "Wind Up's". Too interested in messing up each others love lives, diets, drinks and god knows what else. Can't keep up. (Edit) That of course refers to the "Mad" thread.
Cheers.

 

[Macsky]

He does look Parkie. It is now quite a clouded area to define Hill and Park, but it seems to be working for both. Having suffered the 1970's style Northie, it had to lose its heavy bone, idiot heads and sh--t mothering. The blend of Sutherland Hill tups and a bit of other has made a huge difference. Just could do with a bit more fleshing. With the Park type on the hill ewes gave a bit more size to their lambs, and as most of the hill flocks feed(snacker) part of winter, better lambing percentages must have made quite a difference to the lamb cheque.

Our fellow contributors don't seem to be biting for the "Wind Up's". Too interested in messing up each others love lives, diets, drinks and god knows what else. Can't keep up.
Cheers.

Have you seen him in the flesh?

 

[JockCroft]

Have you seen him in the flesh?

Only from a distance.

 

[Macsky]

Only from a distance.

Not long enough in the lug or heavy enough in the bone to come close to qualify as ‘parky’

 

[JockCroft]

Not long enough in the lug or heavy enough in the bone to come close to qualify as ‘parky’

Ah Lugs. LUGS are so important.
Got to be big enough, at the correct angle forwards, parrallel viewed from front and no black hair.
Does that sound familiar.
Can still hear the shepherd almost chanting it viewing the tups for sale in Thurso, late 60's.

Yes he's not like a Caithness cheviot of 40 years ago, but as I put in an earlier post, there is now a blend of both in modern Cheviots with a very similar breeding, feeding and rearing of Park and Hill types.

 

[Macsky]

Ah Lugs. LUGS are so important.
Got to be big enough, at the correct angle forwards, parrallel viewed from front and no black hair.
Does that sound familiar.
Can still hear the shepherd almost chanting it viewing the tups for sale in Thurso, late 60's.

Yes he's not like a Caithness cheviot of 40 years ago, but as I put in an earlier post, there is now a blend of both in modern Cheviots with a very similar breeding, feeding and rearing of Park and Hill types.

Sounds like border Leicesters

I do think they’re quite important tho, an indicator of hardiness, or lack thereof, and let’s not discount beauty- hard to measure for the more scientifically minded but that doesn’t mean that it’s without value. I like them on the shorter side, 40° off the vertical, not too wide or oval shaped-pretty straight edged, coming to more of a pointed end than rounded, nice and white with a good covering of fine silky hair, lovely.

Were park and hill types completely and utterly distinct in the past?

 

[JockCroft]

Sounds like border Leicesters

Were park and hill types completely and utterly distinct in the past?

Well the Caithness Park Cheviot was half of what was the most sought after crossing ewe for many years.. The Caithness Half bred. Almost a breed in itself. Now there you had Lugs.
I would say there were most certainly used to be a huge difference between Park and Sutherland Hill Cheviots. Cant remember what year but a "Hill Register" was introduced by the NCC Society. I think driven by some of the Tup breeders who looked for a wider market. I would almost say there were other sub groups, like the Black Isle/Easter Ross type were slightly lighter framed and finer wooled. Wester Ross and Skye were much lighter wider ranging hill type, from a clipping point of view, mad as hell. Wool a bit kempy. Thinking back, a wider variance within a flock than other areas.
Looking back well over 50 years the Cheviot has endured many peaks and troughs of popularity in general but has evolved to suit what is needed.
Must find time and dig out some old photo's.
Ever heard of "Noss Paragon". Was a real record breaker of the 60's. Ugliest bugger I ever seen.

 

[Macsky]

Well the Caithness Park Cheviot was half of what was the most sought after crossing ewe for many years.. The Caithness Half bred. Almost a breed in itself. Now there you had Lugs.
I would say there were most certainly used to be a huge difference between Park and Sutherland Hill Cheviots. Cant remember what year but a "Hill Register" was introduced by the NCC Society. I think driven by some of the Tup breeders who looked for a wider market. I would almost say there were other sub groups, like the Black Isle/Easter Ross type were slightly lighter framed and finer wooled. Wester Ross and Skye were much lighter wider ranging hill type, from a clipping point of view, mad as hell. Wool a bit kempy. Thinking back, a wider variance within a flock than other areas.
Looking back well over 50 years the Cheviot has endured many peaks and troughs of popularity in general but has evolved to suit what is needed.
Must find time and dig out some old photo's.
Ever heard of "Noss Paragon". Was a real record breaker of the 60's. Ugliest bugger I ever seen.

I suppose ease of transport will have moved things on a lot latterly with maybe a tendency towards homogenisation, pre motorised transport I assume flocks would have relied a lot more on home bred tups, or those of neighbours, keeping things tighter locally.

 

[JockCroft]

I suppose ease of transport will have moved things on a lot latterly with maybe a tendency towards homogenisation, pre motorised transport I assume flocks would have relied a lot more on home bred tups, or those of neighbours, keeping things tighter locally.

Try and find the link @Top Tip. put up earlier. Sheep from England to Sutherland 1700's. Years not price.
Cant remember which thread it was on. Nothing is new. Have you looked at the exhibition at Dingwall of the drovers.

 

[Macsky]

Try and find the link @Top Tip. put up earlier. Sheep from England to Sutherland 1700's. Years not price.
Cant remember which thread it was on. Nothing is new. Have you looked at the exhibition at Dingwall of the drovers.

I’ve had a quick squint but should really take a better look at it.

 

[west coast angus]

He does look Parkie. It is now quite a clouded area to define Hill and Park, but it seems to be working for both. Having suffered the 1970's style Northie, it had to lose its heavy bone, idiot heads and sh--t mothering. The blend of Sutherland Hill tups and a bit of other has made a huge difference. Just could do with a bit more fleshing. With the Park type on the hill ewes gave a bit more size to their lambs, and as most of the hill flocks feed(snacker) part of winter, better lambing percentages must have made quite a difference to the lamb cheque.
Big question on the North Cheviots. Where the H--l have all the horned ones come from?

Our fellow contributors don't seem to be biting for the "Wind Up's". Too interested in messing up each others love lives, diets, drinks and god knows what else. Can't keep up. (Edit) That of course refers to the "Mad" thread.
Cheers.

I really don't think there is anything parky about this tup. Zero Roman nose, big bone or ears.

 

[JockCroft]

I really don't think there is anything parky about this tup. Zero Roman nose, big bone or ears.

Park Chev Male - Roman nose, would consider that a bit feminine.
Park Female yes a bit Romanesk. Will try and find a pic of current Park style.

 

[shearerlad]

Seemingly I’ve got a Suisgill tup on the way down the A9

Eventually managed to get a photo

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Eventually managed to get a photo

View attachment 1072263

Nice bit of bone structure there, smart head. should throw some good lambs!

 

[edn]

Got this lad from some friends on the Welsh borders - think he’s out of a park tup from the north on their hill ewes, he’s a three shear now.
Appreciate he’s not out of Dingwall but I’ve been really pleased with him and the quality of lambs he’s thrown.