Easycare Tup Lambs

[clod hopper]

Well yes, that is one option of course...

But what I actually meant is that there are examples in all breeds, of sheep that can lamb easily. Plenty of UK Texel X lambs are born in outdoor lambing flocks all over the UK, just pick the rams. There are also examples of Charollais sheep that are wedged the wrong way round these days, as the same mistakes are being made in that breed as in all the others. I remember judging a show once and standing watching the sheep being led in, then lined up in front of me. There was one (as it turns out expensively bought) shearling ram that I could see both back legs between his front ones! The owner didn't like being placed bottom...

In short, pick the ram, not the breed, IMO.

Well said

 

[sheepwise]

With you totally on that !
Quick question, I was speaking to my brother last night, and he is going to use some blue texels on his ewes, as they are “ better shaped than texels “.
Aren’t they just texels with black coats ? Or maybe they have some Beltex flung in to prop them up ?

Is he looking for tups? We can supply them as well you know

 

[Joe]

With you totally on that !
Quick question, I was speaking to my brother last night, and he is going to use some blue texels on his ewes, as they are “ better shaped than texels “.
Aren’t they just texels with black coats ? Or maybe they have some Beltex flung in to prop them up ?

Have 10 ewes here all Dutch imports originally bought to keep a niece happy to show, they ve grown on me tbh. With covid and no shows they ve just ran on with the Charollais. Ones I have are basically Beltex but black tbh, not overly fond of the less Beltex type ones bit like Neilo outlines.

 

[Bill dog]

Is he looking for tups? We can supply them as well you know

You might as well remind him you have some available. He’ll need something to tup the mob of chev mules he got yesterday at Longtown!

 

[neilo]

Is he looking for tups? We can supply them as well you know

Blue Texels?

 

[sheepwise]

Blue Texels?

Yes

 

[sheepwise]

Yes

Bought 2 gimmers for the children about 15 to 20 years ago. Have never bought another female since. They have sold dozens of gimmers over the years all descendants of those original two "christmas presents". Best paying sheep on the farm, serious demand for females. Son going to Carlisle tomorrow to buy a new stock tup.

 

[Joe]

Bought 2 gimmers for the children about 15 to 20 years ago. Have never bought another female since. They have sold dozens of gimmers over the years all descendants of those original two "christmas presents". Best paying sheep on the farm, serious demand for females. Son going to Carlisle tomorrow to buy a new stock tup.

Be interested in hearing report from it, bought a shearling Monday that was entered.

 

[Kingcustard]

Definitely holds the record for quickest post to go completely off topic and not return haha

 

[Ysgythan]

Ok

Year one with Easycares.

I lambed 85 and have got 160 lambing percentage up to weaning with very little hassle and no feeding.

Impressed with the breed and like no clipping, no backing and how well they utilise the poorest permanent pasture on the farm.

I lambed them to Easycare tups first up to breed replacements and make the first lambing as easy as possible.

I left the males entire as this seems to be what most people do and they have grown well, already have 30 over 43kg that were born start of May.

Problem is how to market them. Being easycare and entire is obviously against them. Everything will be going to terminal sires after first lambing but want to continue first lambing to pures for replacements and ease of lambing.

Does anyone know what abbatoirs in Scotland take easycare ram lambs. Or has anyone tried the live ring and had relative success???

Going down the NZ Suffolk route with the older ewes to see how they do, very exposed hills for lambing so a bit worried about Beltex and have a lot of trouble with texels with big heads in all my ewes.

Does anyone have any pictures of NZ Suffolk lambs off Easycare ewes, be interested to see the results.

Many thanks.

entire easycares would be sought after in the ethnic trade surely?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

entire easycares would be sought after in the ethnic trade surely?

Only at certain times. Rest of the year you are taking standard commercial price

 

[Ysgythan]

Only at certain times. Rest of the year you are taking standard commercial price

Is that because they can’t get that type the rest of the time? Chicken and egg?

 

[Herb9]

Bought Easycares in the last few weeks - ewe lambs that I plan to breed pure initially.

Interested in cross breeding in future, in line with the second half of the OP - currently run Charollais and Hampshire on woolly commercial ewes.

My question is, is it worth the potential loss in Easycare traits eg higher FEC’s, higher risk of flystrike, feet trouble etc in the progeny.

Selling deadweight on a flat price that doesn’t penalise once they grade at least O3 or R2 so the pure easycare should tick those boxes in general - all I’d be hoping to gain with the terminals would be a better growth rate really.

 

[Johngee]

Bought Easycares in the last few weeks - ewe lambs that I plan to breed pure initially.

Interested in cross breeding in future, in line with the second half of the OP - currently run Charollais and Hampshire on woolly commercial ewes.

My question is, is it worth the potential loss in Easycare traits eg higher FEC’s, higher risk of flystrike, feet trouble etc in the progeny.

Selling deadweight on a flat price that doesn’t penalise once they grade at least O3 or R2 so the pure easycare should tick those boxes in general - all I’d be hoping to gain with the terminals would be a better growth rate really.

Actually I don’t think you’d see a much lower growth rate with pure easycares and if there’s no bonus for conformation (although we do get some U’s with pures) then there’s less of a reason to use a terminal sire. The only reason you could have is if you’ve identified some ewes you don’t want to keep replacements out of, so you’d use a terminal breed on them.

 

[Kingcustard]

Actually I don’t think you’d see a much lower growth rate with pure easycares and if there’s no bonus for conformation (although we do get some U’s with pures) then there’s less of a reason to use a terminal sire. The only reason you could have is if you’ve identified some ewes you don’t want to keep replacements out of, so you’d use a terminal breed on them.

I have 13 going away to the abattoir on Monday, pure bred and left entire, born May, so will be interesting to see how they hang up as I haven't had any before.
Next year I have them going pure, NZ Suff and Texel so will be able to properly see the differences in the sires from birth right through to abattoir.
I will post the kill sheet for them if anyone is interested when I get it back.

 

[Woolless]

Bought Easycares in the last few weeks - ewe lambs that I plan to breed pure initially.

Interested in cross breeding in future, in line with the second half of the OP - currently run Charollais and Hampshire on woolly commercial ewes.

My question is, is it worth the potential loss in Easycare traits eg higher FEC’s, higher risk of flystrike, feet trouble etc in the progeny.

Selling deadweight on a flat price that doesn’t penalise once they grade at least O3 or R2 so the pure easycare should tick those boxes in general - all I’d be hoping to gain with the terminals would be a better growth rate really.

One advantage is that terminal-sired lambs are easier to sell store. Last couple of years I've put together a trailer load of Hampshire x lambs just after weaning. Helps cash flow and gives the rest a bit more elbow room. I think every self-replacing flock should have a 'B' flock, into which minor offenders can go to be tupped with a terminal sire. If you wouldn't want to keep a ewe lamb, they are as well tipped with a terminal IMO.

 

[Kingcustard]

Finally got notification of how the ram lambs killed out on Tuesday.

14 away.

All from 19 to 22kg hang up.
Were 44 to 48kg on my scales live the morning before.

2x U4L
2x U3H
3x R3L
7x R3H.

I was amazed how good they have done for May born lambs off easycare gimmers and grazed on permenant pasture and rushes.

Feel free to be honest and comment on that, probably too many H grades but don't have a big lot and so not wanting be running them in 2s and 3s, waited until there was enough to justify the trip to the abbatoir.

Cheers

 

[Kingcustard]

They were pure Easycares by the way, nothing to terminal sire this year

 

[Woolless]

Finally got notification of how the ram lambs killed out on Tuesday.

14 away.

All from 19 to 22kg hang up.
Were 44 to 48kg on my scales live the morning before.

2x U4L
2x U3H
3x R3L
7x R3H.

I was amazed how good they have done for May born lambs off easycare gimmers and grazed on permenant pasture and rushes.

Feel free to be honest and comment on that, probably too many H grades but don't have a big lot and so not wanting be running them in 2s and 3s, waited until there was enough to justify the trip to the abbatoir.

Cheers

Good finish on them for tup lambs!

 

[Kingcustard]

Wondering if I should just breed them pure and sell the Ewe lambs I don't need and leave the tups entire and hang them up.

A lot of the tup lambs looked plain but they are obviously deceiving with their tails on and no wool like the mule x texels and mule x Suffolk lambs I currently breed.