Going to have a Swale of a time! (I hope)

[AftonShepherd]

Tailing em or not??

Do you mean shearing their tails for tupping? Never done it with BFs or Cheviots so hadn't thought about it.

On a side note, I've always been told that Swale lambs shouldn't be docked as they won't do, does that apply to cross lambs out of them? I really hope not, the lengths of some of these tails takes a bit of getting used to.

 

[AftonShepherd]

Teasers?
Weve done teasers down here and nearly all tupped up with the proper tups now!

My crossing tups are just out this week, like to keep a turn between batches.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Do you mean shearing their tails for tupping? Never done it with BFs or Cheviots so hadn't thought about it.

On a side note, I've always been told that Swale lambs shouldn't be docked as they won't do, does that apply to cross lambs out of them? I really hope not, the lengths of some of these tails takes a bit of getting used to.

Finished loads of cross lambs out of Swales, always curse when someone has been too idle too ring the tails. They do famous with short tails. With the right tup you get a pretty tight skinned lamb and the long tail ruins them when you’re selling!

 

[AftonShepherd]

Finished loads of cross lambs out of Swales, always curse when someone has been too idle too ring the tails. They do famous with short tails. With the right tup you get a pretty tight skinned lamb and the long tail ruins them when you’re selling!

Thanks. Will be going to a NCC to try and breed replacement ewe lambs, hoping the wethers won't be too far behind the purer ones for storing, and probably more importantly there should be more of them.

 

[muleman]

Thanks. Will be going to a NCC to try and breed replacement ewe lambs, hoping the wethers won't be too far behind the purer ones for storing, and probably more importantly there should be more of them.

Pop a leicester in , you will get some nice sheep off those ewes.

 

[AftonShepherd]

Pop a leicester in , you will get some nice sheep off those ewes.

I'm sure I would but the first crosses will have to run on the same hill as the swales so want something hillier, and I already have a field full of NCC tups lol. Might put a Leicester over those first crosses though, still undecided.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Thanks. Will be going to a NCC to try and breed replacement ewe lambs, hoping the wethers won't be too far behind the purer ones for storing, and probably more importantly there should be more of them.

If you’re storing then defo ring the tails!! Exactly the same as your Cheviot wethers.

 

[hill shepherd]

Teasers?
Weve done teasers down here and nearly all tupped up with the proper tups now!

What you on about? We've only just gathered our fell this week might get some tups out towards end of next week, oh I forgot, you breed mules on a lowland farm

 

[hill shepherd]

So, had the Swales through the pens today in preparation for chucking the teasers out.
View attachment 995711
Half a dozen a bit lame and a few haven't filled out as much as the rest but on the whole I'm happy with how they handle and look. Only three short which is better than I was lead to believe would be the case, and not one jumped out of the sheep pens.

I have seen the other three, they'd pushed through a dilapidated plain wire fence into a wood but were heading back in the right direction as darkness was falling so will catch up with them tomorrow.

They ran a lot better for the dogs than my cheviots generally do too. I'm growing to like them already but scanning and lambing will really tell.

Look nice swales them. Don't think you'll be disappointed with scanning and lambing, can't beat them for mothers

 

[hill shepherd]

Do you mean shearing their tails for tupping? Never done it with BFs or Cheviots so hadn't thought about it.

On a side note, I've always been told that Swale lambs shouldn't be docked as they won't do, does that apply to cross lambs out of them? I really hope not, the lengths of some of these tails takes a bit of getting used to.

It's just a traditional thing with tails, makes no difference. Dock the cross lambs, leave pures as they are

 

[sheepwise]

So, had the Swales through the pens today in preparation for chucking the teasers out.
View attachment 995711
Half a dozen a bit lame and a few haven't filled out as much as the rest but on the whole I'm happy with how they handle and look. Only three short which is better than I was lead to believe would be the case, and not one jumped out of the sheep pens.

I have seen the other three, they'd pushed through a dilapidated plain wire fence into a wood but were heading back in the right direction as darkness was falling so will catch up with them tomorrow.

They ran a lot better for the dogs than my cheviots generally do too. I'm growing to like them already but scanning and lambing will really tell.

Look like the Hillend ewes of 20 years ago when Duncan was in charge.

 

[AftonShepherd]

Look like the Hillend ewes of 20 years ago when Duncan was in charge.

He was my inspiration although must be nearer 25 years! I've been here 19 and he'd moved onto Hexham by the time I came.

 

[AftonShepherd]

Look like the Hillend ewes of 20 years ago when Duncan was in charge.

He was my inspiration although must be nearer 25 years! I've been here 19 and he'd moved onto Hexham by the time I came.

He even came and held my hand at Kendal

 

[Bill dog]

Best fire up the pick up ! Lashing’s of Swales in an hour and a half !!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Best fire up the pick up ! Lashing’s of Swales in an hour and a half !!View attachment 996293

Wonder what’s gone wrong there? Bit late in the season for full flock dispersals unless it was a bit unexpected? I do hope it’s not a clearance for trees job!

 

[Bill dog]

Wonder what’s gone wrong there? Bit late in the season for full flock dispersals unless it was a bit unexpected? I do hope it’s not a clearance for trees job!

I thought death of the farmer, never thought of feckin trees. Hope the trade holds up for them !

 

[AftonShepherd]

Best fire up the pick up ! Lashing’s of Swales in an hour and a half !!View attachment 996293

Probably got enough until I see how they do!

Besides, I was on my way to CD with a sheep trailer full of gold dust (I hope). Didn't wait with them and not heard yet.

 

[Bob the beef]

Wonder what’s gone wrong there? Bit late in the season for full flock dispersals unless it was a bit unexpected? I do hope it’s not a clearance for trees job!

Trees and wind turbines I think. Hell of a long way in to that place . Very isolated. They probably deserve a medal for sticking out so long. Lot of the land round them been planted in last 10 years

 

[unlacedgecko]

It's just a traditional thing with tails, makes no difference. Dock the cross lambs, leave pures as they are

I've been told the swale ewe has a fat tail. If she get stuck in a part of the hills by snow that tail fat will help her survive till she's found/the snow melts.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I've been told the swale ewe has a fat tail. If she get stuck in a part of the hills by snow that tail fat will help her survive till she's found/the snow melts.

Be about the only place they have got fat nowadays then!