Herdwick sheep

[rhysjj]

I know very little about herdwicks, but has anybody crossed them with anything to make a good commercial lamb? Only asking as I've been offered a ram lamb for free.

 

[Estate fencing.]

Putting herdwick on any ewe is going to make a poorer lamb. Take it for free then put straight in the fat without ever letting it out.

 

[Bobby Spray]

my wife was give half a dozen as a gift from her father - all dead within 6 months!

 

[yellowbelly]

Herdwick tups
Best place for 'em is the Lake District.

We run a few Herdwicks here but only for the female genes. We once tried breeding a few pure but we couldn't keep the tup lambs at home..

The only thing that they couldn't escape from was the deep freezer.

Now, crossing them the other way, is a different kettle of fish..

Best take @Estate fencing. 's advice

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

I agree with everyone else. I run a 100 herdwicks and out a texel tup onto them. Get an awesome ewe lamb to keep off them or a nice saleable lamb that will get to 46kg no problem.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I know someone buys Herdwick drafts and puts a Texel tup on them. When I see what the lambs are like and what the ewes cost it looks a very good system.

 

[Estate fencing.]

I know someone buys Herdwick drafts and puts a Texel tup on them. When I see what the lambs are like and what the ewes cost it looks a very good system.

That’s probably a good system, but putting a herdwick Tup over texel ewes wouldn’t be so good.

 

[Wood field]

Done it in the past texel tup on herdwick ewe, great lambs for a cheap hill system
Still an odd ewe here from them

 

[yellowbelly]

I know someone buys Herdwick drafts and puts a Texel tup on them. When I see what the lambs are like and what the ewes cost it looks a very good system.

The cost of draft Herdwicks is on the up.
They've really gone up these last few years - should've kept quiet about how well they do down here
Don't buy anything flash, just good working ewes. Anywhere 3 to 5 crop, although it's noticeable there's a lot more 3 croppers in the big sale at Cockermouth lately.
Recent averages of ours..

2019.....£50
2020.....£73.57
2021.....didn't need any.
2022.....£80
2023.....£79.75

 

[Wood field]

The cost of draft Herdwicks is on the up.
They've really gone up these last few years - should've kept quiet about how well they do down here
Don't buy anything flash, just good working ewes. Anywhere 3 to 5 crop, although it's noticeable there's a lot more 3 croppers in the big sale at Cockermouth lately.
Recent averages of ours..

2019.....£50
2020.....£73.57
2021.....didn't need any.
2022.....£80
2023.....£79.75

Have you ever tried the sale at Broughton ( in Furness)

 

[yellowbelly]

Have you ever tried the sale at Broughton ( in Furness)

No, I haven't.
Does it still have one? I thought I'd heard that Cockermouth was the only big sale nowadays

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

No, I haven't.
Does it still have one? I thought I'd heard that Cockermouth was the only big sale nowadays

We bought herdwick gimmers from Penrith this last year. In that £85-£90 range if I recall. Went to cockermouth years ago but i prefer the sale at Penrith

 

[yellowbelly]

We bought herdwick gimmers from Penrith this last year. In that £85-£90 range if I recall. Went to cockermouth years ago but i prefer the sale at Penrith

Good bit nearer for us too

 

[Wood field]

No, I haven't.
Does it still have one? I thought I'd heard that Cockermouth was the only big sale nowadays

Yes there’s a mart at broughton, lad I get ( got) cast hill ewes from is big into herdwicks , he goes to broughton ( and Cockermouth) as he’s in eskdale

 

[Wood field]

Bugger …,

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Bugger …,

Don’t they have a few special broughton-in-Furness special sales at borderway now

 

[Wood field]

Don’t they have a few special broughton-in-Furness special sales at borderway now

Just messaged a mate, they are still going but H&H pulled out .
Bernard castle are doing some sales there , he said check Bernard castle sales on Facebook for broughton dates

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Just messaged a mate, they are still going but H&H pulled out .
Bernard castle are doing some sales there , he said check Bernard castle sales on Facebook for broughton dates

Barnard Castle

 

[Wood field]

Barnard Castle

Predictive text and bleary eyes

 

[yellowbelly]

Barnard Castle

Predictive text and bleary eyes

IIRC, that's the place to drive to if you need to check if your eyes are working
Didn't Boris' mate go there in covid