Highlander x mule for breeding replacements?

[Fencer90]

Thinking about buying a Highlander ram to put on some mules for breeding replacements.
Want to start breeding my own replacements and stop buying in mules. I like what I have heard/read about the highlanders, Just wondering what experiences people have had with them?

Any info/advice would be great!

 

[Nithsdale]

@neilo

 

[jemski]

I do it. However I prefer the highlanders out of my chev X mule ewes as they have a bit more shape. However I reckon if you went for a more texelly type of highlander you'd be pleased! They certainly perform - ewe lambs scanned at 125% (too many twins really for my liking but can't really complain) and that was with no flushing as I was trying to have fewer twins!!!!

 

[Fencer90]

I do it. However I prefer the highlanders out of my chev X mule ewes as they have a bit more shape. However I reckon if you went for a more texelly type of highlander you'd be pleased! They certainly perform - ewe lambs scanned at 125% (too many twins really for my liking but can't really complain) and that was with no flushing as I was trying to have fewer twins!!!!

Thanks for the info. Is there a lot of variation in the breed? Bit worried about what the weathers would be like?

 

[jemski]

Wethers are generally good, the odd one doesn't grade too well though.

 

[jemski]

I haven't seen too many of the Rams but I think there are different types. I wouldn't say there's a huge variation in the lambs though.

 

[neilo]

Thanks for the info. Is there a lot of variation in the breed? Bit worried about what the weathers would be like?

I have had them since 2008, lambing outdoors. I have always picked thicker, tighter skinned types (more to the NZ Texel side) and have been very pleased with what they give me. I sell mine live and the whethers are always around average market price, which I'm very happy with for a maternal breed. However, mine were bred up from a Texel X base, rather than a mule.

I have a long standing ram customer that runs a couple of thousand Highlanders bred up from NC Mules and he likes them. Whethers could be a bit poorer, but no worse than mule whethers would be if you were to breed them I suspect.

The Highlander rams can be a bit variable, as the kiwis don't seem to consider a 'type' to be important. I have always picked the same type of ram though, and they breed fairly consistently.

They are a prolific ewe that is an efficient grazer, and will produce a good fat lamb cheaply with any decent terminal sire over them. I think of mine as Romneys, but without the wool.

 

[Global ovine]

I agree with Neil's description. There are some very good flocks of Highlanders in NZ (by that I mean highly productive on hill country). They are variable in type being a composite of less than 20 generations that has not always been fixed. Therefore ram buyers need to be consistent in buying their rams for type. Focus Genetics in NZ are now concentrating their maternal composite breeding on other options more suited to NZ hill country. These are Romney and NZ Maternal Texel based with emphasis on Meat Yield (not shape) along with lambing % and Maternal Weaning Weight.
Focus Genetics is a part of Landcorp (NZ State owned Enterprise.....largest NZ corporate farmer) so are their own supplier of thousands of rams annually. Huge amount of data collected from hundreds of thousands of lambs slaughtered as well as full SIL recording. They also own a half share of a CT scanner that is the most advanced in the Southern Hemisphere. However any NZ exports to the EU for breeding have to be type1 for Scrapie Resistance, which means only a small proportion of sheep are eligible, thus compromising selection.
The question UK farmers must ask; is selection for profit in the NZ sheep economy relevant to the UK sheep economy, where type is regarded by many on this forum as essential to those farmers relying on live markets?

 

[2tractors]

Like Neil I have run Highlander rams since 2008, breeding a self contained flock bred pure. Efficient sheep tightly stocked scanning at 200% rearing 187% with minimal inputs ( no buckets, no boluses, etc) just cake 3 weeks prior to lambing and 3 weeks after. Ours are housed due to 5 ewes per acre and 60 inches of rain!
Pure ram lambs sold dw average 20 kg at an R grade. Last bunch sold before Christmas averaged £80 net with a top of £86. Don't kill out as good as a terminal lamb but will grow on without getting fat.
Most profitable sheep I have run in 35 years of sheep farming, one reason being we don't send so many to the knacker man!

 

[Yale]

Have around 200 highlander cross mule now.

Very pleased with them,good temperament,milky and prolific.

Feet on ours maybe not the best shaped on some,a bit untidy.

Overall happy.

Have been putting Aberfield on some with some lovely ewes to lamb first time this year.

 

[neilo]

Another thing I hadn't mentioned, is that I culled my first homebred ones on teeth (mostly just losing a corner) this year. Those sheep were born in 2010 and have spent every winter grazing root crops. Obviously I have culled plenty on other things (mastitis, etc), but teeth seem to last very well. All helps reducing flock depreciation costs.

 

[Fencer90]

Thanks for the information guys! They sound like what I'm looking for, as long as I get the right type.
What's it like sourcing highlander ewe lambs and shearlings? Is there plenty around?

 

[neilo]

Thanks for the information guys! They sound like what I'm looking for, as long as I get the right type.
What's it like sourcing highlander ewe lambs and shearlings? Is there plenty around?

Not many folk are breeding them to sell that I know of, more as closed flocks breeding their own replacements.

 

[Fencer90]

Not many folk are breeding them to sell that I know of, more as closed flocks breeding their own replacements.

O right, is innovis the only place you can buy the rams from?

 

[neilo]

O right, is innovis the only place you can buy the rams from?

I think so now.

Or @RobP on here is still breeding some for Innovis IIRC. In Bedfordshire, he'd be a lot closer to you than Aberystwyth sales too.

 

[jemski]

Thanks for the information guys! They sound like what I'm looking for, as long as I get the right type.
What's it like sourcing highlander ewe lambs and shearlings? Is there plenty around?

I know someone who is selling some ewe lambs and they will be good sorts, kept on coastal ground. I can pm you details.

 

[Fencer90]

I know someone who is selling some ewe lambs and they will be good sorts, kept on coastal ground. I can pm you details.

Please do.

 

[jemski]

Pm'd you

 

[RockyKildare]

We switched to a highlander ram last year. We've upscaled our sheep enterprise, and due to lack of sheds needed to lamb a lot out. The mules we kept were taking to much keeping during the winter and then with a big texel across them were a nightmare to lamb outside. We are at 1000ft on heavy clay ground. We now put the highlander across our texel x mule ewes we have bred. We had our first lot of lambs last year and we're very impressed with how much easier the lambs came. We ear tagged all the highlander lambs after they were born as we were concerned that the weathers would not sell as well fat or store. We kept back 40 ewe lambs this year and they are doing well. First time we have put ewe lambs to a tup. My dad took some convincing!!!!
The wethers have nearly all gone now, with about half going at 20- 24 weeks fat weighing around 40-42 kg, done just on grass. The rest we are now pushing through the store market, last lot made £65 a head last week, again being fed on just grass and hay. The top nots on some didn't seem to put off he store buyers!!!! We're not seeing much difference in price for selling compared to our mule x texels, but have massively decreased our costs on cake and feed blocks.
Think it's important to buy one that throws more to the texel side. There working brilliantly for us so good luck with yours.

 

[cheviot53]

Have had 9 rams from 3 different breeders and all looked different , the problem being a composite of 3 breeds and then the breeders all had different base ewes (Romney /Llyen /Mule ) so difficult to get an even looking flock . I have different crosses up to 7 crop at the moment and for ME in keeping condition they go Scottish Mule x - Cheviot Mule x- Swale x- 3/4 Highlander - SBF x - Tex X Mule x- Hill Northie x . On teeth both mule crosses did ave 5crop the Swale / Tex x Mule /3/4 high ave 6crop and the sbf and nortihe are looking good carrying their 8th crop . The lambing % is not that much different .