Highlanders

[Pup]

We currently run Mule and Mule cross Texel ewes. Lambing indoors. Producing replacement from the Mule flock all
Lambs finished off grass. These Mules are now coming to the end of their productive life and I’m looking to replace them. I’ve read some positive things about the Highlander with a view to the future and keeping a closed flock and breeding replacements from these. I realise they are probably better suited to outdoor lambing. We have a bit of a problem with Red Kites and Corvids so my father has in the past been reluctant to lambing outdoors due to the carnage they could cause. I know I’m opening a can of worms here but interested to hear your thoughts. Also if anyone is likely to have Highlander tupping ewe lambs available this autumn I’d be very interested. Thanks

 

[unlacedgecko]

@neilo

 

[neilo]

We currently run Mule and Mule cross Texel ewes. Lambing indoors. Producing replacement from the Mule flock all
Lambs finished off grass. These Mules are now coming to the end of their productive life and I’m looking to replace them. I’ve read some positive things about the Highlander with a view to the future and keeping a closed flock and breeding replacements from these. I realise they are probably better suited to outdoor lambing. We have a bit of a problem with Red Kites and Corvids so my father has in the past been reluctant to lambing outdoors due to the carnage they could cause. I know I’m opening a can of worms here but interested to hear your thoughts. Also if anyone is likely to have Highlander tupping ewe lambs available this autumn I’d be very interested. Thanks

They do what they say on the tin, being a low input, reasonable output, self-replacing breed. The idea is that you buy the rams and breed them, rather than buy in bunches of ewe lambs, but you might be lucky and find some available.
Personally, I would use Highlander rams over your Texel X Mules, and keep the resultant offspring. Mine are all bred up from Texel crosses originally, which has done them no harm at all. As with all mongrel/composite breeds, the rams themselves are variable without a particularly fixed type. Make sure you select the rams carefully if you want to keep a relatively consistent type, so none of this ordering online and taking those that nobody liked malarkey.

I would suggest that an Easydam from @easyram1 should do pretty much the same job, so worth at least considering those too.

As for lambing indoors, I use some of my Highlanders as ET recipients for my pedigree flock, with those ewes lambing indoors alongside the pedigrees. They are happy enough lambing indoors or out IME. If I was to have an indoor lambing flock, I would still choose Highlanders over Mules, every day of the week.

The only reason I have stopped using Highlander rams myself, is that I am going down the path of shedding sheep. They will be bred up from that Highlander base though, as they knock the spots off my bought in pure shedders in almost every respect, apart from the wool obviously. A shedding Highlander, with a splash of functional Texel, would be my perfect sheep.

 

[Lincs]

I’ve been a keen reader of @neilo content on here but that last line made me spirit my tea ☕️ out. Almost suggest Texel’s are ok

 

[Bob the beef]

As a regular buyer of Highlander tups, I would agree with everything @neilo says above. Pick the tups yourself and buy a type that you think will mesh with your ewes . I bred mine to NC cheviots and kept all the ewe lambs. We are completely closed and lamb all outdoors mid April on

 

[neilo]

I’ve been a keen reader of @neilo content on here but that last line made me spirit my tea ☕️ out. Almost suggest Texel’s are ok

A splash of FUNCTIONAL Texel in the maternal side does no harm at all IME, and produces a good lamb with a Charollais as a terminal.

The Highlander (& Easydam for that matter) is just a Romney x Texel, with a bit of prolificacy added from elsewhere.

 

[yellowbelly]

I’ve been a keen reader of @neilo content on here but that last line made me spirit my tea ☕️ out. Almost suggest Texel’s are ok

Keep up at the back @Lincs
Did you not see @neilo 's post the other day, showing his Texel secret shedding weapon.....

Well, he says it's a shedder but the more cynical amongst us might say, "It's wandering about in all that Montgomeryshire grass that's worn all his wool off."

 

[Ysgythan]

Sold tups to a guy with Highlanders. Texel x females are cracking sheep. @neilo plan is cheapest way to change tack. Other option is to criss cross by alternating Highlander and Texel tups on core Highlander ewes. The pures can get very woolly mind.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Sold tups to a guy with Highlanders. Texel x females are cracking sheep. @neilo plan is cheapest way to change tack. Other option is to criss cross by alternating Highlander and Texel tups on core Highlander ewes. The pures can get very woolly mind.

Only thought the other day not seen you on lately, good to see you posting
Ref the wooly thing - back to Neil's point of picking a type.

Would also suggest @easyram1 's Easydam as Neil says. Early days, but liking them all so well as the Highlanders I've had for some time. Will be having more of them rather than Highlander here on current performance.

 

[Ysgythan]

Personally I’m allergic to topknots, but each to their own…

 

[Yale]

Our ewe lambs a couple of months back, 1/3 are welsh cross highlander and the rest are Easydam further cross. They are looking promising. Had highlanders for years and the Easydam look as if they will fit straight in. They have replaced texel.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Personally I’m allergic to topknots, but each to their own…

quicker and easier to shear a sheep with just a top knot, and as for wool quality wellwhat dioes that matter if it only going to be used as insulation on a grand designs or mulch around fruit trees.....

 

[neilo]

Personally I’m allergic to topknots, but each to their own…

Me too, although I realise it’s only cosmetic. You’d best pick the Highlander rams without topknots too.

 

[yellowbelly]

Personally I’m allergic to topknots

Me too

Bloody Fascists

 

[neilo]

View attachment 1116598 Bloody Fascists

Handy for sneaking up on them I suppose.

 

[Lincs]

My wooly headed lambs were £15 less yesterday. They will be going dead next year!

 

[Wbarker96]

What advantages would an easydam have over an exlana. Looking for maternal tups to use over shetland ewes this year and these are the two options I was thinking of.

 

[neilo]

What advantages would an easydam have over an exlana. Looking for maternal tups to use over shetland ewes this year and these are the two options I was thinking of.

Ooh, can I go...

I've no experience of the Easydam, but have had Highlanders since 2008, which are a very similar breed.
The Highlander ewes knock spots of the pure Exlanas I've had, in terms of maternal ability, docility, conformation, milkiness and cull value.
Much the same on ability to thrive in low input systems, although the Exlanas certainly struggle more on strip grazed beet in open fields here.

The Exlanas don't need to be shorn of course, or have most of the costs associated with wool. That's the only advantage I've seen.

Both of course, are marketed as the solution to all your problems.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Ooh, can I go...

I've no experience of the Easydam, but have had Highlanders since 2008, which are a very similar breed.
The Highlander ewes knock spots of the pure Exlanas I've had, in terms of maternal ability, docility, conformation, milkiness and cull value.
Much the same on ability to thrive in low input systems, although the Exlanas certainly struggle more on strip grazed beet in open fields here.

The Exlanas don't need to be shorn of course, or have most of the costs associated with wool. That's the only advantage I've seen.

Both of course, are marketed as the solution to all your problems.

But we all know when you try a different breed Neil, you go out of your way to buy the worst examples possible
Whether it's Lleyn, Charmoise, Exlana or Beltex, you can't seem to get them to do what others can

Not saying any of those is perfect, but the questioner ought to just hear out a few others' experiences for a balanced view

 

[Poorbuthappy]

What advantages would an easydam have over an exlana. Looking for maternal tups to use over shetland ewes this year and these are the two options I was thinking of.

Notwithstanding my tongue in cheek reply to Neil - here's my thoughts.
They're worth exactly what you've paid for them...

I have found the exlana quite lively, so would agree with Neil the Easydam will likely score on docility.
Woolly lambs (as opposed to shedders) still seem easier marketed in a live market, though I have seen the opposite on occasion so certainly not a given.
Not an issue for terminal sired lambs of course.
All the advantages of shedding with the exlana of course.
Potentially a bit more shape with the Easydam, though the exlana is certainly not the "goat" it was once accused of being.

All depends whether you want wool or not I guess?