Increasing NCC scanning percentage

[Top Tip.]

I’d have to disagree with the struggling to rear 2, they’re hellish good mothers hence why I’m using them as the foundation basis for commercial flock . But yes I take your point on the low % I was just wondering if there’s a way to increase it a touch with a few tweaks, as some on here seem to scan high with Cheviots .

I do wonder sometimes if there are more prolific strains within the breed. I have tended to pick my tups from flocks which I knew were producing a high number of twins. There are some within the breed that have flirted with the South Country Cheviot and I think those genetics could hold back lambing percentage.

 

[Sheepfog]

I’d have to disagree with the struggling to rear 2, they’re hellish good mothers hence why I’m using them as the foundation basis for commercial flock . But yes I take your point on the low % I was just wondering if there’s a way to increase it a touch with a few tweaks, as some on here seem to scan high with Cheviots .

I think the SAC (?) did a trial with using a Lleyn as a once only cross and keeping the female twin lambs, then going back to the NCC thereafter, with the aim of boosting prolificacy. Potential minefield finding the right Lleyn though!

 

[Bones]

Take lambs of the ewes a bit earlier this year, next year you'll see the lift in scanning %, works here,

 

[Old Tip]

Take lambs of the ewes a bit earlier this year, next year you'll see the lift in scanning %, works here,

When do you wean yours @Bones

 

[west coast angus]

Take lambs of the ewes a bit earlier this year, next year you'll see the lift in scanning %, works here,

Alot of the old the old boys say the hill cheviot should be speaned no later than the glorious 12th.

 

[reverand]

How did you scan @reverand ?

Back on last year to 140%. That is despite buckets and bolus. Everyone in the area I have talked to seems to be back by 10 or so %. I have a lot of shearlings this year, 40 % of my total flock, so that hasn’t helped lambing percentage either. How about yourself @oldtip ?

 

[Bob the beef]

Not necessarily cheviots, but my scanner telling me this week that some serious yeld numbers in the higher hill flocks. 12-14% common and some much worse than that. Not good start to the year

 

[Ysgythan]

I find this post vaguely amusing as it puts all the misconceptions about the breed together in one place and makes me wonder if you have ever kept Lairg type Cheviots. How high a lambing % do you want,I find that the more over 170% I go the more triplets I get which I don’t want.

So you agree that’s a reputation they have?

 

[Ysgythan]

I’d have to disagree with the struggling to rear 2, they’re hellish good mothers hence why I’m using them as the foundation basis for commercial flock . But yes I take your point on the low % I was just wondering if there’s a way to increase it a touch with a few tweaks, as some on here seem to scan high with Cheviots .

Fair play. It was a pedigree breeder locally that told me of their reputation. If somebody is getting 160% on a hill with low lamb losses then go to them for their draft.

 

[Ysgythan]

I think the SAC (?) did a trial with using a Lleyn as a once only cross and keeping the female twin lambs, then going back to the NCC thereafter, with the aim of boosting prolificacy. Potential minefield finding the right Lleyn though!

Jim Logan is criss crossing them.

 

[west coast angus]

I think the SAC (?) did a trial with using a Lleyn as a once only cross and keeping the female twin lambs, then going back to the NCC thereafter, with the aim of boosting prolificacy. Potential minefield finding the right Lleyn though!

I tried a few Lleyn tups, on my Cheviots and found it to be a disaster, the Lleyn is far to soft and can’t handel the weather we get here! Really glad to get rid of those cross ewes.

 

[Top Tip.]

So you agree that’s a reputation they have?

I said it was a mis conception held mainly by those who have never kept them.

 

[Ysgythan]

I said it was a mis conception held mainly by those who have never kept them.

Aye. I’d have to say I was surprised when it was a breeder that told me.

 

[Old Tip]

Back on last year to 140%. That is despite buckets and bolus. Everyone in the area I have talked to seems to be back by 10 or so %. I have a lot of shearlings this year, 40 % of my total flock, so that hasn’t helped lambing percentage either. How about yourself @oldtip ?

I had a lot empty in my crossing ewes so pulled the % down to 135 but hardly any empty in the fell Sheep but very few twins as well to average 115%

 

[west coast angus]

I had a lot empty in my crossing ewes so pulled the % down to 135 but hardly any empty in the fell Sheep but very few twins as well to average 115%

Do you want many more twins on the hill?

 

[Top Tip.]

Aye. I’d have to say I was surprised when it was a breeder that told me.

I think maybe he should be looking at his breeding policy and if it was local to you I would wonder if it is the same breed we are talking about.

 

[Old Tip]

Do you want many more twins on the hill?

No, for me that’s a good scan, usually scan about ten percent higher though

 

[west coast angus]

No, for me that’s a good scan, usually scan about ten percent higher though

Considering the weather last year and this winter too be 10% back is good I would say

 

[Top Tip.]

No, for me that’s a good scan, usually scan about ten percent higher though

Would that be down to weather at tup time?

 

[west coast angus]

I do wonder sometimes if there are more prolific strains within the breed. I have tended to pick my tups from flocks which I knew were producing a high number of twins. There are some within the breed that have flirted with the South Country Cheviot and I think those genetics could hold back lambing percentage.

Be interested to hear your views on the use of the South Country Cheviot in the Lairg flocks? I have to admit I love the look of the Southie!