Keeping tup lambs

[valtraman]

I’m just about to start lambing predominately scotch mules but have some texels about twenty in the mix . These are not pure bred texel mainly bred out of scotch mules . Good size of sheep and good shapes. They were run with my pure texel tups and I’m thinking about keeping the lambs entire to see what they turn out tup wise for my own replacements. Has anybody kept similar or should I be breeding of pure texels ?

 

[Woolless]

I would think that you would be disappointed with the results. Far better to sell them and put the money towards proper Texel tups, with the traits and EBVs that you want.

 

[valtraman]

I would think that you would be disappointed with the results. Far better to sell them and put the money towards proper Texel tups, with the traits and EBVs that you want.

Ebvs are nothing to me I go with what I see in front of me

 

[Al R]

Ebvs are nothing to me I go with what I see in front of me

Try and breed your own pure then or buy from a trusted source, not over fed, caesarean central type stock

 

[Bury the Trash]

Nope i wouldn't entertain it , not with that Scotch mule bit in them nor any othere mule for that matter.
Thats just me though, you can do what you like.

 

[valtraman]

Just trying to get some opinions I know for the few texels I had last year the lambs looked very pure texel looking at a young age.

 

[spin cycle]

bred this lad meself....i'd have a go

 

[valtraman]

How’s he bred

 

[spin cycle]

beltex tup.....beltex/texel x wilt mum

 

[Woolless]

Ebvs are nothing to me I go with what I see in front of me

Sorry, I misread and thought you meant Texel X mule tup lambs.

 

[tr250]

We breed our own tups but they are purebred. We find our own are better as we don’t ever feed them so they are naturally grown and work well and last well but culling also seems easier when you haven’t paid a lot for them any little problem cull them

 

[valtraman]

Sorry, I misread and thought you meant Texel X mule tup lambs.

No the ewes are texels out of mules some look very texel like could be out of texel ewes . There bought in sheep . Tups I’ve used are pure texel tups. So thinking the texel lambs to be born out of them will be at least 3/4 texel

 

[MJT]

I’d be weary about keeping from out of texel x mule ewes . Even quarter mule could show up when you put them back to ewes with a bit of mule in . But as for breeding own and keeping best ram lambs then I’d say go for it, but maybe keep the best ewe lambs from your ewes and then back to texel again to keep the rams , so they’re 7/8’s .
Keeping your fastest growing best performing ram lambs on your system it is always going to be the way forward . In my opinion you could buy a ram with the best figures in the world but could perform awful on your own system .

 

[neilo]

No the ewes are texels out of mules some look very texel like could be out of texel ewes . There bought in sheep . Tups I’ve used are pure texel tups. So thinking the texel lambs to be born out of them will be at least 3/4 texel

Your 3/4 Texel is still going to be a quarter Scotch Mule. Whatever they look like in themselves, you will still get a few throwbacks to the Mule/BFL. Breeding will out, always IME.

 

[CopperBeech]

Ebvs are nothing to me I go with what I see in front of me

Good luck mate. You’ll need it

 

[CopperBeech]

This issue is if you hVe a bit of mule on both sides you’ve a good chance of very muley lambs.

 

[puppet]

This issue is if you hVe a bit of mule on both sides you’ve a good chance of very muley lambs.

But half of them will be ewe lambs at least so should be ok

 

[CopperBeech]

But half of them will be ewe lambs at least so should be ok

Aye true enough. I generally find I can buy in far better than I can breed on the tup side of things.

 

[Hillfarmer18]

I have chased up with cross lambs the last couple of years so anything the bfl’s miss or ewes that return are caught by them, gives some extra fat lambs at the end of the day and means the less fertile ewes are not breeding mules. The cross lambs are sold fat after there done albeit over weight

They will be fine to chase up with but more to your pure tup the better... and I would slaughter them as lambs post tupping

 

[Woolless]

Ebvs are nothing to me I go with what I see in front of me

You're missing a trick then. Stockmanship is important but there are some things which your eyes can't tell you.