Forums
New posts
Forum list
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New resources
Latest activity
Trending Threads
Resources
Latest reviews
Search resources
FarmTV
Farm Compare
Search
Tokens/Searches
Calendar
Upcoming Events
Members
Registered members
Current visitors
New Resources
New posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Forum list
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
Forums
Livestock
Livestock & Forage
Maternal tup for Texels
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="M-J-G" data-source="post: 6924220" data-attributes="member: 1819"><p>Somehow we have 30 or so Zwartbles ewes, (don't ask ?<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="♂️" title="Male sign :male_sign:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.5/png/unicode/64/2642.png" data-shortname=":male_sign:" />) despite being heavily biased against them, they are prolific, milky, and have growth. I don't flush them to keep them below 200% scanning</p><p></p><p>We put them to a Hampshire and the lambs (however unconventional) are very good and sell very well despite having a bit of head wool and being mainly coloured.</p><p></p><p>I've gone a bit mental and kept some of these crosses as ewes, and (despite wanting to hate them) I really like them, they are very good producers, as gimmers they scanned 190% without flushing, with zero barren. Hoggs scanned 150% and are rearing 140 and those with twins are coping ok but the lambs are starting to take creep now. They are amazing mothers and are pleasant to work with despite Hampshires being a bit on the looney side.</p><p></p><p>The down side to the Pure Zwartbles is that they are like keeping a Holstein as a suckler, and they take a bit more keeping in winter.</p><p>Feet can be a bit of an issue, but culling generally gets on top of that. Udders are a bit big and don't cope well with east coast cold dry spring weather.</p><p>Pure Zwartbles lambs do grow, but if they get past that young stage they get as hard as a Holstein store bullocks and they'll be 60kg before they're fat unless you feed them.</p><p>The crosses are powerful sheep and are a lot easier kept and managed than their mothers, but I'd rather see them a bit smaller.</p><p>A lamb only needs to get to 45kg so a ewe that's double that is a bit excessive IMO</p><p></p><p>You could well be right that the OP couk d use a Zwartbles ram, but the progeny with a Texel could be a pretty formidable Ovine with regard to size and eating ability.</p><p></p><p>I'm hoping I find the Roussin progeny to be better than you describe, but I'm not married to them so I'll <em>press delete</em> on them pretty quick if they don't fit in.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="M-J-G, post: 6924220, member: 1819"] Somehow we have 30 or so Zwartbles ewes, (don't ask ?♂️) despite being heavily biased against them, they are prolific, milky, and have growth. I don't flush them to keep them below 200% scanning We put them to a Hampshire and the lambs (however unconventional) are very good and sell very well despite having a bit of head wool and being mainly coloured. I've gone a bit mental and kept some of these crosses as ewes, and (despite wanting to hate them) I really like them, they are very good producers, as gimmers they scanned 190% without flushing, with zero barren. Hoggs scanned 150% and are rearing 140 and those with twins are coping ok but the lambs are starting to take creep now. They are amazing mothers and are pleasant to work with despite Hampshires being a bit on the looney side. The down side to the Pure Zwartbles is that they are like keeping a Holstein as a suckler, and they take a bit more keeping in winter. Feet can be a bit of an issue, but culling generally gets on top of that. Udders are a bit big and don't cope well with east coast cold dry spring weather. Pure Zwartbles lambs do grow, but if they get past that young stage they get as hard as a Holstein store bullocks and they'll be 60kg before they're fat unless you feed them. The crosses are powerful sheep and are a lot easier kept and managed than their mothers, but I'd rather see them a bit smaller. A lamb only needs to get to 45kg so a ewe that's double that is a bit excessive IMO You could well be right that the OP couk d use a Zwartbles ram, but the progeny with a Texel could be a pretty formidable Ovine with regard to size and eating ability. I'm hoping I find the Roussin progeny to be better than you describe, but I'm not married to them so I'll [I]press delete[/I] on them pretty quick if they don't fit in. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Livestock
Livestock & Forage
Maternal tup for Texels
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top