Mules are still supreme

[Estate fencing.]

Are the mule breeders making any progress with bringing OPA (wheelbarrow disease) under control? Getting to be quite a problem here with a lot of people testing now.

OPA and MV will kill the mule breed in the next 5 years (just my opinion), Iv seen masses amounts of cull mules in the last couple of years that are just wasting away.
The breeders should stop chasing silly head colour and trimming and concentrate on MV and OPA testing to give buyers high health sheep. The sellers of mules need the buyers and in my opinion some they are forgetting the ewes are entering big breeding flock and could bankrupt them (I do have experience).

 

[Ysgythan]

A mate used to be field officer for the Welsh Mules. I suggested an MV section in the sales and they’d corner the Recipient job off. The resistance he met from the Society was substantial and obviously it never happened. If you can’t persuade people by their positive self interest there’s only one other way they will learn.

having said that MV outbreaks in Wales tend to be rare and I’ve not come across OPA.

 

[Will 1594]

Nice lamb,old fashioned ewe even for 1970"s . Some masham"s still bred in that area nowadays

He was big mates with the liddles. “ jb” think it was arn cliff crag , and peels where they filmed the original emmerdale farm , think young peel drove or did for hymass when they packed up ?

 

[egbert]

Any one still have mashams , and dalesbred yows , uncle Chris at lindly hall early 70,s
Superb shepherd.

I like the look of Dalesbreds against Swales now (Mulie tail wagging the dog again) but by gum, my horned ewes would never have seen a tree as big as the one in't photo!

 

[Nithsdale]

Last 5 years paid over 100 for mule tupping lambs, shown average profit of 53.80 on these. Why is this so crazy? Hope im right as waiting to unload another 110

Is that profit the difference in sale price, or actual profit after all costs?

 

[Ysgythan]

Is that profit the difference in sale price, or actual profit after all costs?

Yes, Homes under the Hammer profit or Dragon’s Den profit?

 

[Woolless]

Had the Signet backscan man here today. He's on with the recording Swaledale flocks shortly. Last year one of the Swale men told him that demand was outstripping supply for his mule lambs. They were queuing up for them as they were getting the traditional advantages of the mule backed up by recorded genetics. He records his BFLs too.

I've said it before but I tip my hat to folks recording these most traditional of breeds. I'll bet there is a fair degree of pushback/indifference from the society and most other breeders.

 

[Purli R]

He was big mates with the liddles. “ jb” think it was arn cliff crag , and peels where they filmed the original emmerdale farm , think young peel drove or did for hymass when they packed up ?

Liddles still at amscliff helluva view from up there,mate delivers straw there & to emmerdale farm,which is basically next door to liddles.

 

[Skintagain]

Had the Signet backscan man here today. He's on with the recording Swaledale flocks shortly. Last year one of the Swale men told him that demand was outstripping supply for his mule lambs. They were queuing up for them as they were getting the traditional advantages of the mule backed up by recorded genetics. He records his BFLs too.

I've said it before but I tip my hat to folks recording these most traditional of breeds. I'll bet there is a fair degree of pushback/indifference from the society and most other breeders.

The traditional men will be frightened to death of recording upsetting their apple carts. It would re arrange prices some would win some would lose out

 

[Moors Lad]

I've said it before but I tip my hat to folks recording these most traditional of breeds. I'll bet there is a fair degree of pushback/indifference from the society and most other breeders.

The traditional men will be frightened to death of recording upsetting their apple carts. It would re arrange prices some would win some would lose out

Yes, the chance is there to secure a future for certain breeds , just wish the "top" men would grasp it....

 

[M-J-G]

The traditional men will be frightened to death of recording upsetting their apple carts. It would re arrange prices some would win some would lose out

Just like many who don't test for diseases are terrified to in case their best animals have to be culled.

 

[@dlm]

Is that profit the difference in sale price, or actual profit after all costs?

I admit loose figures, but quoting on profit after main costs. Bizarrely after dad using this system for 60 years the figures taking a 3 year mean average dont differ greatly. Profit on shearling sales from ewe lamb purchases last year leave 50 quid, covers losses, sadly, dont use any feed genuinely, no fert for last few years, but includes reseeds,, bike costs, figures get blurred on insurance, living costs, insurance , as run cattle as well, probably until next year cattle 70% of income, sheep 30%. But generally over those years leaves lamb as profit, so after a year like this year, not too dissapointed to only be paying a few quid more on strong tupping lambs

 

[@dlm]

Is that profit the difference in sale price, or actual profit after all costs?

I admit loose figures, but quoting on profit after main costs. Bizarrely after dad using this system for 60 years the figures taking a 3 year mean average dont differ greatly. Profit on shearling sales from ewe lamb purchases last year leave 50 quid, covers losses, sadly, dont use any feed genuinely, no fert for last few years, but includes reseeds,, bike costs, figures get blurred on insurance, living costs, insurance , as run cattle as well, probably until next year cattle 70% of income, sheep 30%. But generally over those years leaves lamb as profit, so after a year like this year, not too dissapointed to only be paying a few quid more on strong tupping lambs

 

[neilo]

I was interested to read the reports on the Lleyn sales in the Farmers Guardian today. Averages up over £50//hd for shearling ewes apparently.

Taking the principle behind the OP’s report, does that mean those that have tried going back to mules have reverted back to Lleyns? Maybe the Lleyn is ‘supreme’? (Don’t laugh)

 

[Nithsdale]

I was interested to read the reports on the Lleyn sales in the Farmers Guardian today. Averages up over £50//hd for shearling ewes apparently.

Taking the principle behind the OP’s report, does that mean those that have tried going back to mules have reverted back to Lleyns? Maybe the Lleyn is ‘supreme’? (Don’t laugh)

Do you enjoy pissing on campfires

 

[Agrivator]

I'm surprised no one has written a song about the Mule. Can anyone think of a few lines for the first verse?
And to help, there are a number of rhyming words - tool, fool. rule, cool, drool. goole, jewel, wool, yule.........

But it isn't just the Mule that is a wondrous cross. No one has been able to explain why the Border Leicester on a small Welsh Mountain ewe, with terrible conformation, can produce a Welsh Halfbred that can compare to the Scotch Halfbred in terms of size and productivity.

 

[Skintagain]

I'm surprised no one has written a song about the Mule. Can anyone think of a few lines for the first verse?
And to help, there are a number of rhyming words - tool, fool. rule, cool, drool. goole, jewel, wool, yule.........

But it isn't just the Mule that is a wondrous cross. No one has been able to explain why the Border Leicester on a small Welsh Mountain ewe, with terrible conformation, can produce a Welsh Halfbred that can compare to the Scotch Halfbred in terms of size and productivity.

Never change your name @Agrivator

 

[glensman]

I'm surprised no one has written a song about the Mule. Can anyone think of a few lines for the first verse?
And to help, there are a number of rhyming words - tool, fool. rule, cool, drool. goole, jewel, wool, yule.........

But it isn't just the Mule that is a wondrous cross. No one has been able to explain why the Border Leicester on a small Welsh Mountain ewe, with terrible conformation, can produce a Welsh Halfbred that can compare to the Scotch Halfbred in terms of size and productivity.

You forgot cruel

 

[Ysgythan]

And Iaintgoinginnoaeroplaneyoucrazyfool

 

[Anymulewilldo]

And Iaintgoinginnoaeroplaneyoucrazyfool

Fit that in a song about Mules and I'll be very very impressed!!