Native breeds photographs

[Woolless]

i have often wondered if you take into consideration the extra weight and the lack of longevity the lameness issues the lack of value of the cull cow and the calf how Holsteins stand against trad breeds if they weigh half as much again they will need that much more to maintain their body weight is their popularity fueled by ego so the farmer can boast he gets so much more per cow

As a vet in a cull plant 2004-2007, I saw the fallout out of breeding for excessive yields and it wasn't pretty. I came to the same conclusion as you, more to the bottom line than just litres in the tank.

 

[borderterribles]

Depends on what you call economically viable pieces of eight?
I milk a small herd of dairy shorthorns, all are 100% pure by society standards and a growing number are original population.
They produce milk of grass ,baled silage and some cake. Cows are never foot trimmed and produce a calf that is very marketable either beef cross or pure dairy
Cull cows have a good value after a lot longer life than average
Our industry needs to wake up to these points as its becoming less acceptable to treat calves as a waste product, cull before they've completed many lactations and lameness is a big issue when cows cross a road the people waiting don't remember the first to cross they remember the lame ones hobbling across last.
Fashion changes what some people farm , not always for the best
Rant over

You mention the lame ones hobbling along last. Well a while back, No1 daughter and I were held up by the cows of someone who I would say is. fairly well regarded as a farmer, locally. Says I to her" you count the cows and I'll count the lame ones " Out of 240 cows, 80 had some degree of lameness . Absolutely unacceptable.

 

[Macsky]

Trip out to the St Kilda archipelago today:

Sheep on Boreray, they have been untouched by human hands for over 90 years since they were abandoned there when the island population was evacuated in 1930.

Soay sheep on Hirta (main island) that are not managed at all either, although they are caught and tagged and blood/tissue sampled for research from time to time.

 

[Woolless]

Trip out to the St Kilda archipelago today:
View attachment 977158
Sheep on Boreray, they have been untouched by human hands for over 90 years since they were abandoned there when the island population was evacuated in 1930.

View attachment 977159
Soay sheep on Hirta (main island) that are not managed at all either, although they are caught and tagged and blood/tissue sampled for research from time to time.

Decent pair of twins there! Nicer day there than it was here

 

[Macsky]

Decent pair of twins there! Nicer day there than it was here ☹

Bit of a swell in the sea from the north on the way out tho

 

[Cowgirl]

Trip out to the St Kilda archipelago today:
View attachment 977158
Sheep on Boreray, they have been untouched by human hands for over 90 years since they were abandoned there when the island population was evacuated in 1930.

View attachment 977159
Soay sheep on Hirta (main island) that are not managed at all either, although they are caught and tagged and blood/tissue sampled for research from time to time.

Our daughter has been involved with the Soay sheep project on Hirta for her intercalated degree B.VetSci project this year, all about their intestinal parasites. They are never wormed of course. Fascinating.

 

[Cowmansam]

Trip out to the St Kilda archipelago today:
View attachment 977158
Sheep on Boreray, they have been untouched by human hands for over 90 years since they were abandoned there when the island population was evacuated in 1930.

View attachment 977159
Soay sheep on Hirta (main island) that are not managed at all either, although they are caught and tagged and blood/tissue sampled for research from time to time.

We used to keep soays there like the original easy care never had one lame sick fly’s anything shed there wool if they didn’t take 2 years old to be big enough to eat id still have them sold my last through Drayton market as I’d filled 3 chest freezers with the rest and didn’t have any room sold for 2 quid for the ram and 1 pound each for the ewes

 

[Cowmansam]

Even bred to Suffolk’s they take 2 years

 

[Cowmansam]

And even down to 3/4 Suffolk they all still shed and look like a slightly larger pale soay must have some very strong genes

 

[Macsky]

What was quite interesting was a Soay lamb born this year on Hirta with typical zwartble markings, all black with a white stripe down its face, four white socks and a white tip to its tail! None of them there have seen anything like it, we noticed it from the boat on the way in from a good distance out, literally stuck out a mile away genetics are a fascinating thing!

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Little bit of excitement today at Smith Towers. Hampshires in the house!!

Whilst sorting out our two boys they managed to give us the slip and escape from the shed. No matter, they can only go into the garden. Lots of shrieking soon told us the veranda door must be open. Geoff and Showman had decided to check out the accommodation. Not content with the look of the veranda, Showman had a look in the downstairs loo.
Had to get my lad to shove him out whilst I blocked the hallway. We certainly didn’t want him in the front room or kitchen!

No real damage done except for the fact Mrs COP was painting in the veranda, up cycling a book case in white paint, which now has a hint of ram shite green and lots of bits of hay stuck to it.

 

[Cowmansam]

Some belly on him is he bloated or just a big lad

 

[Cab-over Pete]

He’s big, make no mistake! Glenafron The Greatest Showman, Royal Welsh winner a few years ago. Smashing lad he is.

 

[Cowmansam]

Certainly a powerful lad

 

[Cab-over Pete]

He is, sold to a local flock. We’ve recently taken the decision to sell our Hampshire flock. All the best girls went to one farm where they’ll be looked after by a keen young bloke.
Showman is going to a commercial flock and Geoff will be here until autumn. He’s as old as the hills and struggled last winter with his joints. I don’t want to put him through that again so that will be a sad day when the truck comes for him. He’s the first ram I bought 7 years ago and has thrown us some cracking lambs.
But more that that he’s been a real character, important in a hobby flock. We’re good mates me and Geoff. I’ll be sad making that call.

 

[Cowmansam]

It’s always a shame when one you get one with goes but better to go when there fit than keep it to long as you like it when there struggling see it to often with horses in particular selfish on the owners part

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Yes, I agree. I want to do the best for him so know I’ll have to make that call.

He won’t be going to market or any abattoir. The truck will arrive and he’ll be sorted in seconds. No way is he going to be miserable at the end.

 

[Woolless]

Yes, I agree. I want to do the best for him so know I’ll have to make that call.

He won’t be going to market or any abattoir. The truck will arrive and he’ll be sorted in seconds. No way is he going to be miserable at the end.

I've an old Hampshire lad that's done me well, lost weight over winter and never regained it. Struggling to get him well enough to go to mart. Think I'll be making a similar call. His mate is fit but never come sound after having a bad foot. I think his knee has been affected

 

[Cab-over Pete]

It’s Geoff’s shoulder that bothers him the most. There’s quite a lump appeared on it this spring, like arthritis. He gets about fine in the warm weather but once it’s cold he struggles.

 

[Bowland Bob]

Bull and heifers on the move.