Native breeds

[Sacha]

I have the chance to take on a smallish acreage (under 50 acres) and want to explore the option of developing a native and possibly rare breed flock rather than purely commercial

However whichever breed I end up investing in, needs to have a reasonable market for the carcass and not be a purely show animal. Looking for something that will finish off grass (dont mind if it is a bit slower to do so) and is hardy enough.

Land is permanent pasture but in good condition and South Devon so dont need hill breed hardiness. I have one friend trying to really convince me to look at dartmoors as he feels there is demand for their mutton.

I know lots of people on here have their breed preferences but any options or thoughts would be great thank you.

 

[Old Tip]

If I were you I would visit a few of the local restaurants and see what they would like you to produce. The good ones like to have something unique on the menu and if it's locally produced with high welfare and slowly grown all the better. We supply a couple of restaurants with pork, beef, mutton and lamb, all from rare native breeds and they can't get enough of it. If they wil take the whole carcass then even better.
Once you've found a possible market then choose your breed, no good doing it the other way round and finding you have lots to sell with no outlet but the mart where you will get hammered for something out of the ordinary. On fifty acres you could keep a fare range of stock, if you just want sheep them I would advise getting some summer grazing cattle in so you can use up the excess grass and the cattle will fertilise the land for you.

 

[It was already broken.]

Rare breeds are rare for a reason.

 

[hendrebc]

But if you can find and market a niche it will work. I saw a farm. In welsh kids tv one morning that had a 100odd head of jacob sheep. They did really well selling meat, wool products and especually skulls and skins

 

[Danllan]

Easycare is a native breed, so is Exlana; either will give you less trouble and, taking all factors into consideration, probably more margin than other breeds.

 

[hendrebc]

Easycare is a native breed, so is Exlana; either will give you less trouble and, taking all factors into consideration, probably more margin than other breeds.

Most breeds are native. They dont call britain the stockyard of the world for no reason

 

[Old Tip]

Just sold this lad to a fellow member, he's got me some great gimmers and I am glad he's gone to a good home. Bought him out of Dingwall and came from a farm up the Strathcarron valley near Bonar Bridge. In fact out of my last eight Tips purchased five have come from that valley, good hard sheep

This is one of his lambs out of a set of twins if you look closely you can just see the other lamb at the back of the ewe

 

[JP1]

I knew I'd missed a fab Riggit Galloway Summer Jamboree this year but looks like I've also missed out on a Dumfries and Galloway Summer too!

 

[Old Tip]

Aye, its been damp up here @JP! plenty of grass but not a lot of fodder got on a lot of farms, needing a couple of weeks of decent weather to dry things up and get some crop

 

[Treg]

Just sold this lad to a fellow member, he's got me some great gimmers and I am glad he's gone to a good home. Bought him out of Dingwall and came from a farm up the Strathcarron valley near Bonar Bridge. In fact out of my last eight Tips purchased five have come from that valley, good hard sheep

View attachment 564824

This is one of his lambs out of a set of twins if you look closely you can just see the other lamb at the back of the ewe
View attachment 564826

Love the way that Lamb is posing for the camera What breed is it? (Sorry haven't a clue about sheep breeds)

 

[Treg]

I knew I'd missed a fab Riggit Galloway Summer Jamboree this year but looks like I've also missed out on a Dumfries and Galloway Summer too!

View attachment 566242 View attachment 566244 View attachment 566246 View attachment 566248 View attachment 566250 View attachment 566252 View attachment 566254 View attachment 566256 View attachment 566258 View attachment 566260

Those Riggit Galloways look fantastic
In the photo of mixed breeds what are the other breeds? Looks like there mite be a few White parks + a Blue ? (Albion).

 

[Danllan]

...This is one of his lambs out of a set of twins if you look closely you can just see the other lamb at the back of the ewe
View attachment 564826

Is this a 'spot the lamb' pic? I lose because I really can't see the second one...

 

[Henarar]

I have the chance to take on a smallish acreage (under 50 acres) and want to explore the option of developing a native and possibly rare breed flock rather than purely commercial

However whichever breed I end up investing in, needs to have a reasonable market for the carcass and not be a purely show animal. Looking for something that will finish off grass (dont mind if it is a bit slower to do so) and is hardy enough.

Land is permanent pasture but in good condition and South Devon so dont need hill breed hardiness. I have one friend trying to really convince me to look at dartmoors as he feels there is demand for their mutton.

I know lots of people on here have their breed preferences but any options or thoughts would be great thank you.

just as well go local as well as native so one of the Devon breeds ?

 

[AGN76]

Are Blue Albion still going? Or can you just recreate them like a Blue grey?
@JP1 ?

 

[JP1]

Are Blue Albion still going? Or can you just recreate them like a Blue grey?
@JP1 ?

I suppose you could recreate a colour similar using other breeds however I know James ( @NewlandFarm ) and Colin Nankervis in West Cornwall has them

 

[JP1]

Those Riggit Galloways look fantastic
In the photo of mixed breeds what are the other breeds? Looks like there mite be a few White parks + a Blue ? (Albion).

Riggit Galloways and White Galloways. Some of the White Galloways carry a black spotting that can give a grey or blue hue. They tend to get more accentuated as the cow ages

 

[Anonymous...]

Few more girls arrived yesterday, will be turning them out on our hill to join the roan Galloways on Sunday

 

[Skirza NCC]

Love the way that Lamb is posing for the camera What breed is it? (Sorry haven't a clue about sheep breeds)

North Country Cheviot, great sheep that can be crossed with any breed.

 

[JP1]

Few more girls arrived yesterday, will be turning them out on our hill to join the roan Galloways on Sunday View attachment 567260View attachment 567262

Roan Galloways? Nice heifers btw

 

[Old Tip]

Roan Galloways? Nice heifers btw

New one on me Roan, have you got photos or is it a misprint @montydog