Nz beltex

[Global ovine]

they went as part of last years export of embryos and semen along with others , im pretty sure you know who .

Yeah, thanks. The NZ ram market is very sensitive to understanding the financial effect of functionality as well as progressing productivity, so lets see how acceptable such sheep are in market place. It seems ironical that NZ Texels are going for length, easier birth and growth while this Charollais breeder (and now a Beltex breeder) is looking for blockiness.

There would be far more future in NZ for very low maintenance maternal breeds such as the smaller Welsh Mountain and Shetland which are capable of rearing good lambs on rough pastures when mated to a wedge shaped Suffolk, Suftex or Texel.

 

[andybk]

Yeah, thanks. The NZ ram market is very sensitive to understanding the financial effect of functionality as well as progressing productivity, so lets see how acceptable such sheep are in market place. It seems ironical that NZ Texels are going for length, easier birth and growth while this Charollais breeder (and now a Beltex breeder) is looking for blockiness.

There would be far more future in NZ for very low maintenance maternal breeds such as the smaller Welsh Mountain and Shetland which are capable of rearing good lambs on rough pastures when mated to a wedge shaped Suffolk, Suftex or Texel.

blocky doesnt have to mean short , but shape ,(shorter legs maybe ) , med frame , small head shoulder , good growth to 40kg , mature weight around 120kg . functional , rear their own lambs same as commercial ewes on PP.

 

[hendrebc]

Yeah, thanks. The NZ ram market is very sensitive to understanding the financial effect of functionality as well as progressing productivity, so lets see how acceptable such sheep are in market place. It seems ironical that NZ Texels are going for length, easier birth and growth while this Charollais breeder (and now a Beltex breeder) is looking for blockiness.

There would be far more future in NZ for very low maintenance maternal breeds such as the smaller Welsh Mountain and Shetland which are capable of rearing good lambs on rough pastures when mated to a wedge shaped Suffolk, Suftex or Texel.

Welsh mountains not as easy to keep as you would think!! Some are exellent but there has been a lot of breeding for pretty sheep that isnt doing them any good! Lambing 2016 i had 110 welsh cross lambs out of my lleyns after my neighbour missed a ram lamb at weaning and it was roaming around the area serving everything it could get hold of. Was thinking at least they would be easy to lamb... they were kind of a dissapointment there. Born easily but thats when the good stopped. Slow and dopey and didnt want to follow their mothers or suck. Noticably worse than pure lleyns or my NZ texel crosses. I thought it was me just being unlucky but after speaking to others its not that uncommon. Approach welsh mountains with caution there are good ones but plenty of just pretty ones too.

 

[NZDan]

Yeah, thanks. The NZ ram market is very sensitive to understanding the financial effect of functionality as well as progressing productivity, so lets see how acceptable such sheep are in market place. It seems ironical that NZ Texels are going for length, easier birth and growth while this Charollais breeder (and now a Beltex breeder) is looking for blockiness.

There would be far more future in NZ for very low maintenance maternal breeds such as the smaller Welsh Mountain and Shetland which are capable of rearing good lambs on rough pastures when mated to a wedge shaped Suffolk, Suftex or Texel.

I'd be all over Shetlands like a fat kid on a cupcake if they were available here in NZ.

 

[andybk]

I'd be all over Shetlands like a fat kid on a cupcake if they were available here in NZ.

you try keeping them behind a fence , borrowed some ewes once got out a 6" gap between gate and wall ,then over a standard fence with barb on top , nightmare sheep to keep in

 

[NZDan]

you try keeping them behind a fence , borrowed some ewes once got out a 6" gap between gate and wall ,then over a standard fence with barb on top , nightmare sheep to keep in

Bit like my current ewes then. I can keep them in behind three hot poly wires but nothing else, even got some who will batter there way through netting fences.

 

[MJT]

I'd be all over Shetlands like a fat kid on a cupcake if they were available here in NZ.

Rate the Shetland very highly as a ewe, producing seriously above her own weight in lambs , texel x shetlands ewes also some of the toughest most maternal ewes I've experienced.

 

[NZDan]

Rate the Shetland very highly as a ewe, producing seriously above her own weight in lambs , texel x shetlands ewes also some of the toughest most maternal ewes I've experienced.

I'd agree with you there, My only concern is what to do with the pure shetland wethers

 

[Mr always wrong]

I'd be all over Shetlands like a fat kid on a cupcake if they were available here in NZ.

Sure I shouldn't be admitting this in public but lambed Shetland x a while ago and loved them so picked up some very cheap ewes last backend and tupped them to inverdale texel, ewe lambs look promising

 

[scholland]

I'd agree with you there, My only concern is what to do with the pure shetland wethers

Eat them!

 

[scholland]

Nice to see the Shetland breed being discussed so positively! It is a good breed but like so many others there are improvements to be made. A real commercial focus with a focus on some improvements could really help.
The real hill to hardly ever see a human remain much the same but many of the inby ewes have been focused to much on tail size and woolly heads imho.
Still plenty good sheep but always work to be done.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Nice to see the Shetland breed being discussed so positively! It is a good breed but like so many others there are improvements to be made. A real commercial focus with a focus on some improvements could really help.
The real hill to hardly ever see a human remain much the same but many of the inby ewes have been focused to much on tail size and woolly heads imho.
Still plenty good sheep but always work to be done.

If had sufficient stock fenced fields they would be my sheep of choice.

ROI on Shetland draft ewes seems astronomically!

 

[unlacedgecko]

you try keeping them behind a fence , borrowed some ewes once got out a 6" gap between gate and wall ,then over a standard fence with barb on top , nightmare sheep to keep in

I've heard they're absolute twits to try and work with a dog as well...

 

[andybk]

I've heard they're absolute twits to try and work with a dog as well...

try shearing the kin things as well , my old mate has 20 and he crossed them with those tiny orchard sheep, what a pain , i know they do a job cheap , but i dont want phone calls all weekend , work life balance and all that

 

[unlacedgecko]

try shearing the kin things as well , my old mate has 20 and he crossed them with those tiny orchard sheep, what a pain , i know they do a job cheap , but i dont want phone calls all weekend , work life balance and all that

The last time I bought cheap cheap sheep they were Soays. They all went to the renderer after 7 months...

 

[S J H]

If had sufficient stock fenced fields they would be my sheep of choice.

ROI on Shetland draft ewes seems astronomically!

What numbers are we talking @unlacedgecko ?

 

[NZDan]

Eat them!

Aye but how long to get them to a marketable weight?

 

[scholland]

Aye but how long to get them to a marketable weight?

Plenty of the best of them are slaughtered at 6 to 8 months ,won't be huge carcase but don't cost much to grow. Low teen carcase kg for one kept on better ground I guess.
We eat them at 18 month old, buy in a few off real hard hill (real little ones) which is black heather and stones, and put them on a good hill with lots of coastal grass for a year.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Plenty of the best of them are slaughtered at 6 to 8 months ,won't be huge carcase but don't cost much to grow. Low teen carcase kg for one kept on better ground I guess.
We eat them at 18 month old, buy in a few off real hard hill (real little ones) which is black heather and stones, and put them on a good hill with lots of coastal grass for a year.

Where's the best place to buy Shetland draft ewes?

How do they react to a dog?

 

[shearerlad]

Where's the best place to buy Shetland draft ewes?

How do they react to a dog?

Shetland???