Pedigree Sheep - Feeding / Show Prep

Blitz

Member
Livestock Farmer
I've recently started my own Pedigree Texel flock. I've attended a couple of shows and notice that my lambs are way behind those at shows. Any advise with regards feeding, supplements etc would be much appreciated.
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
Yes, but they don't anywhere near as bad carrying an extra 20 kgs.
To put it a different way, if theres ever an need ( :() to pull off /assist a correctly presented lamb at birth its because of its shoulder /bone/skull shape structure size of same as narrow poor shape /angle of hips in the ewe .... not like fat or even muscle cover that squeezes out the way at the critcal moment wherea as bone is a solid immovable object (s) .

good example of that shoulder/ skull formation in practical context is the tapered /wedged shaped Charolais Ram.
 

Jrp221

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cornwall
To put it a different way, if theres ever an need ( :() to pull off /assist a correctly presented lamb at birth its because of its shoulder /bone/skull shape structure size of same as narrow poor shape /angle of hips in the ewe .... not like fat or even muscle cover that squeezes out the way at the critcal moment wherea as bone is a solid immovable object (s) .

good example of that shoulder/ skull formation in practical context is the tapered /wedged shaped Charolais Ram.
Isn't that why you use Mule recips or C Secs?
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
no that's because pure Charolais ewes are a good example of the narrow hips part :oops::D:unsure:

Sorry, i really must get back to work now.:whistle:

You were going so well with your 'wedge shaped' post, then you went and spoilt it. :cry:

Of course, you didn't mention which way the wedge should be. The modern way seems to be back to front sometimes. :facepalm:
 

Ysgythan

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ammanford
Still amazes me after contract shearing for over 20 years, the number of poor conditioned tups there are on farms. They definitely didn't look like that when they were brought as you'd be embarrassed to be seen in the same pen as them so they haven't coped well with a commercial regieme.
Or a “let’s put the tup on a shitty little paddock and go and look for him a week before turning him in” regime.

I’m not saying you’re wrong, but there are definitely two sides to this.
 

tepapa

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Wales
Or a “let’s put the tup on a shitty little paddock and go and look for him a week before turning him in” regime.

I’m not saying you’re wrong, but there are definitely two sides to this.
Your right the commercial regieme could well be stick them in the back paddock and forget about them for 11months when they definitely needed looking after better.
 

andybk

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Mendips Somerset
be careful if you want to be in it long term , I sold a 4t ram to someone not over expensive few years back from a hogg left over from year before , he wasnt big but good shaped and sound , well they were so happy with his offspring they went to our prem sale for last few years for better (bigger) ones !,(i bet they spent a fair bit when he told be the v high index signet rams he bought and who from ) guess what , everything they bought crashed and burned (and no its not just the signet ones they are all as bad ) , so i get a call this week want to come and have a early pick from my shearlings , the ram i sold them still alive and his offspring can easily be picked out the flock , wish i could say thats the first time thats happened but its a regular occurance
Thats what matters ,not the biggest cake in the window on one day , you live on your reputation long term !
 
Last edited:

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
be careful if you want to be in it long term , I sold a 4t ram to someone not over expensive few years back a hogg left over from year before , he wasnt big but good shaped and sound , well they were so happy with his offspring they went to our prem sale for last few years for a better one !,(i bet they spent a fair bit when he told be the high index signet rams he bought and who from ) guess what , everything they bought crashed and burned , so i get a call this week want to come and have a early pick from my shearlings , the ram i sold them still alive and his offspring can easily be picked out the flock , wish i could say that the first time thats happened but its a regular occurance
thats what matters ,not the biggest cake in the window on one day , you live on your reputation long term !

Why do you feel the need to try to bash Signet recorded sheep again there? :rolleyes: The issue is feeding them so hard for sale that they melt, which occurs just as much in unrecorded flocks as it does in some of those that record.
 

andybk

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Mendips Somerset
Why do you feel the need to try to bash Signet recorded sheep again there? :rolleyes: The issue is feeding them so hard for sale that they melt, which occurs just as much in unrecorded flocks as it does in some of those that record.
if you read it again i altered it on my post before you posted , the breeders are all the same , i was just pointing out they went all out at the prem and some of the best indexed ,so they wernt cheap leftovers
 

Longlowdog

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
Gentlemen, gentlemen, lets not forget we are talking about showing here which is not about selling the same tups. Shows are sheep on the day hence judges are not given performance figures or anything else which might sway their opinion. Judging is about which of the over fed, bat fastards the judge would reluctantly take home from those gathered if he really had to. I saw a judge move a sheep down 4 places when an exhibitor grabbed his arm during the line walk to try to give him a five minute lecture on why this sheep was clearly the best and how the judge would have to be an idiot not to make it breed champ.
There might be an argument that shows at breed sales should be more commercially focused but even that is overshadowed by the idea that the biggest sums are paid by breeders of the same breed and not by folk wanting a commercial tup. Who has ever paid 30 grand for a commercial tup to cover mules and Shetlands?
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Gentlemen, gentlemen, lets not forget we are talking about showing here which is not about selling the same tups. Shows are sheep on the day hence judges are not given performance figures or anything else which might sway their opinion. Judging is about which of the over fed, bat fastards the judge would reluctantly take home from those gathered if he really had to. I saw a judge move a sheep down 4 places when an exhibitor grabbed his arm during the line walk to try to give him a five minute lecture on why this sheep was clearly the best and how the judge would have to be an idiot not to make it breed champ.
There might be an argument that shows at breed sales should be more commercially focused but even that is overshadowed by the idea that the biggest sums are paid by breeders of the same breed and not by folk wanting a commercial tup. Who has ever paid 30 grand for a commercial tup to cover mules and Shetlands?

Well quite. The OP asked about show prep, not for a lecture on problem that the showring causes.

It's a fierce competition and a good craic.
 

Jrp221

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cornwall
Years ago youngest daughter picked out a cracking ram lamb she wanted to take to a one day, OH said not to take it but she insisted. Judge said the lamb had won the class as soon as it walked in the ring.....until he felt its mouth. Lesson learnt.
 

Longlowdog

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
Like the bull on This Farming Life who turned out to be one stone short of enough. When you get so wrapped up with the 'best (insert animal) I've ever bred' it is a wise move to have someone rather detached have a quick look before you go plunging into the pre-show banter or the sale patter.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 34.6%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top