Pedigree suffolk

[callum]

Looking for people's thoughts.
I have ten pedigree suffolk ewes. Yes, I know, I need my head looked at [emoji23] been steadily building up numbers over the past 3 years. I have the chance of some more ground, but the numbers I have, won't manage the grass properly. I'm in the market this year for a new tup and I've been toying with the idea of gettin a border Leicester [emoji848] reason being that they might lamb slightly better [emoji848][emoji23] and I would keep the females to build up my numbers. Plus a 1 year old son, so money isn't there any more to be chasing high priced sheep. Question is, do suffolk x border make a good ewe? And does any 1 have any photos. Thanks.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Very large ewe.

Something like a Llyen would give you a more sensible replacement ewe & a very easy year for you & your Suffolk ewes.

Or Beltex for some fancy fat lambs

Or sell the Suffolks & buy mules or similar.

 

[rusco]

I cant say how the Border would cross on pedigree Suffolk's but we've used the Bluefaced Leicester on pedigree Suffolk ewe lambs with excellent results. The lambs have been easily born and quick to their feet and seem to thrive and grow quickly. I've no photos of the lambs from this cross but they are sharp headed and smart

 

[Man_in_black]

They'll be big hungry donkeys. Some much better alternatives out there IMO.

 

[callum]

They'll be big hungry donkeys. Some much better alternatives out there IMO.

That's exactly what I'm not looking for [emoji23] there's enough donkey work without adding more.

 

[M-J-G]

Borders are one of the most out of date sheep breeds IMO

 

[Katarina]

We put a Charolaise x Beltex Ram on our Pure Suffolk ewes two years ago and they threw some belters. Was very impressed with how the lambs were sharp and did well, I'll hopefully be selling the tups out of them this autumn .

 

[Swaley]

Why not buy some mule gimmer lambs or gimmer shearlings and keep the Suffolks and breed your own suffolk tups for home use, then creep all the Suffolk x mule lambs and sell them fat be easier then keeping your own cross replacements.

 

[neilo]

Looking for people's thoughts.
I have ten pedigree suffolk ewes. Yes, I know, I need my head looked at [emoji23] been steadily building up numbers over the past 3 years. I have the chance of some more ground, but the numbers I have, won't manage the grass properly. I'm in the market this year for a new tup and I've been toying with the idea of gettin a border Leicester [emoji848] reason being that they might lamb slightly better [emoji848][emoji23] and I would keep the females to build up my numbers. Plus a 1 year old son, so money isn't there any more to be chasing high priced sheep. Question is, do suffolk x border make a good ewe? And does any 1 have any photos. Thanks.

If you’re after an easier life, why not just sell the Suffolk’s at good money and replace them with something more suitable to your aims?

You could sell them with lambs at foot now and replace with mule hoggs & lambs.

 

[callum]

Why not buy some mule gimmer lambs or gimmer shearlings and keep the Suffolks and breed your own suffolk tups for home use, then creep all the Suffolk x mule lambs and sell them fat be easier then keeping your own cross replacements.

I think this is the path I'm goin to go down. I pass a farm on way to work and they have mules with suffolk lambs and the mulexsuffolk ewes with texel lambs at foot. They look decent lambs and have read that the mulexsuffolk make decent mothers aswell.

 

[neilo]

I think this is the path I'm goin to go down. I pass a farm on way to work and they have mules with suffolk lambs and the mulexsuffolk ewes with texel lambs at foot. They look decent lambs and have read that the mulexsuffolk make decent mothers aswell.

Have a read here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/what-breed-for-outdoor-lambing.343099/

It’s not an uncommon experience.

 

[callum]

If you’re after an easier life, why not just sell the Suffolk’s at good money and replace them with something more suitable to your aims?

You could sell them with lambs at foot now and replace with mule hoggs & lambs.

Ive come this far neilo building from scratch. I don't want to give up just because they're a bit harder work. I might kick myself in a few years, but I'm willing to keep goin with the Suffolks. If your not winning your learning, and I've learnt alot, which I'm grateful for. Thought I could breed my own replacements, to get numbers up but I think buying mules in would be the way ahead.

 

[Sheepfog]

Have a read here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/what-breed-for-outdoor-lambing.343099/

It’s not an uncommon experience.

It's not an uncommon experience for people buying heavy boned/big headed Suffolks or their cross bred ewe lambs. Why anyone would choose to buy a Suffolk ram or Suffolk cross female bred that way is beyond me.

Fortunately there are some more commercially minded Suffolk breeders producing rams with excellent lamb vigour and good maternal ability while retaining the excellent growth rates the breed has always had.