Poll Dorset cross Berrichon Ewes

[Jerry]

Toying with the idea of a slightly earlier lambing flock to run beside my current Lleyn flock.

I don't want pure polls, been there done that, don't want to repeat the experience. So a first cross ewe that retains early lambing traits.

Seen some of the above and they look useful ewes, anyone any direct experience?

Lamb after Christmas, prob inside but outside if weather is fair.

Crossed to a terminal sire, maybe textless or Suffolk.

 

[banjo]

Toying with the idea of a slightly earlier lambing flock to run beside my current Lleyn flock.

I don't want pure polls, been there done that, don't want to repeat the experience. So a first cross ewe that retains early lambing traits.

Seen some of the above and they look useful ewes, anyone any direct experience?

Lamb after Christmas, prob inside but outside if weather is fair.

Crossed to a terminal sire, maybe textless or Suffolk.

We breed a good poll Dorset tup with some good Welsh ewes and the next generation after that has been brill. They will lamb early if you want them too and have been realy plaased with all the sheep.
My misses wanted a Dorset to start with and that ewe performed so good. I bought a couple of tups then I started cross breeding with what I had already.
Can't fault em. There seemed to be a bit of texel in the tups and the lambs were better than expected, I'm even thinking of just running poll dorsetts, nothing else.

 

[MJT]

Don't want to start a load of breed bashing but majority of sheep breeds would be a better choice than berrichons from personal experience . They do look the part but they don't act it .

 

[liammogs]

Don't want to start a load of breed bashing but majority of sheep breeds would be a better choice than berrichons from personal experience . They do look the part but they don't act it .

+1 after working with berrichons!! Not my cup pf tea, and tbh i dont think the look the part either! I cant see where they fit in tbh

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Neighbour down the village used polled Dorset x mule - gets on well but is farming some lovely ground.

 

[neilo]

@Jerry , I have a Bateman turnover crate I would sell if you go down that road. Ideal for trimming feet....

 

[Bury the Trash]

maybe textless

that's what i keep telling the youngsters.....

 

[Jerry]

Well that's put a kibosh on that idea then.......nothing to see here, move along!

 

[CopperBeech]

If I was going for a real early lambing flock id probably get some dorset ewes, tup them with a good charmoise ram and keep the replacements.

We lambed some charmoise outside in Jan this year.

 

[spin cycle]

Well that's put a kibosh on that idea then.......nothing to see here, move along!

know that feeling

 

[Al R]

Anyone else read that article about the big flock in America that were lambing every 8 months i think it was? But with 3 bunches they basically lambed all year?
I'd be tempted on some dorsets if we go down with TB in cattle for educational purposes to lamb in September/October.

Surely they can't be that bad? Any other breeds breed out of season?
@banjo thats good going getting welsh to lamb before mid march! Is it a good cross?

 

[MJT]

Anyone else read that article about the big flock in America that were lambing every 8 months i think it was? But with 3 bunches they basically lambed all year?
I'd be tempted on some dorsets if we go down with TB in cattle for educational purposes to lamb in September/October.

Surely they can't be that bad? Any other breeds breed out of season?
@banjo thats good going getting welsh to lamb before mid march! Is it a good cross?

It's not the dorsets that are the problem it's the berrichons that were suggested to cross them with ! Dorset x texel mule or similar would be a good ewe .

 

[polk_farmer]

Could you not put a Dorset on your Lleyns? I think if we went back to early lambing we would probably go for this cross. If you can source a ram with good feet you should get a good milky, maternal ewe. And the Lleyn should bring the mature weight down abit. We have some Dorset mules left and some of them are absolute lickers

 

[Jerry]

Could you not put a Dorset on your Lleyns? I think if we went back to early lambing we would probably go for this cross. If you can source a ram with good feet you should get a good milky, maternal ewe. And the Lleyn should bring the mature weight down abit. We have some Dorset mules left and some of them are absolute lickers

I did wonder about that but never seen such a cross in the flesh......

I do like the look of Poll X Texel, seen a few and they are fair ewes, on the large side though.

 

[polk_farmer]

I did wonder about that but never seen such a cross in the flesh......

I do like the look of Poll X Texel, seen a few and they are fair ewes, on the large side though.

I've never seen one either, even for lambing abit later, i think to myself at lambing it would be a good cross. Dorsets are great mother's and generally milk like pumps. But they are just so cantankerous, they would rather have a scrap with the dog than run, and as for shearing, the less said the better...

Their feet don't cope too well with our wet ground either

 

[Ysgythan]

Toying with the idea of a slightly earlier lambing flock to run beside my current Lleyn flock.

I don't want pure polls, been there done that, don't want to repeat the experience. So a first cross ewe that retains early lambing traits.

Seen some of the above and they look useful ewes, anyone any direct experience?

Lamb after Christmas, prob inside but outside if weather is fair.

Crossed to a terminal sire, maybe textless or Suffolk.

Aren't Ile De France out of season breeders?

 

[banjo]

Anyone else read that article about the big flock in America that were lambing every 8 months i think it was? But with 3 bunches they basically lambed all year?
I'd be tempted on some dorsets if we go down with TB in cattle for educational purposes to lamb in September/October.

Surely they can't be that bad? Any other breeds breed out of season?
@banjo thats good going getting welsh to lamb before mid march! Is it a good cross?

Yes they are a good cross, lovely lambs with plenty of weight and many of the ewe hoggs I've kept on have been exelent mothers.
I can't complain about them at all.
I've been thinking of lambing them early before Xmas myself as they throw lambs out if you arnt careful with the tups and I have around 30 that were born just after Xmas after a tup broke too them.
Don't worry about the dorsett side of the cross

 

[shearerlad]

@polk_farmer I quite like shearing Poll Dorests. They are what you would call "challenging"

 

[neilo]

I've never really understood the popularity of Dorsets, just to infer early lambing. They have too many downsides imo, and the lambs are penalised in the marts (where early lamb trade is set).
I always thought it better to run a Suffolk X ewe and use sponges for a few quid a ewe if you want to go into December, or use teasers for Jan lambing. Tup with a high index Charollais to get cracking lambs, with top growth rates coming from sire & dam. Lambs would be several kilos ahead of Dorset crosses and several p/kg in front as well.

There's a very good reason why that cross is so popular with early lambers.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I've never really understood the popularity of Dorsets, just to infer early lambing. They have too many downsides imo, and the lambs are penalised in the marts (where early lamb trade is set).
I always thought it better to run a Suffolk X ewe and use sponges for a few quid a ewe if you want to go into December, or use teasers for Jan lambing. Tup with a high index Charollais to get cracking lambs, with top growth rates coming from sire & dam. Lambs would be several kilos ahead of Dorset crosses and several p/kg in front as well.

Wow, Mr O advocating Suffolk blood!