Running flock of char ewes looking to increase my prolific of flock

[andybk]

Aren't they massive?

We have some Hampshire x Zwartbles (don't ask how!) and however unconventional they may be, they are a fantastic ewe and put back go a Hampshire their lambs are smashing.

They are strong heavy sheep and you learn not to get in their way if they have speed up!

we have medium sized blocky charollais and the zw x is more the charollais size , not one has come rangey, looks just like a black tight coated charollais

 

[neilo]

we have medium sized blocky charollais and the zw x is more the charollais size , not one has come rangey, looks just like a black tight coated charollais

I’m still guessing they will be 80kg+ Mature weight though? Fine for early lambs, where growth rate to catch the early market pays, and a decent cull ewe value to boot, but an 80kg ewe has huge maintenance costs compared to a 60kg one.

Horses for courses, but I’ll stick with lighter maternal ewes, stocked more heavily, put to a high growth rate terminal sire. Output per ha vs output per ewe, with ‘topping the market’ being little more than a vanity project (I am still a little vain too, I admit).

 

[SteveHants]

I’m still guessing they will be 80kg+ Mature weight though? Fine for early lambs, where growth rate to catch the early market pays, and a decent cull ewe value to boot, but an 80kg ewe has huge maintenance costs compared to a 60kg one.

Horses for courses, but I’ll stick with lighter maternal ewes, stocked more heavily, put to a high growth rate terminal sire. Output per ha vs output per ewe, with ‘topping the market’ being little more than a vanity project (I am still a little vain too, I admit).

I did it without really trying - even with my "nutter" ideas of not balling or tailing.....

 

[andybk]

I’m still guessing they will be 80kg+ Mature weight though? Fine for early lambs, where growth rate to catch the early market pays, and a decent cull ewe value to boot, but an 80kg ewe has huge maintenance costs compared to a 60kg one.

Horses for courses, but I’ll stick with lighter maternal ewes, stocked more heavily, put to a high growth rate terminal sire. Output per ha vs output per ewe, with ‘topping the market’ being little more than a vanity project (I am still a little vain too, I admit).

no i wouldnt say that , i used the extreme smaller one of my rams as sire as the zw was big framed , maybe 70kg crossbred ewe weight , its a good cross , but still under evaluation , i wouldnt use my bigger rams though wouldnt finish as well , beltex would be ideal , but i worry about finish as zw is a lean breed on early lambs , going to try a few in dec/ jan next year see how early they will cycle

 

[johnb5555]

Read the reports on here about how bad as mothers, milk and temp, Charolais x are. Still ignored it and have 20 hogs due in a months time, guess i'll find out

 

[Mutch]

If you're in Ireland have you looked at the Belclare - premier maternal sire in Ireland.

 

[z.man]

My take on Charollais , and it is on limited experience to date , is they are better than I expected ,but they have had their mouths full most of the time since they lambed , definitely better than a Suffolk a BFL a Scotch Half Bred a cheviot mule and while not as milky as a texel (lactation length)at least I don’t dread having to assist them to lamb...still don’t intend running hundreds of them but a few seems good to me and I don’t intend to use them as a cross ewe in anyway

 

[glensman]

Read the reports on here about how bad as mothers, milk and temp, Charolais x are. Still ignored it and have 20 hogs due in a months time, guess i'll find out

Oh you'll find out alright..

 

[neilo]

Read the reports on here about how bad as mothers, milk and temp, Charolais x are. Still ignored it and have 20 hogs due in a months time, guess i'll find out

Can you make sure to report back on here please, in about June. If you’re leaving them as singles then they should be fine for milk, as you won’t be challenging them til next year anyway.?

Ime, as a commercial ‘fat lamb’ enterprise, the premium for 3/4 terminal sire lamb# doesn’t come close to making up for the extra work, or the extra feed/maintenance requirement of a bigger ewe.

 

[johnb5555]

Can you make sure to report back on here please, in about June. If you’re leaving them as singles then they should be fine for milk, as you won’t be challenging them til next year anyway.?

Ime, as a commercial ‘fat lamb’ enterprise, the premium for 3/4 terminal sire lamb# doesn’t come close to making up for the extra work, or the extra feed/maintenance requirement of a bigger ewe.

Will do. Was a hasty decision to keep them. Slightly short of numbers and rather than go and buy something else I kept them as they looked nice sheep.
They're char x tex x mule, plus one char x swale, in lamb to a beltex. Had them in Tue, worringly they seem a touch fit with a month to go.

 

[Boso]

Why not use some rouge? At least the rouge we have over here on the continent are milky, maternal, prolific (twins and triplets) have an extremely long breeding season and pretty meaty as well.
Rouge x tex or rouge x charollais is pretty popular. Processor also likes them.

Have used a lacaune ram to get more milk in some of my shedders. Has worked very well.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Why not use some rouge? At least the rouge we have over here on the continent are milky, maternal, prolific (twins and triplets) have an extremely long breeding season and pretty meaty as well.
Rouge x tex or rouge x charollais is pretty popular. Processor also likes them.

Have used a lacaune ram to get more milk in some of my shedders. Has worked very well.

I've bitten the bullet after years of threats and bought 2 Rouge shearlings last year. Ran them over my cheviot mule shearlings (all lambed as hoggs) scanned at 187%, full winter away on dairy grass. Been lambing about 10 days now and so far I'm very impressed. F**k ugly to look at but real stretchy smart shaped lambs. Slipping out nice and easy. Roll on July and well see how they do!

 

[idgni]

Aren't they massive?

We have some Hampshire x Zwartbles (don't ask how!) and however unconventional they may be, they are a fantastic ewe and put back go a Hampshire their lambs are smashing.

They are strong heavy sheep and you learn not to get in their way if they have speed up!

Zwartable x char , 3rd crop
Twin, trip , trip.
Lambs 10 days old in this picture .