Sheep breeds why?

[hill shepherd]

Let's just keep it simple
Swaledale
Scottish blackface
Dalesbred
Rough fell
BFL
Texel
No need for anything else

 

[Hilly]

Thinking about Neilo's post on another thread where he was describing his experience with Exlanas. Why do some people swear by some breeds and others swear at them.

Is it different farms, systems, etc enough to explain it?

For example I read a lot of positives about Lleyns and bought 50 from different sources. I wouldn't have another one on the place.

I tried some Suffolk mules and was very pleased whereas others don't like them at all. We now lamb quite a few beltex/Texels and they've not been anything like the bother people predicted.

Have others had similar experiences

Land quality , location , preference .

 

[Ysgythan]

Hybrid vigour is actually called heterosis. The theory is that when populations get inbred, you get genetic depression. This alleviated by outcrossing to another breed. This is not always the case however, and can sometimes cause genetic depression to worsen. It doesn't just become a better animal than its parent because its a x.

that’s why the Welsh Mule works, you can’t have two more inbreed breeds than a Beulah and a BFL. The Texel just tones it down a bit.

 

[Ysgythan]

I get that and presumably that's why selecting which breeds when crossed give a genetic advantage is the key.

In my slightly tongue in cheek earlier post I was saying that if you have 3 or even 4 breeds in the mix, so long as they knit together well, will you not get an even greater genetic advantage and certainly better than a purebred

It’s about breeding true. If you have a good strain and line breed it you will get consistent but smaller sheep generation by generation. Cross breeding gives you the vigour lost, but you sacrifice predictability. That’s why high EBV stock tups have big figures, but you never see them.

 

[gatepost]

There will be a lot of variables. But what fascinated me about Neilos situation. Is all of the stock were bought from the same recorded source by him and a fair number of others on here and that I know elsewhere. Neilo had an almost 100% terrible experience but appears to have been the only person I’ve ever met or spoken to, to have had that same negative experience. It genuinely intrigued me. Especially when it comes to maternal ability, as this is something that should rise above a lot of management issues etc.

Ordinarily you can clam that there is often more variation within than between breeds, and that some stock suits certain farms, systems or people.

Well I've tried lllleynns four times over the years, based on ''I must be missing something'' tried blood from 2 big flocks on my doorstep, last time from out in the Sea but always the same, not for me, as per @neilo I like sheep that can count, and don't want to kill me at the same time. The second time, I can remember wandering around a 20 acre field reuniting off spring that just would not stay with their non lleyn dams asking myself 'what the feck do people see in these?, Cluns wouldn't let the most hateful ma out of their sight, every one to their own, I only say this as I thought I was the only one to be less than enthusiastic.

 

[LTH]

No no......

Exlana
Romney
Cheviot
Welshie
Texel
Charolais

I will let you swop blackie for the Cheviot or welshie if you ask nicely ........

You are also allowed to x the above breeds if you like.

I didn’t think it was going to be that bad

 

[LTH]

BFL
Swaledale
Blackie
Texel
Cheviot
Suffolk
And in that order .

 

[Al R]

No no......

Exlana
Romney
Cheviot
Welshie
Texel
Charolais

I will let you swop blackie for the Cheviot or welshie if you ask nicely ........

You are also allowed to x the above breeds if you like.

I don’t get paid enough to deal with Cheviots all day! Got 20 here that came with a bunch of others I bought, they are nuts! A Welsh will dip it’s head to look for a gap and then run, the Cheviots don’t look they just purely charge into you

 

[LTH]

All these Leicester and swale bashers but the majority of sheep in this country carry those genetics through to the fat lambs out the mule. Most common sheep for a reason wouldn’t have out else, room for improvement but still the best.

 

[hill shepherd]

BFL
Swaledale
Blackie
Texel
Cheviot
Suffolk
And in that order .

You might just have got it about right

 

[Anymulewilldo]

You might just have got it about right

Can you not find me something better than a Suffolk though?!

 

[hill shepherd]

Can you not find me something better than a Suffolk though?!

Just forget the Suffolk, we'll stick with 5

 

[neilo]

That’s true but I’m still right

Not in my book.

 

[LTH]

Can you not find me something better than a Suffolk though?!

Alright beltex? Suffolk ideal sire for the early lambers for early finishing, but they can’t hang around.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Just forget the Suffolk, we'll stick with 5

Fair enough!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Alright beltex? Suffolk ideal sire for the early lambers for early finishing, but they can’t hang around.

Go on then. I’ll accept Beltex. I could cross it with the texel and get a good terminal sire I suppose...

 

[LTH]

Go on then. I’ll accept Beltex. I could cross it with the texel and get a good terminal sire I suppose...

Well what other one is there, get a nicer gimmer from pure texel, Charolais are out of fashion these days when you go to a tup sale are they not

 

[Ysgythan]

Go on then. I’ll accept Beltex. I could cross it with the texel and get a good terminal sire I suppose...

the Beltex is a strain of Texel of course. The alternative to a Suffolk is a Charolais or Hampshire.

 

[Pigken]

Texel
Suffolk
Talybont Welsh
North England Blackface
Blue Faced Leicester

Which blue faced Leicester we talking about, traditional blue, or slightly less blue or crossing blue that is not quite traditional.

 

[Al R]

Which blue faced Leicester we talking about, traditional blue, or slightly less blue or crossing blue that is not quite traditional.

I’m not sure that there are any pedigree BFL’s that would kill out as U/R’s? My BFL arnt pedigree but they are bred pure but had a hind of something else in a few generations ago.