Sheep breeds

[millen87]

Hi everyone thinking of changing things around a little this year atm im running 100 ewes mostly suffolk/texel cross lambing from mid January scanning in 167% or there abouts have 44 acres plus winter grazing available near by. Considering selling my own ewes out then buying in hoggets to lamb start of march Wat is the most profible breed with plenty of lambs and hopefully less bother. Thanks

 

[yellowbelly]

Wat is the most profible breed with plenty of lambs and hopefully less bother.

Just in for me dinner and a quick scan round the forum - I expect the usual 'suspects' will be along later to extol the virtues of their favourites.....

(thanks to @Bury the Trash for the loan of the popcorn)
P.S. this is probably not what you're looking for......

 

[Hogget]

North of England Mules, good framed sheep making them easier to lamb as hoggs in comparison to texels and suffolks and prolific, plenty of lambs, however a single lamb is all a hogg wants ideally.

 

[It was already broken.]

Don't waste yer money on ewes. Buy the best rams you can to breed in the traits you are looking for and keep your own replacements and cull out the rest. Within a few years you will have exactly what you are looking for and still have the 10K you would have spent on ewes in your back pocket.

 

[An ancient git]

Totally agree with IWAB .... Pick you best ewes out and breed off them , and don't buy 'bugs' in . All sorts of useful breed rams that you could use to breed own replacements ......

 

[millen87]

Could do that ok keep the younger ewes and out with the old. Wanting to start vaccinate for toxo and enzo quite bit of bother around me can older ewes be done wat price is it and when do they need done ect thanks

 

[An ancient git]

Have a word with your vets and price it all up , plus timing is crucial pre next tupping time . No probs doing older ewes , but not very economic if any only had a year left to go . Don't vax here now , but have in past . The cost is a bit eye-watering to do the lot initially , but thereafter you'd only need to do the annual replacements ..... In a self replacing flock I'm not bothered now about Enzo , but Toxo is more easily picked up in environment . Seem to think Toxovax is the dear one !! I take my chances ......

 

[An ancient git]

Have a look at the Toxo thread .... Neilo put rough jab costs on ....

 

[Ysgythan]

Hi everyone thinking of changing things around a little this year atm im running 100 ewes mostly suffolk/texel cross lambing from mid January scanning in 167% or there abouts have 44 acres plus winter grazing available near by. Considering selling my own ewes out then buying in hoggets to lamb start of march Wat is the most profible breed with plenty of lambs and hopefully less bother. Thanks

highlanders put to the Texel.

 

[Wooly]

Just remember...........sometimes less is more !

A sheep that is cheap to keep and can live off grass, has low depreciation and doesn't need much shepherding may be better financially than a sheep with a 200% lambing, with the lambs topping the market each week after they have consumed their own weight in concentrates.

 

[Al R]

Just remember...........sometimes less is more !

A sheep that is cheap to keep and can live off grass, has low depreciation and doesn't need much shepherding may be better financially than a sheep with a 200% lambing, with the lambs topping the market each week after they have consumed their own weight in concentrates.

No concentrates here but I know my welsh scanning at 160% make more money than my texels at 195%.... texels are sold on bonus + scheme and welsh are on flat rate.

 

[An ancient git]

Here it's 'white' sheep that sell . Depends if you're selling LW/DW on level of wooliness wanted . Also level of prolificacy required longer-term . You've got a plethora of 'breeds' to pick from ..... The 'right' Lleyn (!!!) / Highlander / EasyRams '20 combo to name just 3 !! Ok , a Cambridge (brown face) and god knows what else could be tipped in ! Now that's opened a can of worms !!!!