Sheep folks, on opinion?

[CaliMo]

Would anyone have an opinion about what type of sheep this is most like? I'm thinking someone might. You all have probably forgotten more than I will ever know.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Looking at the head and wool I would say it is a badly bred Romney with a bit of Heinz 57 in it.

 

[AftonShepherd]

Hard to guage size, but could it be a Highlander?

 

[neilo]

Hard to guage size, but could it be a Highlander?

Some might say that’s what Frank described.

 

[wrenbird]

Romney x Colbred. (Anybody remember those? )

 

[neilo]

Romney x Colbred. (Anybody remember those? )

Yes. It would have to have huge teats and soft, white, overgrown feet.

 

[NZDan]

Would anyone have an opinion about what type of sheep this is most like? I'm thinking someone might. You all have probably forgotten more than I will ever know.

Border Romney

 

[glensman]

I'm guessing Romney out of a mule or texel/mule.

 

[yellowbelly]

Yes. It would have to have huge teats and soft, white, overgrown feet

.....and at least 4 lambs trotting along behind it

 

[CaliMo]

Her feet are dark and she only had 2 lambs. What's a Colbred? I can't tell you who's right cause I have no idea, I have quite a few like her. They are crosses (Heinz 57, yes for sure) so I was curious. Good mothers and easy keepers. Gentle easy sheep. Thanks for the replies.!

 

[yellowbelly]

What's a Colbred?

A crossbred meat sheep produced by crossing the European East Friesland breed with three British breeds, BorderLeicester, Dorset Horn and Clun Forest. The characteristics of the breed were supposed to be a high twinning rate and a high milk yield.
Developed in the 1960's? Now no longer seen although I guess some flocks will be able to trace their ancestry back to some Colbred influence.

 

[CaliMo]

A crossbred meat sheep produced by crossing the European East Friesland breed with three British breeds, BorderLeicester, Dorset Horn and Clun Forest. The characteristics of the breed were supposed to be a high twinning rate and a high milk yield.
Developed in the 1960's? Now no longer seen although I guess some flocks will be able to trace their ancestry back to some Colbred influence.

Sounds about right, minus the East Friesian. No little herds of lambs behind her. Thanks- I guess I'll have to make up some sort of name to call them Momix? That's catchy... Or I could do as some sensible people suggest and "get some real sheep".

 

[yellowbelly]

Or I could do as some sensible people suggest and "get some real sheep".

Now you're talking.......

Currently got 4 Lincoln tups in isolation here undergoing the extensive tests now required for semen export to the USA (and Canada and NZ)

 

[CaliMo]

Currently got 4 Lincoln tups in isolation here undergoing the extensive tests now required for semen export to the USA

I'd love to have these, what a gorgeous guy! But the grass where we are is full of burrs of various kinds and it would be just a mess.

But seriously-I have had many people (the shearer especially, who is a friend so it was said in the nicest way, and Mr. Mo who likes things to be tidy) suggest that I would do better with sheep that all match and are of some specific breed. What really is the advantage? Wool prices being not really worth hauling it to the collection site (I only keep 40 ewes), and a lamb chop is a lamb chop. The sheep I have know where they live and survive the predators and the weather (mostly). I can certainly see the advantage to them all having similar nutritional requirements, which mine do (except for two-and they go this year) but otherwise? What am I missing? Value at the sale yard, perhaps, but most of what I sell are a few lambs at a time to someone who wants to keep the grass down for the summer and eat them in the fall, and they don't really care, or a lamb all wrapped up nicely in a box for the freezer. Keeping the shearer happy is important, but perhaps not the deciding factor.

 

[Old Shep]

A shetland crossed with something?

 

[neilo]

I'd love to have these, what a gorgeous guy! But the grass where we are is full of burrs of various kinds and it would be just a mess.

But seriously-I have had many people (the shearer especially, who is a friend so it was said in the nicest way, and Mr. Mo who likes things to be tidy) suggest that I would do better with sheep that all match and are of some specific breed. What really is the advantage? Wool prices being not really worth hauling it to the collection site (I only keep 40 ewes), and a lamb chop is a lamb chop. The sheep I have know where they live and survive the predators and the weather (mostly). I can certainly see the advantage to them all having similar nutritional requirements, which mine do (except for two-and they go this year) but otherwise? What am I missing? Value at the sale yard, perhaps, but most of what I sell are a few lambs at a time to someone who wants to keep the grass down for the summer and eat them in the fall, and they don't really care, or a lamb all wrapped up nicely in a box for the freezer. Keeping the shearer happy is important, but perhaps not the deciding factor.

What are you missing? Nothing at all by the sound of it.

Unless you want to play the pedigree/showing game, or the ‘club’ lambs you do over there (but which look completely at odds to efficient meat production to me), then I can’t see any point in changing what you have now.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I'd love to have these, what a gorgeous guy! But the grass where we are is full of burrs of various kinds and it would be just a mess.

But seriously-I have had many people (the shearer especially, who is a friend so it was said in the nicest way, and Mr. Mo who likes things to be tidy) suggest that I would do better with sheep that all match and are of some specific breed. What really is the advantage? Wool prices being not really worth hauling it to the collection site (I only keep 40 ewes), and a lamb chop is a lamb chop. The sheep I have know where they live and survive the predators and the weather (mostly). I can certainly see the advantage to them all having similar nutritional requirements, which mine do (except for two-and they go this year) but otherwise? What am I missing? Value at the sale yard, perhaps, but most of what I sell are a few lambs at a time to someone who wants to keep the grass down for the summer and eat them in the fall, and they don't really care, or a lamb all wrapped up nicely in a box for the freezer. Keeping the shearer happy is important, but perhaps not the deciding factor.

Could you get a few Dorper they wouldnt need a Shearer

 

[Man_in_black]

Good mothers and easy keepers. Gentle easy sheep.

In that case the 'name/breed' is unimportant. If you breed functional economic honest sheep, keep at it, regardless of how they're bred.

 

[CaliMo]

Could you get a few Dorper they wouldnt need a Sheare

I could, but really I am not fond of the Dorper. I do spin, so there is that, and I kind of think Dorpers look like small bulls. Also, the meat is not my favorite, so I disagree with myself that "a lamb chop is a lamb chop".

Unless you want to play the pedigree/showing game, or the ‘club’ lambs you do over there (but which look completely at odds to efficient meat production to me), then I can’t see any point in changing what you have now.

I can't imagine showing..Not my thing at all (unless I won all the time without trying and someone wanted to do the chores at home while I just traipsed around to shows..) And I agree with you completely about the 'club' lambs. So, with that-I will just stick with what I have! Thanks!

 

[Bury the Trash]

What about Texel then,? I see you have them in the US
they might need something to spice them up a bit sometimes .. hybrid vigour... but they are pretty good allrounders