Store lambs on stubble turnips, which breed?

[joehicken]

Hello,

Arable manager looking to incorporate a minor amount of livestock into the rotation, mainly by grazing store lambs on stubble turnips over winter, to then put into a spring crop.

Currently have good amount of stubble turnips which are ready to go & look exceptionally well due to the moist summer. I’ve been offered Cheviot store lambs for a cheaper price then Texel crosses, which seem to be much more dearer. Question is, do Cheviot X’s make good store lambs? Will they finish on just stubble turnips in 12ish weeks? I understand they’re more of a ‘hilly’ breed, so just wondering whether they’re worth the time, or to pay abit more to go for a texel X with the better conformation, DLWG etc. Fall back grass is an option & the end destination depends at prices/condition at the time, Eg. market or abattoir.

TIA for any help.

Joe

 

[Lincs]

Depends on many factors but I’d pay the extra for the Texal’s.
Could you not pair up with a shepherd so you both benefit?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Depends how small the cheviots are. 12 weeks from now you’d be better selling texel or suff cross lambs still

 

[unlacedgecko]

Hello,

Arable manager looking to incorporate a minor amount of livestock into the rotation, mainly by grazing store lambs on stubble turnips over winter, to then put into a spring crop.

Currently have good amount of stubble turnips which are ready to go & look exceptionally well due to the moist summer. I’ve been offered Cheviot store lambs for a cheaper price then Texel crosses, which seem to be much more dearer. Question is, do Cheviot X’s make good store lambs? Will they finish on just stubble turnips in 12ish weeks? I understand they’re more of a ‘hilly’ breed, so just wondering whether they’re worth the time, or to pay abit more to go for a texel X with the better conformation, DLWG etc. Fall back grass is an option & the end destination depends at prices/condition at the time, Eg. market or abattoir.

TIA for any help.

Joe

unless you want to spend the winter electric fencing, chasing escaped sheep and treating lambs sheep, do as @Lincs suggests and pair up with someone.

 

[tw15]

Best to pair up with someone there are plenty oy young people wanting to get into farming . I would look at that way , If you have a keen and respect young shepherd that's trying to get on their feet try to give them a chance with a venture by Christ the industry needs a lot of new blood and ideas . Don.t fleece them be fair and you will not just get a bit of a financial return by reward of hopefully knowing with your help they got on their feet and got going , that is a nice feeling to have ..

 

[Hill Ground]

Hello,

Arable manager looking to incorporate a minor amount of livestock into the rotation, mainly by grazing store lambs on stubble turnips over winter, to then put into a spring crop.

Currently have good amount of stubble turnips which are ready to go & look exceptionally well due to the moist summer. I’ve been offered Cheviot store lambs for a cheaper price then Texel crosses, which seem to be much more dearer. Question is, do Cheviot X’s make good store lambs? Will they finish on just stubble turnips in 12ish weeks? I understand they’re more of a ‘hilly’ breed, so just wondering whether they’re worth the time, or to pay abit more to go for a texel X with the better conformation, DLWG etc. Fall back grass is an option & the end destination depends at prices/condition at the time, Eg. market or abattoir.

TIA for any help.

Joe

Another vote for letting them out here.

If you've got no sheep equipment then getting set up for store lambs with fencing and handling system etc probably won't be paid for by stores in the first year!

Getting lambs in with no dog can be surprisingly tricky too!!

Find a good person, they will bring there own fencing and pens and dog etc, and if they don't all finish by the time your roots are eaten off then it's their problem, not yours, you get your set rent and concentrate on your spring drilling!!!

Where in the world are you?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Another vote for letting them out here.

If you've got no sheep equipment then getting set up for store lambs with fencing and handling system etc probably won't be paid for by stores in the first year!

Getting lambs in with no dog can be surprisingly tricky too!!

Find a good person, they will bring there own fencing and pens and dog etc, and if they don't all finish by the time your roots are eaten off then it's their problem, not yours, you get your set rent and concentrate on your spring drilling!!!

Where in the world are you?

That’s your first mistake.
OP is not “letting them out”. He’s an arable manager looking to partner with a livestock business to provide a grazing service in order to assist in nutrient cycling and cover crop termination.

Terminology is important. It’s all about mindset.

 

[Lincs]

That’s your first mistake.
OP is not “letting them out”. He’s an arable manager looking to partner with a livestock business to provide a grazing service in order to assist in nutrient cycling and cover crop termination.

Terminology is important. It’s all about mindset.

If he gets proper Cheviots he won’t have to worry about letting them out they can do that themselves

 

[Lincs]

Depends how small the cheviots are. 12 weeks from now you’d be better selling texel or suff cross lambs still

Suff cross lambs? You have changed

 

[Top Tip.]

Suff cross lambs? You have changed

For the better!!

 

[lloyd]

Hello,

Will they finish on just stubble turnips in 12ish weeks? I

TIA for any help.

Joe

Depends which months you are talking and whether the lambs you buy are
half fat .At this time of year going into more unsettled weather you will probably
need hard feed aswell Nov to end of Feb.When it becomes wet and cold lambs take a lot of energy just to stand still.You will however grow frame if your buying a medium size store lamb now.

 

[Hill Ground]

That’s your first mistake.
OP is not “letting them out”. He’s an arable manager looking to partner with a livestock business to provide a grazing service in order to assist in nutrient cycling and cover crop termination.

Terminology is important. It’s all about mindset.

Fair point.

As a grazier my preference has always been to pay a sustainable rent for roots and cover crops etc.

I then provide the sheep and manage them within the constraints set out in whatever agreement I have with the grower (grazing dates, residual cover left etc.)

I stick to what I'm good at (sheep) they do what they're good at (growing stuff) hopefully everyone's a winner!!

 

[joehicken]

Another vote for letting them out here.

If you've got no sheep equipment then getting set up for store lambs with fencing and handling system etc probably won't be paid for by stores in the first year!

Getting lambs in with no dog can be surprisingly tricky too!!

Find a good person, they will bring there own fencing and pens and dog etc, and if they don't all finish by the time your roots are eaten off then it's their problem, not yours, you get your set rent and concentrate on your spring drilling!!!

Where in the world are you?

I've got electric fencing, race, weigh scales, more.. almost all the infrastructure, minus a dog. 8ha of good stubble turnips too, so not talking 1000's of sheep either obviously, most likely 200. I should have explained my self better, I am 26 yo in Cambridgeshire, and just looking for an enterprise to incorporate into the farm business over the winter months with the backing of my bosses. Having sheep on the farm over winter has its extra benefits to me through trying different things and methods of farming possibly reducing nitrogen in following spring crop? Furthermore, there is the access to funding and grants from the local waterboard companies if i can prove sheep in the arable rotation will mean less nitrogen applied furthermore leading to less leaching into waterways and so on.

I do have sheep experience, done lots of lambing and work with breeding ewes, selling of lambs, but never fattened stores before. I've got good shepherding friends around me or at the end of the phone but this was just a sole, relatively cheap enterprise I wanted to try out on the farm, and if it worked, and i could get a relatively decent spring crop afterwards, then something i would look expand and grow in the following years. Hence why, i just wanted to know what sort of breeds people would be likely to use having been offered cheviots or texel crosses.

Ps. Thanks for you reply & everyone else.

 

[Hill Ground]

I've got electric fencing, race, weigh scales, more.. almost all the infrastructure, minus a dog. 8ha of good stubble turnips too, so not talking 1000's of sheep either obviously, most likely 200. I should have explained my self better, I am 26 yo in Cambridgeshire, and just looking for an enterprise to incorporate into the farm business over the winter months with the backing of my bosses. Having sheep on the farm over winter has its extra benefits to me through trying different things and methods of farming possibly reducing nitrogen in following spring crop? Furthermore, there is the access to funding and grants from the local waterboard companies if i can prove sheep in the arable rotation will mean less nitrogen applied furthermore leading to less leaching into waterways and so on.

I do have sheep experience, done lots of lambing and work with breeding ewes, selling of lambs, but never fattened stores before. I've got good shepherding friends around me or at the end of the phone but this was just a sole, relatively cheap enterprise I wanted to try out on the farm, and if it worked, and i could get a relatively decent spring crop afterwards, then something i would look expand and grow in the following years. Hence why, i just wanted to know what sort of breeds people would be likely to use having been offered cheviots or texel crosses.

Ps. Thanks for you reply & everyone else.

Sounds good!
In that case I vote texels!!

 

[JSmith]

Texel or Charolais cross, good luck

 

[unlacedgecko]

I've got electric fencing, race, weigh scales, more.. almost all the infrastructure, minus a dog. 8ha of good stubble turnips too, so not talking 1000's of sheep either obviously, most likely 200. I should have explained my self better, I am 26 yo in Cambridgeshire, and just looking for an enterprise to incorporate into the farm business over the winter months with the backing of my bosses. Having sheep on the farm over winter has its extra benefits to me through trying different things and methods of farming possibly reducing nitrogen in following spring crop? Furthermore, there is the access to funding and grants from the local waterboard companies if i can prove sheep in the arable rotation will mean less nitrogen applied furthermore leading to less leaching into waterways and so on.

I do have sheep experience, done lots of lambing and work with breeding ewes, selling of lambs, but never fattened stores before. I've got good shepherding friends around me or at the end of the phone but this was just a sole, relatively cheap enterprise I wanted to try out on the farm, and if it worked, and i could get a relatively decent spring crop afterwards, then something i would look expand and grow in the following years. Hence why, i just wanted to know what sort of breeds people would be likely to use having been offered cheviots or texel crosses.

Ps. Thanks for you reply & everyone else.

Awesome!


I’ve a very friendly trained young bitch here be just the job for you. Very very friendly. Travels well. Will gather and pen sheep no problem, but not tough enough for my job. Doesn’t stand pressure from the handler. More a pet that will work than a worker, if you get me.

Home more important than price.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I would not bother with hill lambs ,they will be to fat before you turn round ,we fatten hundreds on plain old grass ,unless they are Tup Lambs