Swaledale Ewes @ What Breed of Ram?

Can't think I've ever seen Suffolk lambs out of a Swale (or Blackie)... I'm actually quite intrigued to see what the lambs are like
Years ago I used to run a few hundred old Swale ewes with no teeth that would run again with tlc and plenty pure cane molasses. I always tupped them with Suffolk tups. Lambs were partially black coated and smaller than what you would get off lowland type ewes but still nice lambs.
 
Location
Devon
Know nowt about Swales but we run some draft Herdwicks on some very poor lowland grazing and put them to Texels...............................
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Sold some singles straight off their mothers between 39kg and 44kg.
Most of the twins went as stores - av, around £72. Kept a few females to try as breeders to see what they'll do to a Beltex.

Off the top of my head they did about 170%. Lambed outside on their own. Pulled only 2 or3 lambs.

What's not to like? Went to Cockermouth for another load a couple of weeks ago ;)

What sort of prices are FM Swale ewes making in the breeding pens?

Also what liveweight would the Swale ewes be? ( thinking of deadweight value ) also what sort of price liveweight have FM ewes being making as culls this year?

Reason for asking is because a young lad that i know who is at Ag College has been given some ground by his family to graze to get him started with his own flock, problem is that he cannot have much of it untill they have done first cut in May for the family suckler herd, winter grazing not a problem, he was intending to buy FM Dorset in lamb Ewes but at current prices ( last week £160/185 head ) they dont stack up when you number crunch it.
 

Pauly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Dartmoor
Used to put about 150 blackies to the suffolk. Lambed outdoors in April and treated same as the pure blackies, up on the hill to July up to 1400ft then weaned and sold in August. Made good sheep big strong ewes and wether lambs were as good as inbyes.
 

tinsheet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Somerset
Can't think I've ever seen Suffolk lambs out of a Swale (or Blackie)... I'm actually quite intrigued to see what the lambs are like
Gave up swales, always out or in the hedges, :ROFLMAO: always said if I could get the grazing rights to the common just up the road id stick 200 swales up there and stick a Suffolk on them, keep the ewe lambs and sell the rest as stores, like I said great blocky ewes, very low maintenance to.
May happen one day(y)
 

irish dom

Member
Quite a popular cross on horned ewes over here. When they are good they are great but when they are bad they are rotten wooly yokes. Mate of mine runs a fairly big flock of Suffolk cross blackface crossed back to texel rams. Can buy replacements cheaper than other crossbreds scan around 180% and last really well. He is on powerful ground though.
 
Swale ewes off the clock up here. Not much under £70 and that’s just bad ones. £90 for owt anywhere near decent realistically £120/£140 for mule lamb breeders a lot making much more
 

Tim W

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
If you are lambing inside and killing all the offspring then any fast growing terminal would do the job. Charollais seems a good shout.

If you want to keep ewe lambs, there are other options. A maternal Texel may work, a BFL would do ok but you won't get heavy wethers and you've got to mess about providing the rams with suitable shelter... rather predictably, I would suggest a Roussin for this job if you want to keep females (just choose your breeder carefully). It is all pros and cons, mules are well known so you will sell the female progeny but compromise on the males. Exlanas another decent shout with the added bonus you get partial shedders, hardier rams etc but how well would the wethers grade? Is there a market for the partial shedding females?

You could easily achieve 170+% lambing percentage from these ewes if they are in good condition and they are on a high plane of nutrition when they ovulate.

With Swale you're only one cross from a shedder ----- seems like someone @Sandpit Farm is doing my work for me , think i'll retire ;)
 
What sort of prices are FM Swale ewes making in the breeding pens?

Also what liveweight would the Swale ewes be? ( thinking of deadweight value ) also what sort of price liveweight have FM ewes being making as culls this year?

Reason for asking is because a young lad that i know who is at Ag College has been given some ground by his family to graze to get him started with his own flock, problem is that he cannot have much of it untill they have done first cut in May for the family suckler herd, winter grazing not a problem, he was intending to buy FM Dorset in lamb Ewes but at current prices ( last week £160/185 head ) they dont stack up when you number crunch it.
He would be WAY better off with welshies put to Charley. That’s how Me and most of my mates got going at school. Lamb easy and lambs will wean bigger than ewes
 
Location
Devon
He would be WAY better off with welshies put to Charley. That’s how Me and most of my mates got going at school. Lamb easy and lambs will wean bigger than ewes

Intresting idea, what sort of money are FM ones making and what type of weight would the ewes be on average??

Would they milk well on lowland ground?

The lad is sheep mad and very keen.
 

Ysgythan

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ammanford
As above what breed of ram would be best put with Full Mouth Swaledale ewes that will produce a decent 44/46 liveweight R grade lamb??

Ideally an easy lambing breed with get up and go as well.

Also what lambing % would be average for the above on a lowland farm?

Or is the above a total non starter?

mature draft ewes off the hill would handle a Texel no problem. Pick the right tup though. Scan, and feed the singles next to bugger all.
 

cattleman123

Member
Location
devon
As above what breed of ram would be best put with Full Mouth Swaledale ewes that will produce a decent 44/46 liveweight R grade lamb??

Ideally an easy lambing breed with get up and go as well.

Also what lambing % would be average for the above on a lowland farm?

Or is the above a total non starter?
Have been fitted up with some....they will do down your way
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
I would 170% is damned good going for such a breed, even with a shepherd of @yellowbelly ‘s capabilities.
You're too kind Sir but it turns out I lied :facepalm::stop:
I've just looked it up, in the interests of factuallity (is that a word :scratchhead:)
They scanned at 170%.........we weaned 166%.
What sort of prices are FM Swale ewes making in the breeding pens?

Also what liveweight would the Swale ewes be?
As I said in answer to your OP, I know nowt about the Swale trade, but for the record those Herdwicks averaged £51 last year but very similar ewes this year averaged £73.50.
Average weight 46.5kg in 2019, 47.6kg in 2020.
 

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