TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

[Nithsdale]

Can I be rude and ask what multi vit you are using, rough cost per dose and how long it lasts before needing to re-dose? We have always worked with blocks, licks etc, We bolus ewes but not lambs. The problem with blocks etc is obviously you can't assume that every animal is taking the optimal level. Your lambs are cracking!

Thanks. It's not rude at all, Downland Optigain I use;
https://www.downland.co.uk/optigain-every-dose-maximised/

No copper for the Tex, Lleyn and Chev lambs. With Copper for the Suffolks.
They get dosed with it now then I maybe do them again in September...

Id need to check up but IIRC it's £80 for a 5litre bottle. Young lambs are a 5ml dose, and it says 1 dose will do 3 months. Older lambs and ewes need 10ml...

I don't like blocks now, as mixed grazing the cattle could hammer them (although there are Hi-Mag buckets out for cows which the ewes and lambs do go to sometimes..). I've never tried bolusing lambs and I'm not sure I'd want to

 

[Nithsdale]

where did you get that poster from ? aamoi ... I had one but 30 35 years or so ago.iirc ..

The Internet is a wonderful place. I kindof wish I had that poster

 

[Bury the Trash]

The Internet is a wonderful place. I kindof wish I had that poster

I had one, brought it back from Oz iirc … had forgotten all about it … I think the moths ate it long time ago or something

 

[Nithsdale]

I am very impressed with those pics of your stock..

whats the breeding in those ewes??

Thank you.

The ewes are all home bred, Lleyns. We were Blackies and Scotch Mules and I bought my first Lleyn rams in 2006. The Blackies went down the road soon after and I've just graded up from the Mules.

The last 4-5 years I've been using my own home bred Lleyn rams onto my own ewes.

 

[Nithsdale]

So this morning I was taught how to sharpen my shearing kit by Alec McCaskie. Legend of a man and a pure gent. He has done all my sharpening and shearing servicing/repairs (anything that I couldn't do myself) for the last 10-15 years. He has taught me an awful lot in that time.
He is getting on in age now, and said a couple years ago he will be retiring soon... told me to get myself a grinder and he would school me on it.

Thanks to @ianlucasshearing I now have myself a grinder so it's been up to Alec's for a once over, setting up and I've been shown the ropes by my Jedi Master...

Very roughly knocked together a high table for the grinder and I'm just in from letting sparks fly everything looks right, but time will tell when I get stuck into some wool
(The Sunbeam does have guards and they will go back on at some point they were taken off to get in and check the wiring, after it blew 2 fuses in Alec's garage - it had been running fine at home, and is again... no idea why it blew the fuses)

This is (hopefully) another feather to my bow, to get some extra beer money from some neighbours

Weather depending I'm wanting to get into my dry hoggs end of next week and start on ewes the 1st week of June...

 

[MDL POWERUP]

Thanks. It's not rude at all, Downland Optigain I use;
https://www.downland.co.uk/optigain-every-dose-maximised/

No copper for the Tex, Lleyn and Chev lambs. With Copper for the Suffolks.
They get dosed with it now then I maybe do them again in September...

Id need to check up but IIRC it's £80 for a 5litre bottle. Young lambs are a 5ml dose, and it says 1 dose will do 3 months. Older lambs and ewes need 10ml...

I don't like blocks now, as mixed grazing the cattle could hammer them (although there are Hi-Mag buckets out for cows which the ewes and lambs do go to sometimes..). I've never tried bolusing lambs and I'm not sure I'd want to

Bolused some lambs for first time today and was surprised they were easier than the ewes! Different size bolused of course

 

[abitdaft]

So this morning I was taught how to sharpen my shearing kit by Alec McCaskie. Legend of a man and a pure gent. He has done all my sharpening and shearing servicing/repairs (anything that I couldn't do myself) for the last 10-15 years. He has taught me an awful lot in that time.
He is getting on in age now, and said a couple years ago he will be retiring soon... told me to get myself a grinder and he would school me on it.

Thanks to @ianlucasshearing I now have myself a grinder so it's been up to Alec's for a once over, setting up and I've been shown the ropes by my Jedi Master...

Very roughly knocked together a high table for the grinder and I'm just in from letting sparks fly everything looks right, but time will tell when I get stuck into some wool
(The Sunbeam does have guards and they will go back on at some point they were taken off to get in and check the wiring, after it blew 2 fuses in Alec's garage - it had been running fine at home, and is again... no idea why it blew the fuses)

View attachment 802290 View attachment 802296

This is (hopefully) another feather to my bow, to get some extra beer money from some neighbours

Weather depending I'm wanting to get into my dry hoggs end of next week and start on ewes the 1st week of June...

It's amazing how far people will travel to get Alec to fix hand pieces or sharpen combs and cutters. He's a bloody good guy!

 

[Nithsdale]

It's amazing how far people will travel to get Alec to fix hand pieces or sharpen combs and cutters. He's a bloody good guy!

He really is. Everyone knows him... but I feel privileged, all the same.

It's a 40mins drive for me, but as far as I'm aware there is no-one else doing what he does, closer. Herbie sold up when Alan became ill and they sold the farm.

I've spent countless hours in that wee garage bleathering, laughing, listening to stories and putting the world to rights.
Time is catching up on him, sadly - today is the first time I could see he is slowing

 

[Nithsdale]

Bolused some lambs for first time today and was surprised they were easier than the ewes! Different size bolused of course

Slower job than dosing, though? It's the thought of doing 850-900 lambs puts me off...

What boluses did you use?

 

[abitdaft]

He is 20 minutes down the road from us and we feel the same way, he is as funny as hell too. It won't be long before we have need of him again this year. He always goes out of his way to do anything he can for you. We can do our own but never as good as Alec does ( sharpening ), the amount of times he has stripped down hand pieces and fixed the problem in no time, then forgets to bill you for ages is unreal. A truly unique guy that could blether all day rather than always hashing on. He always makes you feel welcome which in itself is rare nowadays.

 

[Nithsdale]

He is the rarest of rare breeds. I've got a lot of time for him.

He said last year there's a lad nearer Biggar lined up to take over what's left of his business when the time comes.
I usually pay before leaving to save him forgetting... but I'll need to call in and see him again soon as I forgot the chequebook today

 

[MDL POWERUP]

Slower job than dosing, though? It's the thought of doing 850-900 lambs puts me off...

What boluses did you use?

Twice as long maybe but you only have to do it once before it gets to mart. Used agrimin 24/7. Worked out about 55p a lamb.

 

[abitdaft]

He is the rarest of rare breeds. I've got a lot of time for him.

He said last year there's a lad nearer Biggar lined up to take over what's left of his business when the time comes.
I usually pay before leaving to save him forgetting... but I'll need to call in and see him again soon as I forgot the chequebook today

Wonder if the lad has a connection to Lance Armstrong ( shearing contractor ).

 

[Nithsdale]

Wonder if the lad has a connection to Lance Armstrong ( shearing contractor ).

It could be... he never gave a name. It'll be another 3 years, I think, until he retires - unless health forces him. Although, he is much fitter than most at his age!

 

[hendrebc]

Speaking from experience don't tell all your neighbours you have a grinder
There's a good reason it's hard to find anyone to sharpen gear! You will get given a pile of red rusty combs and cutters and be expected to make them like new again. As soon as you put rust on your grinder paper it's f**ked at £3 per paper it soon gets expensive. One person bought me a rusty pile and I had to clean them all up with the paper I had on first, then sharpen them with a new paper and the one for the comb was knackered again by the time I'd done them so used 2 comb papers and one cutter paper (3+2 if you count what I had on when I wanted to do my own that's £15 worth of paper!) The barsteward offered me a fiver like he was doing me a favour he was told to stuff his fiver where the sun doesn't shine and wouldn't believe me when I told them how much the papers cost or how many I'd used. After a few more people turned up and similar things happen I realised why no one wanted to do the job. I only do it for one or two good friends now who I know look after their stuff and keep them clean and dry with no rust. And don't turn up out of the blue at stupid times expecting me to drop everything and do them all that minute when I have somewhere else to be.
If you do start doing for other people make bloody sure you charge enough for it. Last time I checked Horner charged something like £1.75 per comb I think and to be honest it needs to be when people can't look after their stuff and your changing papers non stop.
Rant over

 

[Bob the beef]

It could be... he never gave a name. It'll be another 3 years, I think, until he retires - unless health forces him. Although, he is much fitter than most at his age!

Alex is a real gent. His mother is going to be 104 in a few weeks time and still lives on her own in a cottage on the family farm not far from me. She has carers coming in but fiercely independent .
Alex got a few years to go yet

 

[Nithsdale]

Speaking from experience don't tell all your neighbours you have a grinder
There's a good reason it's hard to find anyone to sharpen gear! You will get given a pile of red rusty combs and cutters and be expected to make them like new again. As soon as you put rust on your grinder paper it's fudgeed at £3 per paper it soon gets expensive. One person bought me a rusty pile and I had to clean them all up with the paper I had on first, then sharpen them with a new paper and the one for the comb was knackered again by the time I'd done them so used 2 comb papers and one cutter paper (3+2 if you count what I had on when I wanted to do my own that's £15 worth of paper!) The barsteward offered me a fiver like he was doing me a favour he was told to stuff his fiver where the sun doesn't shine and wouldn't believe me when I told them how much the papers cost or how many I'd used. After a few more people turned up and similar things happen I realised why no one wanted to do the job. I only do it for one or two good friends now who I know look after their stuff and keep them clean and dry with no rust. And don't turn up out of the blue at stupid times expecting me to drop everything and do them all that minute when I have somewhere else to be.
If you do start doing for other people make bloody sure you charge enough for it. Last time I checked Horner charged something like £1.75 per comb I think and to be honest it needs to be when people can't look after their stuff and your changing papers non stop.
Rant over

I've had it chapter and verse from Alec about dirty, rusty combs and cutters

It's unbelievable the nick some people let their kit get into

I've an old lamb colostrum bucket, with lid, which has grease proof paper lining the bottom... all combs and cutters get thrown in there when they come off the handpiece. They stay dirty all winter - I wash them when I want them sharpened... I pour boiling hot water over them to lift the oils/grease/wool/sh*t off them then just lay them on a towel to dry. So simple and almost no effort (and because of the heat, they dry quick!)

I know 2 friends I will sharpen for, 1 has already asked, but I'm not keen on anyone/everyone turning up.

 

[Boydvalley]

It’s not like you’ve let many people know you can now sharpen.
Or was it an advert

 

[Nithsdale]

It’s not like you’ve let many people know you can now sharpen.
Or was it an advert

There aren't many on here, know me in the 'real world'

 

[Nithsdale]

Forecast was for rain today, was wet through the night/first thing and been overcast but breezy all day. Neighbour landed in to talk about starting shearing (wanting to know when I'd be thinking of starting) so we could plan when and where I'd be going... they keep the ewes coming to me, and my other friend I shear with, and roll the wool. 3 farms working together.

They weren't as enthusiastic when I said I think we could start this week

Dusted down the shearing machine and cleaned up my old handpiece. Made a pen in the shed and fetched the 6 tups in the field Infront of the farmhouse in (there's another 5 to do running in another field)

I don't think I've ever started shearing in May before - always waited til at least June 1st - but they were really good going. That big twunt of a Cheviot fought against me the whole time and about Knackered me... and I'll admit I did him first the rest sat fairly well but I didn't hang around giving them a chance to fight... hence the go faster pin stripes

The Texel in the middle has a bad front foot, the blood is where I have him some ABs.

Actually more pleased that I used a comb and cutter I had sharpened myself and they cut really well gives me confidence to get on with sharpening now.

This is my trusty weapon, a Lister Tallygrip. Dad bought that handpiece, along with a red 2-speed machine, new, in 1969 when he was 21. Easy maths - dad is now 71, so that was 50 years ago. Sadly the machine took a knock about 12-14 years ago and soon after the motor burned out...
I wouldn't like to think how many fleeces that Tallygrip has removed in its life, but it never misses a beat. The odd joint cover and wee service is all its ever asked for (and a drink of oil for its bath every few hours). I'd really like to buy a new handpiece, but in all honesty I don't see the point. When it's set up right, with a sharp comb and cutter and the wool is good going - I doubt there's much else would do any better in my left hand. It's me that holds the handpiece back, not the other way round.