TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

Bowland Bob

Member
Livestock Farmer
Spot on.

We were not big enough to breed our own Blackies, or all our own Mules... we bred most of our mules but still bought in each year and were buying in all our Blackies.

It seemed backwards to me, and the rubbish mule wedder prices in 2004/2005 made my mind up we needed to change. I could've went for any breed at that point but dad liked the idea of the Lleyn so we tried them. The BFL tups were sold after that first lambing.

The farm has changed since then - cattle are all housed for winter being the biggest. We can run more ewes so probably could breed all our own mules now, but would still be buying in blackies each year. I prefer being almost a closed flock and I can take the ewes in any direction I want
I breed my own mules, and swaledales but am thinking of crossing the swales all back to Cheviot, not sure on NCC or SCC and going down that route then prob crossing the gimmers back to aberfield, what would folks on here advise?
 

Gator

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Location
Lancashire
Beaut of an evening... lovely warm, still day. Into the TexX's just after 5 tonight to find this girlView attachment 943808
View attachment 943810

Not much needing to be said. All healthy, all fed. She's proud as punch... and so am I!
So that's it, we're back here again. Forecast looks good for the next couple weeks so bring on the lambing! :cool:
Good start niths, hope the weather hold for you , good luck mate (y)
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I breed my own mules, and swaledales but am thinking of crossing the swales all back to Cheviot, not sure on NCC or SCC and going down that route then prob crossing the gimmers back to aberfield, what would folks on here advise?


Why do you want to change?
What do you want your ewes to do, that your current ewes aren't/can't do? Whatever you do, try and have a clear end goal you want to work towards

You'd be best starting a new thread asking, you'll get more replies - not sure how many folks actually look in on this thread
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Good start niths, hope the weather hold for you , good luck mate (y)


Buggered it this morning.

I've had a wee issue with prolapses in the TexX ewes... but I've gotten to the bottom of why.
TexX ewes were getting fed last from the snacker - counting the drops in the other groups I just ran it til it's empty with them... but I'm getting through the load of feed in the shed and it's getting more mealy at the back wall, so it's been bridging a bit more and not flowing as well as it shoul. I've been feeding the triplets less and the texX ewes a lot more :banghead:


Ewe with prolapse harness on and a pair of rotten lambs :confused: left her with them but she wasn't for getting up, see what she's like later if I put the triplet on her or leave her be. But up over a hill there's a ewe dropped 1 lamb going grand, working on the 2nd. And another ewe raking the fence I think she's about ready to drop.

I'd maybe better get them moved down to their lambing fields 🤦‍♂️
 

Agrivator

Member
I breed my own mules, and swaledales but am thinking of crossing the swales all back to Cheviot, not sure on NCC or SCC and going down that route then prob crossing the gimmers back to aberfield, what would folks on here advise?

Why not top cross for (say) three generations with Cheviot. That's all it takes to go almost completely Cheviot.

You can then decide to continue with them purebred, but initially it's vital to choose the right type of Cheviot.

The North Country Cheviot (NCC) will give a bigger stretchier ewe, but if you have a hardish hill, the South Country (SCC)would give a blockier ewe with better ability to retain flesh in harsh conditions.

The NCC should produce all polled offspring. The Lockerbie type of SCC will possibly produce more none-polled offspring.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Yesterday and today! Bit of guessing if the ewes were all gathered feeding. We were like this from the bottom ground right upto the top!.. It did clear by lunchtime
IMG_20210228_090259_794.jpg



But a proper beaut of a morning today. Clear skies and frosty ground. Perfect lambing weather!
IMG_20210301_075603_424.jpg


No too much happening with the lambing. Only 6 ewes lambed so far, 4 pair (including the triplet) and 2 singles running. All going well. The ewe from rotten lambing yesterday passed away through the night, surprised at that as it wasn't too bad and I thought she'd be fine


Was up at the ewe hoggs at lunch time with a bit feed. Aye, they've fairly changed since the fluke dose - or maybe it's just the sun
IMG_20210301_142252_367.jpg
IMG_20210301_142234_483.jpg
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Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
It's been a very strange start to lambing. I've lost an unusually high number of ewes this past fortnight for many various reasons - from 2 diving into a ditch and drowning, 5 ewes to rotten lambs, lost a single scanned ewe with a prolapse (never seen that before!) along with one or 2 others. Had a single go with TLD - she's survived but chucked her lamb. Again don't think I've ever seen it in a single carrying ewe - it's the only case I've had this year so far, too. I've a triplet in the shed I can't get milk from 1 side and the other side although big and feels plentiful is not drawing much milk at all. Have another ewe in shed with twins and no milk, but she's came good this morning. Had a few prolapses in the TexX ewes despite condition being just OK. I had cut feeding back (they were only getting 1 1/4lb/hd) to 1/2lb but it was making no difference so they're now not getting fed... 1 ewe lambed through a harness last night - hanging the first lamb, killing the 2nd still in her. Got her caught at first rounds this morning... her bag is freshly buggered with mastitis (could draw off the grey, bloody puss milk)

To say it's been a demoralising start is probably putting it mildly, but I think I'm getting through it.


Biggest day so far, I've had 3 ewes lamb. 2 singles and a pair. I've actually only lost 1 lamb which was born alive so far, so that's something. Lambs are coming a good size with usual get up and go.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Aye. Here's hoping its all out of the way now!

Thanks, they're doing well. 130 running 60ac, no feed, just 6 hi energy buckets every 10-14 days (when they run out). Haven't given them any hay since January.

I'll get pics of the inbye and hill ewes tomorrow at feeding, they're looking really well
 

JSmith

Member
Livestock Farmer
You’ve made me feel instantly better, so there’s a positive that can be taken from all the sh1t!! Pish’s you off losing ewes like that, I’ve finished lambing for a month now but we had the same at the start, don’t know if it stops or you just get that busy you don’t take as much notice of the dead ones because you too busy with all the live ones!! Got ten turned out in a paddock left over from inside job an had a texel ewe this morning with a hung lamb an the other dead behind just like you, that fecked me off, bloody good lambs, fostered two on though so gotta look on the bright side!! I’ve decided it’s no good dwelling on what you can’t do anything about, as in dead lambs, an concentrate on getting the livers to live!! Hope it gets easier soon 👍
 

Bones

Member
Location
n Ireland
I breed my own mules, and swaledales but am thinking of crossing the swales all back to Cheviot, not sure on NCC or SCC and going down that route then prob crossing the gimmers back to aberfield, what would folks on here advise?
I know this isint the tread for this,, but did you ever think of crossing your mule ewes to scc Ram ,, creates great ewes
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
As promised. Here's the twin carrying ewes. Inbye group first carrying the texels
IMG_20210305_090634_825.jpg
IMG_20210305_090626_624.jpg


135 in the group. They were on 1 3/4lb late January as they looked thin, but I've slackened them back off and now only getting 1lb 1oz.


Hill ewes and all twin carrying Gimmers. Carrying the Lleyn, Chev and LleynXChev lambs
IMG_20210305_092932_374.jpg
IMG_20210305_092942_207.jpg
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IMG_20210305_092810_691.jpg

180 in the group. They're on 1lb. Hill wasn't grazed too hard in the autumn so had a decent cover on it which had carried them well.


All the triplets are in together, 60 in this group.
IMG_20210305_105243_031.jpg


They're on 1.3lb and have been on the best field of young grass for the last month. The field is better than that picture looks but it's taken a fair knock since last week, with this cold weather coming back in
 

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