TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

[Nithsdale]

Not much to report... after the month of drought, we have had a lot of rain the last 3-4 days. The lambs stocked the tightest (Suffolk and pure Lleyn twins) are needing in for a Nemo dose.

Iv kept quiet on this @neilo but both Suffolks are a bit sh!tty arsed getting, as are the bought in ewes but the lambs have been very clean, up until the rain this weekend. But now there are (literally) 1 or 2 looking dirty

Forecast is dry for next 3 days, hopefully get them wormed. We are allowed onto the new land now (although that saga has started a whole new chapter), so the TexX ewes and Suffolks will go down after treatment.

 

[yellowbelly]

We are allowed onto the new land now

Didn't realise you'd annexed another bit of Scotland

Onwards and upwards....

 

[Nithsdale]

Didn't realise you'd annexed another bit of Scotland

Onwards and upwards....

Not quite.

Those with power giveth with one hand and taketh with the other... Acreage hasn't changed but the farm shape has - well, is changing.

 

[yellowbelly]

Not quite.

Those with power giveth with one hand and taketh with the other... Acreage hasn't changed but the farm shape has - well, is changing.

I see - guess it's far from straightforward

 

[Nithsdale]

I see - guess it's far from straightforward

As always with these things... it's never as simple as it could, or should, be.

 

[Nithsdale]

Suffolk lambs wormed yesterday and, despite saying I don't trim dirty tails in that thread, I dragged the ewes and put them down onto the new land. They were quite dirty (gamble you take buying sheep in, I guess) and the ground is alot lower, with lots of trees around - so flies will be more of an issue then up at home. Plan is these ewes will be shorn on/around 1st June, lambs will probably get a spray of Crovect then, too. Short withdrawal, so it won't affect selling.

Quite a lot of weeds (buttercups, ragwart, docks, creeping thistles, rushes, rashey grasses, bracken in bits...) the grass is old, but in abundance - hasn't been grazed since February. Could've done with getting on 2 weeks ago, before the rain and heat, when things were struggling. Some grasses are shot already.

It's 3 fields, totalling 23ac. 70ewes and 120 lambs currently look very under stocked, but we will let them graze a field hard for 10 days or so, move them and go in with a topper. Feels like a waste, but itl be best to keep the grass right (and bugger the weeds before seeding, hopefully). Will at some point look at spraying to clear out the weeds - but I'm in no rush currently.

This transfer/swap of land has been ongoing for almost 3 years - the estate have taken a large block, and a small plot, off our hill in an attempt to improve the shooting.

 

[bobajob]

Sounds like its needing limed? A long lease on it/ stop swapping you about to enable that?

 

[Bill dog]

Is that a decent trade off for what you have lost , or do you just have to lump it ?

 

[Nithsdale]

Lime, reseed - It needs the works!

Decent swap. I'm not complaining - farm will carry more stock now. Could've just done with 200 acres, not 20

 

[Guiggs]

Didn't realise you'd annexed another bit of Scotland

Onwards and upwards....

I think he means he's now fulfilled the necessary criteria to cross the border into what they call " new land" or England to the rest of us!

 

[Nithsdale]

It's been all quiet on the Suffolk front... the last few weeks.

I had the pure Lleyn twins in, on Saturday for a Nemo dose - one or two had gotten a bit dirty. So, with decent weather, I got them dosed

Lambs have dried up, and are looking to have started taking a lift from the dose. This was their first Nemo dose, and apart for the Suffolks which were done 3 weeks ago - so far, I have not dosed any of the other lambs.

The weather broke today, after 2 days of rain. The ground was pretty dry and no dew by 8:30-9am with a strong wind helping.
The 70 TexX ewes were fetched in, and shorn this afternoon.

Some were not that great, but most were very good going. First day in the groove, I avg. 20/hr which I'm pleased with - as I did not think i felt physically upto it yet... I'm doing a friend's 150 Hoggs tomorrow

The Suffolk lambs had been a little dirty getting. But since their Nemo dose, and shift onto the new ground, they have improved greatly. Before I started shearing i weighed one or two of the biggest lambs - knocking on the door of 40kg. I reckon, watching market prices, a draw may be made next week, or definitely the following week. Won't deny, I originally hoped for the first draw to have gone by now - but June was always the aim.

I do now wish I had crept them, though... Next year

 

[Man_in_black]

Was thinking of you today mate...saw the new look suffolk society emblem...

"Finish first".....is that a nod to your, erm 'bedroom prowess'......ahem!!

 

[Nithsdale]

Was thinking of you today mate...saw the new look suffolk society emblem...

View attachment 531808

"Finish first".....is that a nod to your, erm 'bedroom prowess'......ahem!!

The quicker you finish, the quicker you can go again

 

[polk_farmer]

Was thinking of you today mate...saw the new look suffolk society emblem...

View attachment 531808

"Finish first".....is that a nod to your, erm 'bedroom prowess'......ahem!!

That explains why our Suffolk served so many ewes this year, he was onto the next one one before the last had even realized what hit her

 

[Man_in_black]

The quicker you finish, the quicker you can go again



Yeah I always think that too..... even told her it'll happen once or twice..!!

The quicker you finish the quicker you can get your comfy pants on & bask in your glory......or have a cuppa.

 

[Ysgythan]

I'd be sleeping by the time the kettle boiled.

 

[Nithsdale]

No pictures... but (ignoring the tups and 4 Hoggs which slipped the gather ) that is shearing finished here for another year.

7 days shearing in the last 12, to knock off 700 here. 2 of those days were to chip 240 off at a friend's. He has another 400 still to do, 250 of which we want done before going to the Highland. On the whole, they've been pretty good going this year. The single rearing hill ewes probably the worst... Some had very yellow wool and a full cover on the belly

Had wanted a draw of lambs away this week, but I am doubting I will get time

 

[Nithsdale]

Well, the 250 at my friends are done with a day to spare, and no sign of the rain forecast. But I moved my kit down to a neighbour's tonight after the shearing contractor said they aren't coming to him anymore (after promising for 3 weeks). He did 50 himself today, leaving 240 which we are making a start on tomorrow, but will finish next week.

9 days shearing this year so far (starting a fortnight ago today) and 1220 ewes are shorn, with 390 to do.

There are many pints, and bottles of Rum with my name on them waiting for me at the Highland!!..

 

[NZDan]

Well, the 250 at my friends are done with a day to spare, and no sign of the rain forecast. But I moved my kit down to a neighbour's tonight after the shearing contractor said they aren't coming to him anymore (after promising for 3 weeks). He did 50 himself today, leaving 240 which we are making a start on tomorrow, but will finish next week.

9 days shearing this year so far (starting a fortnight ago today) and 1220 ewes are shorn, with 390 to do.

There are many pints, and bottles of Rum with my name on them waiting for me at the Highland!!..

Bit of a dick move by the shearing contractor isn't it?

 

[irish dom]

Bit of a dick move by the shearing contractor isn't it?

Agreed. I am running about for another three weeks tidying up small lots and you wouldnt believe how many people call that have been pee'd about. Its the poor sheep that suffer. However sometimes there is two sides . . .