TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

[Nithsdale]

Will you be using the black ended (see what I did there) rams over some Lleyn ewes this year, to get a proper comparison against your Texels? Out of the Texel X ewes, they really should be good as the Texel blood will be helping them in a lot of respects. I suspect you'd have been every bit as pleased if you were selling 3/4 Texel lambs out of those ewes too.

It would be an interesting comparison perhaps?

There's 45 'draft' lleyn ewes going in with the TexX ewes, to make a mob of around 110 for the Suffolks


If you remember back to the start, I didn't want Texel tup as the existing TexX ewes I had, were bad lambers back to the Texel... but they all lambed easily to my Suffolks so its swings and roundabouts I guess. You can't have it all ways - even if you do claim some black magic at times from your chars

 

[Nithsdale]

When were they born @Nithsdale Farmer ?

The bulk were born 2nd and 3rd week of March. Want to try and tighten that up, as very few lambed the 1st week as was planned.

 

[Nithsdale]

So today's job I had my home bred gimmers in up at the neighbouring hill farm, where they've been since last October.

Maybe a bit naughty, but I threw caution to the wind and Cevac (enziotic abortion) and Covexin8 jagged them.

First time they've been in since shearing on the 12th June. Good chance to catch up with the 4 rogues which slipped the gather, and got them shorn with the Jakotis.

 

[Ysgythan]

There's 45 'draft' lleyn ewes going in with the TexX ewes, to make a mob of around 110 for the Suffolks


If you remember back to the start, I didn't want Texel tup as the existing TexX ewes I had, were bad lambers back to the Texel... but they all lambed easily to my Suffolks so its swings and roundabouts I guess. You can't have it all ways - even if you do claim some black magic at times from your chars

From time to time

 

[Green farmer]

There's 45 'draft' lleyn ewes going in with the TexX ewes, to make a mob of around 110 for the Suffolks
they all lambed easily to my Suffolks

How do the suffolks get on with the llyen ewes ? Any lambing difficulties ?

 

[neilo]

There's 45 'draft' lleyn ewes going in with the TexX ewes, to make a mob of around 110 for the Suffolks


If you remember back to the start, I didn't want Texel tup as the existing TexX ewes I had, were bad lambers back to the Texel... but they all lambed easily to my Suffolks so its swings and roundabouts I guess. You can't have it all ways - even if you do claim some black magic at times from your chars

If those ewes lambed easily to a UK Suffolk, I'd be surprised if a Texel would give any more bother tbh. Unless it was one of them daft buggers with big heads and broad shoulders of course, but I figure you've got more sense than to give them house room anyway.

Of course a decent 'black magic' Charollais would get them lambs away sooner, but if you've got the patience to wait.... (I'd hate to disappoint)

 

[Nithsdale]

How do the suffolks get on with the llyen ewes ? Any lambing difficulties ?

I will find out in March...

 

[Nithsdale]

If those ewes lambed easily to a UK Suffolk, I'd be surprised if a Texel would give any more bother tbh. Unless it was one of them daft buggers with big heads and broad shoulders of course, but I figure you've got more sense than to give them house room anyway.

Of course a decent 'black magic' Charollais would get them lambs away sooner, but if you've got the patience to wait.... (I'd hate to disappoint)

The Lleyns spit the Texel lambs out no bother... but the aged TexX ewes I had - I had to lamb every single one, both years I put them to the Texel. I only had to lamb 3 ewes to the Suffolk - and 1 of those was rotten lambs. Your logic is right, but in practice was wrong, somehow

Your Char lambs would still be here, too. The new ground was wasted by the time I got onto it. Belly filler for the ewes is best I could describe it, lambs went backwards a fair bit but it's in good fettle now, so hopefully things will go better next year

You had a chance to send up a tup or 2 for a trial just a shame the only person who genuinely offered a free trial of his rams did so after I had made my purchases

 

[Ysgythan]

free trial

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Something I'm sure you and Neil can agree on

 

[neilo]

Something I'm sure you and Neil can agree on

Actually, I have offered a free trial to a few large flocks, who could potentially be customers for big numbers of Rams, as I'm sure the breeder that made the belated offer to @Nithsdale Farmer has too. There's not much point if the beneficiary is already convinced that they will fail though, or where the potential future sales aren't going to be big enough to recoup the value of the freebie. I don't charge enough to cover giving many away.

 

[Ysgythan]

Actually, I have offered a free trial to a few large flocks, who could potentially be customers for big numbers of Rams, as I'm sure the breeder that made the belated offer to @Nithsdale Farmer has too. There's not much point if the beneficiary is already convinced that they will fail though, or where the potential future sales aren't going to be big enough to recoup the value of the freebie. I don't charge enough to cover giving many away.

Free trials irreparably damage the negotiating positions of the respective parties. I respect you too much to offer you a free trial and you respect me enough not to ask. Anything less is pointless.

Free services if you buy ewes, now that's a different matter...

 

[neilo]

Free trials irreparably damage the negotiating positions of the respective parties. I respect you too much to offer you a free trial and you respect me enough not to ask. Anything less is pointless.

Free services if you buy ewes, now that's a different matter...

If anyone was to ask, it wouldn't be offered. If someone has several thousand ewes, I consider is open enough to give them a fair crack, then I might offer a free trial, on the understanding they come back to me when they want more of the same. Isn't that good business?

 

[Ysgythan]

If anyone was to ask, it wouldn't be offered. If someone has several thousand ewes, I consider is open enough to give them a fair crack, then I might offer a free trial, on the understanding they come back to me when they want more of the same. Isn't that good business?

No. Put yourself in the '000s of ewes owner's shoes. How would you react to getting offered a free service?

 

[Bones]

I will find out in March...

And it begins again, keep us posted

 

[neilo]

No. Put yourself in the '000s of ewes owner's shoes. How would you react to getting offered a free service?

I would think the breeder that offered was confident that his stock would deliver as promised, confident enough to know that I'd be back for more.
I certainly wouldn't be insulted by it, and would consider that I had little to lose by taking him up on it.

We're taking the thread off topic now though....

 

[Nithsdale]

Actually, I have offered a free trial to a few large flocks, who could potentially be customers for big numbers of Rams, as I'm sure the breeder that made the belated offer to @Nithsdale Farmer has too. There's not much point if the beneficiary is already convinced that they will fail though, or where the potential future sales aren't going to be big enough to recoup the value of the freebie. I don't charge enough to cover giving many away.

I was very grateful - and most definitely taken aback - for the offer, and certainly didn't go looking or expecting.

You know the free trail talk of your tups is just banter with you though @neilo and it goes back between us a few years
Iv said before I would like a go of a tip of yours - maybe it's your sales pitch/patter but you do have be believing Chars down south are different to the ones up here. I just struggle to justify the distance between us for 1 or 2 rams

If I was certain of failure I'd have never used a Suffolk in the first place and I'd be on valium after the forums reaction last September

 

[Ysgythan]

I would think the breeder that offered was confident that his stock would deliver as promised, confident enough to know that I'd be back for more.
I certainly wouldn't be insulted by it, and would consider that I had little to lose by taking him up on it.

We're taking the thread off topic now though....

That's far too rational. What would the breeder's "inner me" think?

 

[glensman]

That's far too rational. What would the breeder's "inner me" think?

it would think ommmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Nithsdale]

So, after saying I took a draw last week - they were finally killed this morning... it has been serious wet here at times, fields don't take much to make a mess and the lambs are hurting because of it. (The hogg hoppers are now out, to stop them from going backwards ).

101 lambs averaged 19kg making £79.20. Very pleased with that.

20 Suffolk lambs left


Today was Dumfries gimmer and Ewe lamb sale (where I bought the TexX ewes which started this thread off...). My aim before sorting ewes out was to be at 600, I was 12 short so bought a pen of 16 TexX gimmers today from a fella who had 100 entered

But, no worries! There will be no new thread about what tups to use this time - they are definitely going to the Suffolks (although there is another experiment happening this year, but it's something iv been mulling over for a very long time)

Won't be long til the tups are going back out