TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

[Nithsdale]

Lovely countryside where you live nithsdale

Same view, but on a good day. Stunning views which I all too often take for granted

 

[Nithsdale]

Back to nice sunshine and warmth today. Glad to be past the rain... not sure of the coming forecast, here's hoping for continued sun.

6 pairs and 3 singles so far today in the TexX ewes and 5 pairs and 1 single in the commercials...
I thought (am sure) the hill ewes were supposed to start this weekend, but there is zero signs of anything happening so far. The lambing dates etc are all stored on my phone calendar... but I changed my phone so have lost them all so.... I don't know

Here is the same view from the same spot as I posted yesterday

 

[Nithsdale]

Lost count what has lambed today

Today's problems were dead singles, hung. 3 of them first thing But I had 5 sets of triplets. It's strange how things work out... I also lost 1 ewe to mastitis, 1 to rotten lambs and another which was pining away. But everything which lambed living is going well, more plus points than bad so on the whole a good day.

The hill ewes have today decided to start and lamb, so that's all 3 batches up and running. I'm over 100 ewes lambed so far, and counting up there's only 30-35 TexX ewes left to lamb.

 

[Nithsdale]

Another sunny morning, grass growth is modest but it's definitely moving. Some of the barer fields have a stronger tinge of green... sad this eastern blast is coming back this weekend.

4 twins in the TexX ewes. 1 single in the commercials. 4 twins, 2 singles and a triplet in the hill ewes! The Cheviots look to have done a lot of work... but it's early days. Very smart lambs, so I'm looking forward to seeing them grow and develope




(@Man_in_black your doing well catching up )

 

[Bill dog]

Another sunny morning, grass growth is modest but it's definitely moving. Some of the barer fields have a stronger tinge of green... sad this eastern blast is coming back this weekend.

4 twins in the TexX ewes. 1 single in the commercials. 4 twins, 2 singles and a triplet in the hill ewes! The Cheviots look to have done a lot of work... but it's early days. Very smart lambs, so I'm looking forward to seeing them grow and develope




(@Man_in_black your doing well catching up )

Get some snaps taken of your cheviot lambs please , interesting this experiment be !

 

[Nithsdale]

Get some snaps taken of your cheviot lambs please , interesting this experiment be !

Grant one wish, I shall

Will get some pics when I'm out after lunch another 3 or 4 lambed as I was out feeding them!

Will also get some of the ones born from the TexX ewes...

 

[Nithsdale]

Get some snaps taken of your cheviot lambs please , interesting this experiment be !

Just for you. Chev X lambs from the Lleyns...

And Chev X lambs from the TexX ewes

 

[Nithsdale]

This might give you an idea if the steepness of the ground the TexX ewes are lambing on... the other field is flat compared. Will post pictures of it when I get these moved across into it

 

[Bill dog]

Great photos, your ground looks to be drying out a bit !
I’ve put my Cheviots ewes to the lleyn tup this year, so I will photo a few to show you the reverse experiment! They should be getting on with it now, but look more like it will be next week before they get busy!

 

[Nithsdale]

3 nice dry days here, since Saturday has made a huge difference. The forecasts suggest the rain should miss us tomorrow so hopefully things keep dry. Theres a lot of water sitting on one of the very steep parts I come down on the bike... it's making me want new tyres on the back!! I've lost it a few times - back end just sliding away!!


I'd reckon your reverse cross will look just the same your Chev ewes will just spit the Lleyns lambs out too. Easiest lambing you'll do

 

[hendrebc]

I dont think ive ever seen a lleyn cross eith something and it not work well. Ive seen quite a few different crosses an every one was decent not like some things were you cross them and they are just awful looking.
Suffolk, texel, beltex, dutch texel, hamphire, cambridge (dont ask!), welsh mountain , charollais, charmoise, easycare, welsh mule, welsh halfbred, meatlinc, romney, berrichon, bleu de maine and a derbyshire gritstone that must have got lost. And a few of those crossed with each other.
The charmoise was the ugliest, the welsh mountain was the smallest and wooliest my favourite was pribably a 3/4 lleyn 1/4 texel or my old standby 1/2 lleyn 1/2 suffolk if its the right type. But they were all types you could keep and not be ashamed to show to anyone. Im sure rhe cheviot crosses will be nice ewes as well

 

[Wishful Thinker]

Just for you. Chev X lambs from the Lleyns...

And Chev X lambs from the TexX ewes

Really enjoying this thread, it’s nice to see a genuine account of lambing and not one with the worst parts blurred out. When you’ve had a pig of a day always reassuring to read it’s not just me that can lose one.

Like the Cheviot lambs will be interesting to see if you can a bit of finish on them.

 

[Bill dog]

3 nice dry days here, since Saturday has made a huge difference. The forecasts suggest the rain should miss us tomorrow so hopefully things keep dry. Theres a lot of water sitting on one of the very steep parts I come down on the bike... it's making me want new tyres on the back!! I've lost it a few times - back end just sliding away!!


I'd reckon your reverse cross will look just the same your Chev ewes will just spit the Lleyns lambs out too. Easiest lambing you'll do

My Romneys have started lambing , and they are so good at getting on with it that I can concentrate on checking the rest ! And the Romneys seem to be thriving on my new short grass ( Nae grass ! ) farming method !

 

[Nithsdale]

Im sure rhe cheviot crosses will be nice ewes as well

See the pictures in my quote below. She is the ChevX from a Lleyn ewe which sparked the whole thing...

 

[hendrebc]

See the pictures in my quote below. She is the ChevX from a Lleyn ewe which sparked the whole thing...

It looks familiar is it on this thread? She looks very nice ewe

 

[Nithsdale]

It looks familiar is it on this thread? She looks very nice ewe

Yeah, took me a wee while to find the post from last year

She is potentially in lamb to the Cheviots... so I might end up with a 3/4 outfit. Must confess she is my favourite ewe and I look for her every time I go into her mob

 

[Nithsdale]

Really enjoying this thread, it’s nice to see a genuine account of lambing and not one with the worst parts blurred out. When you’ve had a pig of a day always reassuring to read it’s not just me that can lose one.

Like the Cheviot lambs will be interesting to see if you can a bit of finish on them.

Thanks.
Trust me, we all have bad days - and really bad days... you're never alone.

I'm just honest. Don't see the point in bullsh!tting or covering over stuff. It would be a lie to everyone who reads it - but I'd be lying to myself, too.


Plus we are all farmers on here - I couldn't get away with saying it's gone perfect and I'm running 200% on the ground

 

[Man_in_black]

Love your optimism about the grass growing !
I dropped a tic tac earlier while checking the ewes , found it no bother !
Nothing to like about your damn raven/ crow getting to your lambs !

Aye, and it was a lime one

 

[Man_in_black]

This might give you an idea if the steepness of the ground the TexX ewes are lambing on... the other field is flat compared. Will post pictures of it when I get these moved across into it

I know we all get annoyed & take pee, but aren't sheep amazing really?? "Yeah I'll give birth on this freezing windswept hill mate. Help?? Want your help?? Get to f**k!!"

 

[Nithsdale]

I know we all get annoyed & take pee, but aren't sheep amazing really?? "Yeah I'll give birth on this freezing windswept hill mate. Help?? Want your help?? Get to f**k!!"

How very dare you!! That's the lowest, most shelterested ground I've got!!


Windswept hill this place was better when you weren't here