TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

[Bill dog]

Did any, or many lamb before March 1st last year ?
I’m down a teaser here, so will just do as you have and chuck the tup in early . But I’ll wait a while yet, I’m not as brave as you !

 

[Nithsdale]

It was either 2 or 3 lambed through the last week of February, but the rest kicked off on March 1st as planned with nearly all lambing over the following 17 days I was very pleased with how it went so am expecting (hoping!!) for similar results this year.

 

[Nithsdale]

Not the best pictures... they wouldn't behave

2 newest recruits, bought at Castle Douglas yesterday. The darker coloured is from Grant Hurcombe (24hr sheep shearing world record holder) and the lighter on is from McTaggart, Douganhill.

I'm new to buying from either vendors... so it'll be interesting to see how these boys do with me.

 

[Big_D]

Not the best pictures... they wouldn't behave

2 newest recruits, bought at Castle Douglas yesterday. The darker coloured is from Grant Hurcombe (24hr sheep shearing world record holder) and the lighter on is from McTaggart, Douganhill.

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I'm new to buying from either vendors... so it'll be interesting to see how these boys do with me.

Hope you don't expect them to do any work this season

 

[Nithsdale]

Hope you don't expect them to do any work this season

Grant's will... the other is in the reserves

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Not the best pictures... they wouldn't behave

2 newest recruits, bought at Castle Douglas yesterday. The darker coloured is from Grant Hurcombe (24hr sheep shearing world record holder) and the lighter on is from McTaggart, Douganhill.

View attachment 719422 View attachment 719424 View attachment 719426 View attachment 719430 View attachment 719432

I'm new to buying from either vendors... so it'll be interesting to see how these boys do with me.

Least they’ve got the right coloured heed

 

[Bill dog]

If the texel from grant is anything like the Hurcum ‘s , it’ll be hardy ! Very nice folk to deal with, either clipping or scanning!

 

[Ysgythan]

So what’s the verdict this year @Nithsdale Farmer

 

[Nithsdale]

So what’s the verdict this year @Nithsdale Farmer

Just sticking with what I know, breed wise, again this year - the coming 12months maybe aren't a time to gamble with anything new or experiment too much.

My neighbour down where my TexX ewes are running has some TexX ewes of his own over the dyke. I see he is using a Roussin ram (his ewes lamb in Feb, inside) this year, so I'll be at him later to find out what he thinks of it.

 

[Man_in_black]

Aye, ok they are dirty arsed but

But they're Suffolk, so you accept that....! don't put yourself down (plenty of us to do that for ya!)

 

[neilo]

Not the best pictures... they wouldn't behave

2 newest recruits, bought at Castle Douglas yesterday. The darker coloured is from Grant Hurcombe (24hr sheep shearing world record holder) and the lighter on is from McTaggart, Douganhill.

View attachment 719422 View attachment 719424 View attachment 719426 View attachment 719430 View attachment 719432

I'm new to buying from either vendors... so it'll be interesting to see how these boys do with me.

That grass!

 

[Nithsdale]

It has disappeared quick! Bloody cold the past week-10 days... winter has bitten. Putting silage out to 1 group of cows and we brought the stores in. Thats them housed until sold - they were going backwards outside

To cheer myself up I put my best Texel out with 50 ewes (including the pure Texels) this afternoon.

Bloody typical - let him out of the trailer and he was stood brilliant facing me Infront of his girls so thought I'd get a great picture. By time I had my phone out, he realised why he had moved fields and was off

He did turn for a slight pose.

 

[hendrebc]

I can't like that. Cattle inside already how much earlier than normal is it for you?

 

[Nithsdale]

I can't like that. Cattle inside already how much earlier than normal is it for you?

At this rate the Sucklers will be in soon or there will be no winter keep for the ewes.

Stores are 2-3 weeks earlier probably. We normally bring the cows in, last week of October/first week of November but I think we will bring the group we are feeding in next week

We sell stores @ 15-18months and usually get the majority gone before housing, but the drought held them back a lot (despite getting feed), we have sold 20 the past fortnight but still 60 to sell. They are settled in the shed, so hopefully fill out a bit more now and we can get them moved.

Only plus is, they are on high level slats, so no straw to worry about

 

[hendrebc]

At this rate the Sucklers will be in soon or there will be no winter keep for the ewes.

Stores are 2-3 weeks earlier probably. We normally bring the cows in, last week of October/first week of November but I think we will bring the group we are feeding in next week

We sell stores @ 15-18months and usually get the majority gone before housing, but the drought held them back a lot (despite getting feed), we have sold 20 the past fortnight but still 60 to sell. They are settled in the shed, so hopefully fill out a bit more now and we can get them moved.

Only plus is, they are on high level slats, so no straw to worry about

Ah slats would make the decision to house much easier. This is going to be an expensive winter so mine will be out as long as possible.

 

[Nithsdale]

Ah slats would make the decision to house much easier. This is going to be an expensive winter so mine will be out as long as possible.

All the cows all go onto bedded courts... slats are good in that respect, but I'm not too sure there's much savings over bedding really - that shed is 41yr old, all slats have been replaced, and the GIANT clear-span H-beams which carry all the slats and the centre passage have had to be repaired and new metal stitched in to support it all. It has not been cheap.

(The shed is 100'x30' and the slats are suspended 11' above ground)

 

[hendrebc]

All the cows all go onto bedded courts... slats are good in that respect, but I'm not too sure there's much savings over bedding really - that shed is 41yr old, all slats have been replaced, and the GIANT clear-span H-beams which carry all the slats and the centre passage have had to be repaired and new metal stitched in to support it all. It has not been cheap.

(The shed is 100'x30' and the slats are suspended 11' above ground)

I'm sure it hasn't been cheap but at least it only needs paying for once and it doesn't matter how much it gets used. If you bought all your straw for 41 years in one go I bet you would think it was expensive too. But I know what you mean. I'd find it impossible to justify a slatted shed here. At least with straw I can leave things out as much as possible and try and find alternative bedding or something to try and make it cheaper. I'd love cubicles or slats or something but building a slurry store as well would make it really expensive

 

[Nithsdale]

Well the weather has improved since the stores came in. There's been grass growth and things have stayed dry...

Brother (the cattle man) says we brought the first sucklers in 10 days ago last year, so they've actually stayed out longer this year. First 2 groups came in yesterday

Really pleased with the feed barrier

Been struggling with the lambs this year. Feed hoppers are out, but I'm not going daft feeding them - fill them up once a week. Got some small lots sold but not making any dent in the numbers. Wormed them all 2 weeks ago after a disappointing draw of 30 (out of 450-500). Got through 130 this afternoon - what a lift!! 61 drawn, 42-50kg. There was never any obvious signs of needing wormed, but clearly that has been the issue of late (oh I know, I know! I'd have known if I did FECs)

I've cast ewes to go to market tomorrow morning, and I'm going through the rest of the lambs to see where I end up... not sure what I want to do with them yet - Vivers are wanting everything belly clipped now weather seems far too good for them to be shouting for that yet, and it's something I'd rather not need to do. Might have to set up the Harrington...

 

[Kip]

Hi just been reading through your posts as I haven’t been on for a while. I had lambs into Vivers today and they were meant to be paying £3.75 but only got £3.60? Do they deduct you hard if you have to many overweight and do they have a weight limit ?? It’s not easy to get them booked in and the lambs are doing tremendous this backend, but they are expecting them to slow down in next few weeks and price hopefully to rise. Thanks

 

[Nithsdale]

Hi just been reading through your posts as I haven’t been on for a while. I had lambs into Vivers today and they were meant to be paying £3.75 but only got £3.60? Do they deduct you hard if you have to many overweight and do they have a weight limit ?? It’s not easy to get them booked in and the lambs are doing tremendous this backend, but they are expecting them to slow down in next few weeks and price hopefully to rise. Thanks

As with all abattoir - 21kg cut off for weight (although typing that I'm now thinking Vivers cut off at 21.5kg).
375p will be top payment, doesn't mean that's what you'll get - depending how you've graded and killed out.

I've been getting lambs into Vivers no problems so far with no waiting, when I have had lambs ready. But yes, the whole industry is in a glut currently... this is usually seen August - September, but is fully a month later because of the weather (had this confirmed by 3 separate sources). Hopefully we will be through it in another week or 2 and trade will firm up.