- Location
- Montgomeryshire
No one system is right to the exclusion of all others. You have to do what you enjoy and what suits your farm and system. The reason I put the Beltex prices up is because people slate the breed when they try and make it do something it's not bred to do or claims to do. The breed is developed to produce a high value carcase for which there is a big export demand, it is not bred to rough it and tup 100 ewes. All I'm trying to illustrate is why people put the extra effort in that is required for this type of system. When we had mules and used Texel tups we would get some lambs away in July, whereas now it will be August before we start selling. In terms of grass I don't notice any difference especially when you can stock at a higher level anyway
To be fair, I’d be tempted if I could achieve that sort of premium down here too.
However, it’s certainly not for nothing, as I was trying to point out. I would suggest I’d need a £15-20/hd premium to make up for the extra work (and/or losses), and the increased days to finish.