Valais sheep

[Dry Rot]

The best scam (Oops! Sorry!) ever had to be fibre goats.

The rise in popularity here coincided with a collapse of the market in New Zealand and UK producers were able to buy NZ stock with UK grant aid, then sell the breeding stock at extortionate prices!

Just for fun, I phoned the grant awarding body (which would probably prefer to remain nameless) and asked if I could get a grant for rhinoceros farming as I intended breeding them for their horns. The inspector listened to me with serious attention until I had to admit that it was a leg pull. She replied, "Well, it does sound like something we would fund!"

 

[Longlowdog]

A Google search of Valais wool indicates it is good for carpets and maybe hair shirts for folk who admit they spent too much on them.

 

[firther]

yes agree , a good texel or blocky charollais will give you a superb fat lamb and quick ,such is quality and quantity of milk , and they (the lambs) are as hardy as hell
The only thing you need to know about any new breed is , does it offer something over and above commercially than whats on the market now , i havnt seen anything the valis offers so far , other than looks , You only need to look around essex nightclubs to draw comparisons of pretty but thick useless snowflakes of both sexes that the public buy into

you sure ya not welsh, comparing women to sheep

 

[Devil's advocate]

How do the Swiss look after them.

I saw the Adam Henson programme & they appeared to lamb them in the lowlands (inside?). Then walk them to the hills/mountains in May. Drier climate than ours & dry stony hill ground so maybe feet issues in UK?

When the Fluffy Vardais are cheap maybe someone will try to breed a mule from one?

It makes you think British hill sheep must be the toughest in the world?

 

[Nithsdale]

It makes you think British hill sheep must be the toughest in the world?

You'll need to tour the world doing lambings.

There could be plenty countries try to lay that claim at their sheep?

 

[Longlowdog]

If they need tourists to do lambings the sheep can't be that hardy...

 

[polk_farmer]

They would hang up like a milking sheep. Just a skeleton with fancy wool hung over it

 

[unlacedgecko]

They would hang up like a milking sheep. Just a skeleton with fancy wool hung over it

I reckon you'd get a better carcass of a milk sheep tbh

 

[polk_farmer]

I reckon you'd get a better carcass of a milk sheep tbh

You're probably right

 

[Devil's advocate]

You'll need to tour the world doing lambings.

There could be plenty countries try to lay that claim at their sheep?

Which countries?

Yes I acknowledge, sheep on Iceland or Norway may be tougther.

But for a commercial sheep what is tougther than Swaledales & the similar breeds. For a less commercial type, just look at the Herdwick. Living out all year on rain lashed, hills of slate & granite.

 

[neilo]

How do the Swiss look after them.

I saw the Adam Henson programme & they appeared to lamb them in the lowlands (inside?). Then walk them to the hills/mountains in May. Drier climate than ours & dry stony hill ground so maybe feet issues in UK?

When the Fluffy Vardais are cheap maybe someone will try to breed a mule from one?

It makes you think British hill sheep must be the toughest in the world?

If you were to put a BFL over any of the Swiss Valais ewes that i’ve Seen & handled, you would improve their confirmation.

 

[Nithsdale]

Which countries?

Yes I acknowledge, sheep on Iceland or Norway may be tougther.

But for a commercial sheep what is tougther than Swaledales & the similar breeds. For a less commercial type, just look at the Herdwick. Living out all year on rain lashed, hills of slate & granite.

You can't knock what you don't know.

I've watched programmes on shepherding In South American mountain regions in Chile, Bolivia, Peru... I'd say those sheep (and the 'herds and families) are pretty bloody hardy.

I'd also like to see the highest running sheep in New Zealand, or the stock running on the Falklands and experience their year before I make such a sweeping statement.

 

[Formatted]

The rise in popularity here coincided with a collapse of the market in New Zealand and UK producers were able to buy NZ stock with UK grant aid, then sell the breeding stock at extortionate prices!

This is some class A nonsense

 

[Dry Rot]

This is some class A nonsense

In what way? That seems to be a totally random remark that doesn't refer to anything in my post so we are left guessing. Can you explain please?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Which countries?

Yes I acknowledge, sheep on Iceland or Norway may be tougther.

But for a commercial sheep what is tougther than Swaledales & the similar breeds. For a less commercial type, just look at the Herdwick. Living out all year on rain lashed, hills of slate & granite.

Is a swale a commercial ewe?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Is a swale a commercial ewe?

No

 

[Nithsdale]

Is a swale a commercial ewe?

I guess in the sense they are farmed in large numbers, for (as much as possible) profit. Then yes, they are commercial sheep... even if they only class to breed the Mule.

But I think ewes running equivalent land in NZ or Falklands would be a truer type of commercial, as they are bred to produce ewe lambs, wool of value and meat - giving better, more versatile, returns.

 

[lloyd]

All sheep I've known are similar in one regard.
They can all find a reason to depart the earth prematurely!

 

[AgriBusiness Plans]

There is a farmer in the west of the Isle of Wight who breeds Valais Blacknose and occasionally advertises. Knowledgeable and personable too - reasonably networked so prob can point you to stock on the mainland: http://hamledgesheep.co.uk/

 

[cheviot53]

My friend got in to fibre goats in I think the late 80's and yes grant to erect 3mt fence's buried in the ground at the bottom ( they went under or over if given a chance , a stud buck went up a vertical wall and over a 3mt fence ) grant to buy handling pens and I think some of the purchase cost's . Bought out of Perth mart ave bucks were £1500 4or 5 yrs later good bucks were £100