What happens to BFL surplus ewe lambs

[Devil's advocate]

Very few BFL flocks around here, mules every where of course.

So the pedigree flocks must produce a surplus of ewe lambs not needed for pedigree breeding.

Do these go as fat lambs or do they get kept & put to Texels or similar.

 

[muleman]

Very few BFL flocks around here, mules every where of course.

So the pedigree flocks must produce a surplus of ewe lambs not needed for pedigree breeding.

Do these go as fat lambs or do they get kept & put to Texels or similar.

They usually die...along with quite a few that arent surplus ??

 

[Bones]

Very few BFL flocks around here, mules every where of course.

So the pedigree flocks must produce a surplus of ewe lambs not needed for pedigree breeding.

Do these go as fat lambs or do they get kept & put to Texels or similar.

Good question

 

[Devil's advocate]

They usually die...along with quite a few that arent surplus ??

They can't be so bad.

 

[M-J-G]

There's a lot of flushing going on the breed in recent years with many pure blues reared on mules.

As pures they are soft and don't last well so replacement rate is quite high.

Most breeders I know put surplus females to another breed along with commercials

 

[muleman]

After keeping a few of the best for replacement and sales a lot will just be killed.. they produce a nice ewe if tupped with a texel tup though.

 

[Al R]

After keeping a few of the best for replacement and sales a lot will just be killed.. they produce a nice ewe if tupped with a texel tup though.

Way Too big imo.
I have 20 ish pure ewes in my ram breeding flock, they produce 35 lambs on average, say for easy maths 17 males and 18 females, 4 females get kept and 4-5 males get kept/sold for breeding. The rest go for slaughter with me. I only breed from something I’d sell/breed myself.
“It’s the salmon that John West rejects makes John West the best” is my motto.

This year every BFL lamb was out in January/ first week Feb within 36 hours of birth, most were out within 3 hours and some were born outside. I didnt lose any post turnout even in all of those storms in February/March. I can’t expect their progeny to thrive outdoors if they couldn’t do it themselves.

 

[muleman]

Way Too big imo.
I have 20 ish pure ewes in my ram breeding flock, they produce 35 lambs on average, say for easy maths 17 males and 18 females, 4 females get kept and 4-5 males get kept/sold for breeding. The rest go for slaughter with me. I only breed from something I’d sell/breed myself.
“It’s the salmon that John West rejects makes John West the best” is my motto.

This year every BFL lamb was out in January/ first week Feb within 36 hours of birth, most were out within 3 hours and some were born outside. I didnt lose any post turnout even in all of those storms in February/March. I can’t expect their progeny to thrive outdoors if they couldn’t do it themselves.

I just keep my best half a dozen then kill the rest, try and keep the standards up as you say.only sold one gimmer lamb as a breeder....it made £9500

 

[Purli R]

yeah,but with respect you are in west wales,much better climate than up ere int north,obviously you must have bred a hardier strain than most. Some of these modern BFL can hardly live inside never mind out.

 

[Al R]

yeah,but with respect you are in west wales,much better climate than up ere int north,obviously you must have bred a hardier strain than most. Some of these modern BFL can hardly live inside never mind out.

Yes I’m well aware of that but these do have a westerly coastal sea view and the field often covered in sea foam (every weekend this year with those storms) for the first 8 weeks All of mine have hair on their face’s and I get the odd U grade but mainly R’s. The rams and ewes are the length of a clik can across their backs (16”?)

this was 25th January, oldest 30 hours, 2 were under 3 hours.

 

[Purli R]

I just keep my best half a dozen then kill the rest, try and keep the standards up as you say.only sold one gimmer lamb as a breeder....it made £9500

So you"ll be keeping 2 this year then!

 

[neilo]

Yes I’m well aware of that but these do have a westerly coastal sea view and the field often covered in sea foam (every weekend this year with those storms) for the first 8 weeks All of mine have hair on their face’s and I get the odd U grade but mainly R’s. The rams and ewes are the length of a clik can across their backs (16”?)

this was 25th January, oldest 30 hours, 2 were under 3 hours.

Sorry, I have to ask..... how much do you spend on spray marker each year???

 

[Al R]

yeah,but with respect you are in west wales,much better climate than up ere int north,obviously you must have bred a hardier strain than most. Some of these modern BFL can hardly live inside never mind out.

They shouldn’t be allowed to be sold or bred from if they can’t survive without too much interference and that counts for all breeds.

Are the BFL best being bred in April/May when it’s warmer I wonder? They suit me to lamb 2 weeks before the main flock incase they throw masses of triplets etc.

 

[Al R]

Sorry, I have to ask..... how much do you spend on spray marker each year???

£225 plus got loads of cans left, enough for marking fat lambs and ewe lambs anyway A lot of the blue you see on the ewes is marking fluid from scanning and tupping.

 

[Purli R]

Yes I agree,but while some shepherds buy mule ewe lambs on there face colour/lack of wool,breeders back up the pedigree chain will breed accordingly

 

[Nithsdale]

A lot of the blue you see on the ewes is marking fluid from scanning and tupping.

Have a word with your tups then. All that work on the ewes head gets nowhere ?‍

 

[Al R]

Have a word with your tups then. All that work on the ewes head gets nowhere ?‍

Better safe than sorry ?

 

[Pigken]

I got few to rear as pets from a breeder. Do find a bfl running behind a mule amusing. Kids love them. Just going to use for cross bred replacements. Other picture is a part formed lamb vet removed. They will go out soon as weaned and not be spoilt apart from been chased round by their young owners. Part of their home schooling

 

[Devil's advocate]

After keeping a few of the best for replacement and sales a lot will just be killed.. they produce a nice ewe if tupped with a texel tup though.
[/QUOTE]

I know they are not a maternal breed as such, but they are the sire of one.

How do you know which are the best females until they have reared 5 crops of lambs without prolapses or problems without going lame or losing teeth. Or produced any entropic lambs (I've no idea if that is a problem with the breed, some terminal strains infested with the problem)

 

[Nithsdale]

I know they are not a maternal breed as such, but they are the sire of one.

That is an interesting statement.

Hard to pick which breed you're talking about, in the conversation, but I assume it is still the BFL?

If it's not maternal breed, in your view, what is it? Because they sure as hell aren't terminal