What is wrong with Park type Cheviots

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I'm using a Park type on Lleyns to go to the Suffolk lambing group.

Chose the Park to keep the ewe a little larger - in my system they actually don't get that much bigger than the Lleyns. Scanning/Lambing % seems to be much the same so far. I also have a LleynxNCC Park tup (homebred) and his progeny are really good so far
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
I’ve had Cheviot mules out of both the Park & the Hill type.
The park bred ones are hellish ewes, bloody huge. Rear a real set of twins plus don’t go thin while they are doing it.

But the ones out of a good type of hill ewe will achieve similar results and Kg’s of lamb weaned/kg of ewe will be better. Plus aren’t quite as brutal too deal with!

I have found I don’t need too feed them as much to maintain a healthy ewe as I would the NC Mules, so I think that’s just a Cheviot thing.
 
I’ve had Cheviot mules out of both the Park & the Hill type.
The park bred ones are hellish ewes, bloody huge. Rear a real set of twins plus don’t go thin while they are doing it.

But the ones out of a good type of hill ewe will achieve similar results and Kg’s of lamb weaned/kg of ewe will be better. Plus aren’t quite as brutal too deal with!

I have found I don’t need too feed them as much to maintain a healthy ewe as I would the NC Mules, so I think that’s just a Cheviot thing.
I don’t think anything eats as much as a mule except a 🐮
 

Bill dog

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Scottish Borders
I'm using a Park type on Lleyns to go to the Suffolk lambing group.

Chose the Park to keep the ewe a little larger - in my system they actually don't get that much bigger than the Lleyns. Scanning/Lambing % seems to be much the same so far. I also have a LleynxNCC Park tup (homebred) and his progeny are really good so far
Sell me the notion of needing a bit more size by using the park rather than the hill Cheviot?
I totally get doing the cross onto the lleyn, but is their anything to gain by a bigger ewe ?
And thirdly is there as much selection in park tups ? Hope yer getting on grand with this lovely weather !👍👍
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Sell me the notion of needing a bit more size by using the park rather than the hill Cheviot?
I totally get doing the cross onto the lleyn, but is their anything to gain by a bigger ewe ?
And thirdly is there as much selection in park tups ? Hope yer getting on grand with this lovely weather !👍👍


Because, although some of the ground is steep and poor, the group I put to the Suffolk tups are running 2-300ft lower than the rest of the farm so it can stand it, IMO.

Plus... I preferred the Park tup I've got to the hill tups on offer that day. I will probably try a hill next time just for the craic

2 Park X Lleyn ewes just lambed less than an hour ago. Ran with a Park X Lleyn tup so their lambs are still Park X Lleyn (Yes, wee bit of line breeding going on 🤫)

IMG_20210318_150505_115.jpg

1 crop ewe in the singles

IMG_20210318_135806_362.jpg

Gimmer in the hill twins.

Both will (should!) get drawn out and put to the Suffolk this autumn)

They're a bit heavier, but not much bigger really. It's still early days (only the 3rd lambing with the Cheviot) but I'm happy with them this far... maybe want to get a group of 1/4 Park X 3/4 Lleyn - I reckon that may be the sweet spot.
 

Bill dog

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Scottish Borders
Because, although some of the ground is steep and poor, the group I put to the Suffolk tups are running 2-300ft lower than the rest of the farm so it can stand it, IMO.

Plus... I preferred the Park tup I've got to the hill tups on offer that day. I will probably try a hill next time just for the craic

2 Park X Lleyn ewes just lambed less than an hour ago. Ran with a Park X Lleyn tup so their lambs are still Park X Lleyn (Yes, wee bit of line breeding going on 🤫)

View attachment 948264
1 crop ewe in the singles

View attachment 948265
Gimmer in the hill twins.

Both will (should!) get drawn out and put to the Suffolk this autumn)

They're a bit heavier, but not much bigger really. It's still early days (only the 3rd lambing with the Cheviot) but I'm happy with them this far... maybe want to get a group of 1/4 Park X 3/4 Lleyn - I reckon that may be the sweet spot.
Your doing something right , the ewes look bonny , as do your lambs. Can’t whack a good bit of line breeding!👍
 

Jockers84

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Caithness
@ OP - the reason Park Cheviots get rough ride is everyone automatically compares them with Hill cheviot types and they're arguably one of the best tried and tested breeds of sheep. We've got some pure and crossed type in our park flock, they maintain condition where continental types wouldn't.
 
Park & Caithness type are believed to be Southie x Border/English leicester then criss crossed which explains the more upright ears . Some farms up north used to run hill x caithness ewes to try and reduce size a bit & make a bit hardier . Same as some hill farms use southie rams occasionally to reduce size on hard hills .
Sell me the notion of needing a bit more size by using the park rather than the hill Cheviot?
I totally get doing the cross onto the lleyn, but is their anything to gain by a bigger ewe ?
And thirdly is there as much selection in park tups ? Hope yer getting on grand with this lovely weather !👍👍
The park sheep have been recorded for a long time ( signet and who ever took over ) hill we tried for 5 years or so in late 90's early 2000's ,not sure if any left now Woodside maybe . The irish boys like park



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