What tup should I use?

[youngfarmer321]

Hi,

I have a small flock of 16 ewes but there a bit of a mixed bunch I've got 4 Beulah specaled face, 4 texel cross welsh yearlings, 5 Herdwick yearlings , a couple of belachion ewes, a Suffolk ewe and a bit of a mixed yearling! I know it's a bit of mixture!

I already have a Suffolk tup which has just gone in but I don't want to rely on just him for obvious reasons! I've been offered a texel cross tup that's quite cheap but was wondering if texel cross on texel cross is a good idea? Also with the Herdwicks I'm not sure what the lambs would be like!?
The only thing is I can't afford to buy another really good tup!

Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[MRT]

Go with the flow. Any tup on a Herdwick must = an improvement

(ps. my mum is now selling her Herdwicks she tells me lovely sheep can't beat 'em)

 

[GTB]

Surely your suffolk tup will manage 16 easily?

 

[Woolless]

I think Texel x Herdwick is a proven cross? Would be a better than than a Suffolk x, I would think. Maybe not ideal on your Texel x yearlings, though.

 

[neilo]

Depends what the Texel X tup is crossed with perhaps?

If your Suffolk ram can't manage 16 ewes, he needs to be down the road anyway. If you're concerned about his fertility as a single sire, you'd be better to spend money on a fertility test at the vets, than you would be buying another mouth to feed. Alternatively, stick a raddle on him after 17 days and watch for repeats. If they all start repeating, source another ram then. Personally, I test all rams that are going in single sire groups before use now. Cheaper than an extended lambing from having them all turn (at least) once.

 

[Dkb]

Raddle the ram and monitor repeats. You can’t afford to buy a second ram with only 16 ewes.

You’ll have to buy a new ram next year if your breeding from your ewe lambs anyway to prevent in breeding. So time enough to decide what breed your going for then

 

[Al R]

Charolais? Hampshire? Southdown?

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Raddle the Suffolk... if you write down which are covered first, if they start repeating in 15-17 days, you can source another ram. In all honesty, it doesn't matter what type of tup you use as any differences will be negligible with so few ewes. If you get your lambs to slaughter quicker using a different ram, how much does it really matter if it isn't covering the mortgage? I wouldn't be tempted to keep any progeny, kill them all and any money you get could be reinvested into more productive ewes.

If you want to keep progeny, a BFL would be a good call (particularly from the beulahs). I used a Roussin for this purpose. But in all honesty, it'd only really pay if you had a few more.

 

[GTB]

Raddle the Suffolk... if you write down which are covered first

I'd just raddle him for the first few days.

 

[Ysgythan]

Put a wanted post up in Facebook groups and see what comes in.

 

[youngfarmer321]

I've found a texel cross lleyn tup that I can rent for a small amount from a friend. I was thinking of putting him in a couple of weeks after the Suffolk.
Thank you for all the help and replies it really helps!

 

[GTB]

Good idea. 99% certain your Suffolk will have covered them all by then anyway but good insurance to put the other ram in just in case. (Not in together though)