Whats the stabiliser cow of the sheep world?

[Tim W]

Mixing in similar circles as we do @Poorbuthappy ?

I completely agree, thinking round the areas flocks and in particular the folk of my generation and younger....some older ones too ?? the drive is without doubt towards self replacing flocks.

Llyen, Romney and highlander seem very popular, amongst other.
few exlana/ easycare flocks around...... seems to be alot of quiet interest in shedders at the mo, judging by the number of requests for info I've had in regards to turning a woolly flock in to a shedder on.
@Tim W would you agree?

Mornin' Dave!

Yep ---plenty of interest in the concept of no wool from all over. UK, EU, Scandanavia, NZ etc
Plenty of flocks around the south west have abandoned high input systems which has meant a change in breeding strategy for many
Typically looking to reduce labour, reduce chemical inputs (anthelmintics/fly repellents etc) and increase profits
These guys use romney types/lleyn types or shedders---all low input maternal ewes

Surprising amount of interest from traditionally arable systems wanting to use livestock in their rotations
If you are young and want to get into lamb production then ''head east'' is what i would recommend
Over the next 20 years sheep will move from the hills/less favored areas to the lowland arable areas

 

[unlacedgecko]

Mornin' Dave!

Yep ---plenty of interest in the concept of no wool from all over. UK, EU, Scandanavia, NZ etc
Plenty of flocks around the south west have abandoned high input systems which has meant a change in breeding strategy for many
Typically looking to reduce labour, reduce chemical inputs (anthelmintics/fly repellents etc) and increase profits
These guys use romney types/lleyn types or shedders---all low input maternal ewes

Surprising amount of interest from traditionally arable systems wanting to use livestock in their rotations
If you are young and want to get into lamb production then ''head east'' is what i would recommend
Over the next 20 years sheep will move from the hills/less favored areas to the lowland arable areas

It's not a coincidence I moved from Gloucestershire to Lincolnshire...

 

[Tim W]

It's not a coincidence I moved from Gloucestershire to Lincolnshire...

----i thought it was the impending threat of tar & feather action?

 

[Nithsdale]

I don't like Lincolnshire. Apart for that 1, in the town... there's no bloody hills

 

[easyram1]

Mixing in similar circles as we do @Poorbuthappy ?

I completely agree, thinking round the areas flocks and in particular the folk of my generation and younger....some older ones too ?? the drive is without doubt towards self replacing flocks.

Llyen, Romney and highlander seem very popular, amongst other.
few exlana/ easycare flocks around...... seems to be alot of quiet interest in shedders at the mo, judging by the number of requests for info I've had in regards to turning a woolly flock in to a shedder on.
@Tim W would you agree?

I fully agree about the move to self replacing flocks. Also noticeable how many of our clients who are sticking with mules are buying their replacements direct off the farm rather than out of markets. Also noticeable how many are using Suffolks or Texels on mules in order to retain the female offspring for their own flocks. Because we think the move to self replacing is likely to be the future we are putting so much time money and effort into developing our EasyDams.
Having said that everyone needs to be aware that we like all other producers of breeding stock appearing on this Forum are consciously or subconsciously promoting what we have to sell. At the end of the day those of us, who succeed, will be those who have identified the traits and attributes that their clients are seeking in order to maximise or even maintain the profitability of their sheep enterprises. My take is that traits not breeds are the future and that to be certain of acquiring these traits, people will have to approach specific breeders not producers of specific breeds.

 

[exmoor dave]

Mornin' Dave!

Yep ---plenty of interest in the concept of no wool from all over. UK, EU, Scandanavia, NZ etc
Plenty of flocks around the south west have abandoned high input systems which has meant a change in breeding strategy for many
Typically looking to reduce labour, reduce chemical inputs (anthelmintics/fly repellents etc) and increase profits
These guys use romney types/lleyn types or shedders---all low input maternal ewes

Surprising amount of interest from traditionally arable systems wanting to use livestock in their rotations
If you are young and want to get into lamb production then ''head east'' is what i would recommend
Over the next 20 years sheep will move from the hills/less favored areas to the lowland arable areas

I did drive by some shedders in NZ on honeymoon..... about 3 wilts ?

Edit....one of the farmstays we stayed at had shedders of some sort

 

[unlacedgecko]

I did drive by some shedders in NZ on honeymoon..... about 3 wilts ?

Edit....one of the farmstays we stayed at had shedders of some sort

From social media, there's at least 2 farms in NZ developing woolly sheep which shed on the tail, beech and belly. Still have a wool crop with no docking crutching or belly clipping.

 

[exmoor dave]

From social media, there's at least 2 farms in NZ developing woolly sheep which shed on the tail, beech and belly. Still have a wool crop with no docking crutching or belly clipping.

Yeah that would be what you mostly get with first cross..... the shearers love them!
But fleece isn't huge so it would need to be real quality to stack up I'd have thought.

Some of the country in NZ would be absolutely perfect for full shedders, esp given the scale of both the land and the flocks!

 

[unlacedgecko]

Yeah that would be what you mostly get with first cross..... the shearers love them!
But fleece isn't huge so it would need to be real quality to stack up I'd have thought.

Some of the country in NZ would be absolutely perfect for full shedders, esp given the scale of both the land and the flocks!

Not first cross. Line bred consistent clean belly and beech with worthwhile wool crop.

Ultimate | Avalon Genetics

Ultimate Avalon sheep are New Zealand's high performance, low input sheep - the ultimate lifestyle sheep for farmers.

www.avalongenetics.co.nz

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Not first cross. Line bred consistent clean belly and beech with worthwhile wool crop.

View attachment 868997

Ultimate | Avalon Genetics

Ultimate Avalon sheep are New Zealand's high performance, low input sheep - the ultimate lifestyle sheep for farmers.

www.avalongenetics.co.nz

Is that where the Beltex went in NZ ?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Also... People will ask serious questions.


Questions like - how tall was the person who took this picture, towering over you

How f**King small is your hand - it's smaller than your face!!


This will have follow up qusstions;

has the small hand ever held you back in life.

Are you registered disabled

Do you struggle to hold things

are you related to Jeremy Beadle...





You get the jist. The people will want to know!!

A lesson in perspective just for you!

 

[unlacedgecko]

Part of having livestock. This is my 3rd pair.

I hand feed them daily and often get in the pen to give them fuss. They're such great characters, you really get to know them.

View attachment 868608
Also pork is delicious.

RIP the #SwineBois

 

[Woolless]

View attachment 868999

RIP the #SwineBois

Crikey, did you feed them on cream cakes and Mars bars??

 

[unlacedgecko]

Crikey, did you feed them on cream cakes and Mars bars??

Just mole valley pig grower.

 

[Bob the beef]

But the Scotch Mule, which is the most successful world-renowned hybrid since time began, generally has a poorer BCS than the average of its two parents. But I suppose that's because of its very high productivity, which in turn has made it the most sought-after and expensive cross to the extent that many folk can't afford to buy them. ?

Really???

The Donald Trump approach to diplomacy...........if you say it often and loud enough you start to believe

 

[Bob the beef]

[QUOTE="Agrivator, post: 6864100, mEven the Buccleuch Estate, who are the first adopters of any hairbrained scheme, have ditched the Highlander and never even considered the Stabiliser

At Bowhill they were heavily involved with the first importations of Highlanders, at that point called Rissington rams after the fella that brought them over from NZ. That was definitely a flop but possibly more because of the waythey went about it and the guys running the experiment rather than the sheep themselves. Bowhill now working extensively and very successfully with Aberdales and Aberfields crossing over Blackies, and then crossing the progeny with Primera and Abermax tups

 

[Woolless]

Just mole valley pig grower.

I'm one to talk. I am similarly 'easy fleshing' ?

 

[NZDan]

Mmm I’m not articulate enough to describe the problem with x ing on here but the cost out weighs the benefit imo. Do you regard luing as a pure or a cross ?

Technically it is a composite, these days also a pure, The Suffolk would fit into the same category. The Luing is unique because not only was it based on cross breds it was also line bred. As well as heterosis the other main reason for developing composites is to exploit breed differences or strengths, in the Luings case it was to bring the hardiness of the highland into an animal that preformed like a shorthorn. Other examples of this would be the various Bos Indicus x Bos taurus composite cattle breeds, many of the sheep composites were formed to take advantage of bred complementary rather than heterosis. @Agrivator has touch on breeds or rams 'nicking' with other breeds in fine wool sheep this is critical as the crossing ram has to have exactly the right wool type or the resulting cross has poor wool.

 

[NZDan]

Mixing in similar circles as we do @Poorbuthappy ?

I completely agree, thinking round the areas flocks and in particular the folk of my generation and younger....some older ones too ?? the drive is without doubt towards self replacing flocks.

Llyen, Romney and highlander seem very popular, amongst other.
few exlana/ easycare flocks around...... seems to be alot of quiet interest in shedders at the mo, judging by the number of requests for info I've had in regards to turning a woolly flock in to a shedder on.
@Tim W would you agree?

I'm starting to see and hear hill guys talking about shedding hill tups, they're either buying or looking to buy shedding Blackies and Cheviots. Interesting times.

 

[Woolless]

I'm starting to see and hear hill guys talking about shedding hill tups, they're either buying or looking to buy shedding Blackies and Cheviots. Interesting times.

Blackie wool in particular worth a pittance. Not surprised that more are looking to breed it off.