Wool...what will you do with yours...

[DanM]

It’s just all these new breeds are supposed to be an improvement on the BFL and we keep getting told they have no shape, so I’m shocked how poor these saviours of the sheep industry are.

The grades we have for shedders are consistently R’s with an increasing number of U’s. I’m happy with that for a maternal breed. They compare very favourably with our Romney’s.

….Think a BFL would be pushed to grade above a O

 

[DanM]

You'll get used to them tails
In 10 years you won't be able to look at a docked lamb without wincing

Stop castrating the males and wincing shepherds will be a thing of the past

 

[Spudie]

Got my check for my small flock, unable to pay this years advance so I got a whole fiver. Definitely dumping it next year, bloody sheets are worth more

 

[Old Tip]

The grades we have for shedders are consistently R’s with an increasing number of U’s. I’m happy with that for a maternal breed. They compare very favourably with our Romney’s.

….Think a BFL would be pushed to grade above a O

I get Rs and Us for all my mule, never had an O for years, mind I get a good third Es and some Us for their mothers pure progeny

 

[livestock 1]

 

[neilo]

For balance, a friend of mine told me the other day that he’d just taken this year’s wool in to BW, releasing the cheque for the 30 sheets he took in last year (mostly Romney x & Highlander). Admittedly no haulage as closer to Newtown than I am, but total was £550.

Certainly not great, but better than burning it. That was for last year’s wool obviously, this year’s will be higher.

 

[Pistonbroke]

Anyone know what it costs the wool board to replace the sheets that go to the Irish merchants? I know it's printed on them that they're WB property,but I doubt they get them back,do they?

 

[Bill dog]

For balance, a friend of mine told me the other day that he’d just taken this year’s wool in to BW, releasing the cheque for the 30 sheets he took in last year (mostly Romney x & Highlander). Admittedly no haulage as closer to Newtown than I am, but total was £550.

Certainly not great, but better than burning it. That was for last year’s wool obviously, this year’s will be higher.

How does Highlander wool compare to Romney’s? I’m guessing it’s not as fine, and more like a lleyn fleece ?

 

[Tim W]

For balance, a friend of mine told me the other day that he’d just taken this year’s wool in to BW, releasing the cheque for the 30 sheets he took in last year (mostly Romney x & Highlander). Admittedly no haulage as closer to Newtown than I am, but total was £550.

Certainly not great, but better than burning it. That was for last year’s wool obviously, this year’s will be higher.

Which highlights the point that there are 3 choices
1) Select and improve your wool so that you get a decent return from it
2) Breed the wool off your sheep
3) Keep on whinging about how you don't get paid enough for the a crap product that you can't be arsed to do anything about

 

[neilo]

How does Highlander wool compare to Romney’s? I’m guessing it’s not as fine, and more like a lleyn fleece ?

Yes, sort of a halfway house in terms of yield and quality, not that Romney grades achieve much of a premium per kg on the BW schedules, there’s just more of it, and often double the shearing cost.

I’ve watched mine graded a few times and had it explained how a proportion was downgraded (a few pennies per kg) for yellowing from the Texel influence.
The knowledge and passion of the grader briefly made me wonder about improving the wool through breeding, but I quickly came to my senses.

 

[Fendt516profi]

Which highlights the point that there are 3 choices
1) Select and improve your wool so that you get a decent return from it
2) Breed the wool off your sheep
3) Keep on whinging about how you don't get paid enough for the a crap product that you can't be arsed to do anything about

4) sell it to someone who gives you a better price for what you already produce

 

[livestock 1]

Anyone know what it costs the wool board to replace the sheets that go to the Irish merchants? I know it's printed on them that they're WB property,but I doubt they get them back,do they?

They are returned to wb

 

[Bill dog]

Yes, sort of a halfway house in terms of yield and quality, not that Romney grades achieve much of a premium per kg on the BW schedules, there’s just more of it, and often double the shearing cost.

I’ve watched mine graded a few times and had it explained how a proportion was downgraded (a few pennies per kg) for yellowing from the Texel influence.
The knowledge and passion of the grader briefly made me wonder about improving the wool through breeding, but I quickly came to my senses.

The functionality of the Romney is what I want, and I just put up with the wool. I’ve a couple of the dark Lord Hulme’s easydam tups coming to cross onto the ewes this year. Hopefully they will have a bit less volume of wool , and still have the desirable traits . But ( hushed tones) , aren’t they just highlanders in a different name ?

 

[Tim W]

4) sell it to someone who gives you a better price for what you already produce

----and make sure it covers the COP?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

View attachment 979854

Didn’t realise it was April 1st

 

[neilo]

The functionality of the Romney is what I want, and I just put up with the wool. I’ve a couple of the dark Lord Hulme’s easydam tups coming to cross onto the ewes this year. Hopefully they will have a bit less volume of wool , and still have the desirable traits . But ( hushed tones) , aren’t they just highlanders in a different name ?

Of course they are , which is no problem of course.
I would expect the Hulmes to breed a better ‘type’ sheep though, rather than the more variable offerings from their corporate competitors.

My Highlanders certainly exhibit much of the maternal ability of the Romney’s a few friends are running on a similar system, but with better confirmation and less wool. I have introduced a splash of Lleyn and NZ Texel blood in the past, but come back to the Highlander.

Currently dabbling with trying to breed the wool off them, but unsure whether the compromises needed are acceptable to avoid shearing. My two Highlander stock rams are standing in reserve in case I need to go back to ‘proper’ sheep again.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

My neighbours left most of his in a heap in the field, it’s being slowly distributed by the sheep, at least birds are making first class nests this year with all the wool about!
Sadly you can’t have an enormous infrastructure for a product that worthless or near to it, Who knows what will happen Iong term

 

[Bill dog]

Of course they are , which is no problem of course.
I would expect the Hulmes to breed a better ‘type’ sheep though, rather than the more variable offerings from their corporate competitors.

My Highlanders certainly exhibit much of the maternal ability of the Romney’s a few friends are running on a similar system, but with better confirmation and less wool. I have introduced a splash of Lleyn and NZ Texel blood in the past, but come back to the Highlander.

Currently dabbling with trying to breed the wool off them, but unsure whether the compromises needed are acceptable to avoid shearing. My two Highlander stock rams are standing in reserve in case I need to go back to ‘proper’ sheep again.

My easycare experiment is over. 1 year of dealing with them was enough for me . Back to Romney’s, and similar type sheep . I may have got the wrong ewes to have a go with, but sod that !

 

[bendigeidfran]

My easycare experiment is over. 1 year of dealing with them was enough for me . Back to Romney’s, and similar type sheep . I may have got the wrong ewes to have a go with, but sod that !

What did't you like about them?

 

[Nithsdale]

What did't you like about them?

My guess is they were barstewards to shear