Ryeland ewe lambs - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Tuesday 21 September, 2010

by Rosemary at 5:27pm in Sheep Comments closed

My original flock was three 2007 ewes; in 2009, they lambed for the first time and produced one ewe lamb so I bought another two by the same tup. This year, the three ewes again produced one ewe lamb, so I was keen to buy another two to maintain a year group of three. As well as putting my "wanted" request on TAS, it went in the Coloured Ryeland Group newsletter, which came out this week.

Yesterday, I got a call from Jackie Armstrong, who has the Grindon flock, offering twin ewe lambs for sale. She sent some photos and they're lovely, so the deal is done. We're picking then up early October. They are by Lightwater Hunky, from Sue Trimmings' flock out of Grindon ewes.

My three original ewes, Juno, Jura and Jinx, are all by Grindon Drummer Boy. Sadly, Jackie lost her original flock in the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak, so this is a new flock. I'm looking forward to meeting her when we pick them up and picking her brains about breeding and selection. So much to learn!