All bar one of mine were bought as lambs - I find they do better for having a year empty to adjust to the land, routine, etc before going to the tup. The only older one I bought was awful for the first year I had her, slightly better last year and this year is finally looking how I like her (at 6 years old) whereas the ones I bought as lambs which are now shearlings and 3 year olds are cracking and always have been.