The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: woollyval on January 18, 2011, 10:38:18 am

Title: Dorset Downs
Post by: woollyval on January 18, 2011, 10:38:18 am

Here is a pic of some of mine in 2006

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: woollyval on January 18, 2011, 10:44:51 am

And weaned ewe lambs in early Sept...born April

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: littlelisa on January 18, 2011, 11:02:33 am

very nice  :)

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: OhLaLa on January 18, 2011, 11:26:16 am

I found your post re this breed (in another topic) very good reading.

Have you ever kept Suffolk Black sheep, if so what is your experience of these in the same respect?

 :sheep:

PS: What part of the world are you based in?

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: woollyval on January 18, 2011, 11:30:24 am

Well suffolks have black face ears n legs but rest is white ;)
Suffolks are great...but not for me as they are huge, lazy and problem lambers! Saying that that though, they are a great ram to use on mules!
Pure bred are fab looking but lambs are slow to get up, the lambs get stuck a lot when being born and the ewes are too lazy to push :D.....lots of people love em but just not my cup of tea ;D

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: OhLaLa on January 18, 2011, 11:32:11 am

ohhhh bugg*r...........   

 :sheep:

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: andywalt on January 18, 2011, 10:38:42 pm

have you got suffolks ohlala? i have suffolk x romney, first one to lamb and you know the prblems we had but im sure they will not all be like that



andy

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: OhLaLa on January 19, 2011, 09:59:01 am

Yes, pure Suffolks, current ewes too young to lamb in 2011 so they are next years first timers. In lamb ewes due to arrive this week, and due to lamb anyday.

I'll start up a new thread shortly and pop up some pics so you guys can see how it all goes, am following all your posts with interest and taking it all in.

 :sheep:  :wave:

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: Hardfeather on January 19, 2011, 07:25:54 pm

Don't be put off your Suffolks. They can have problems lambing and can be lazy, but usually only when overfed and allowed to run to fat. Kept on the healthy side of lean, fed correctly, and allowed exercise in the run up to lambing, they can produce healthy, vaible lambs. ;)

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: andywalt on January 19, 2011, 11:35:45 pm

Hi there

when you say allowed to exercise up to lambing what do you mean? dont bring them in to early? so they are moving about more in the fields?

good to pick up all these tips?


andy

Title: Re: Dorset Downs
Post by: Freddiesfarm on January 20, 2011, 10:21:47 pm

Another option is to put them to something like a charollais or lleyn for the first year - small birth weight lambs but with vigour and high growth rates.  Gets over the dopey lamb thing for the first timers.

I only have a few dorset downs left in my flock and their lambs are really dopey when first born!  But crossing them to lleyn or my highlander ram makes a heck of a difference.