The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: andywalt on April 30, 2011, 10:14:05 am

Title: We are very pleased with our Texel x Romney ewe lambs, will keep for breeding
Post by: andywalt on April 30, 2011, 10:14:05 am

Just thought I would post a few photos of these lambs, we hope they will be good ewes in a few years time, any comments welcomed !!

Title: Re: We are very pleased with our Texel x Romney ewe lambs, will keep for breeding
Post by: SallyintNorth on April 30, 2011, 12:19:20 pm

They look great, I'd keep them for breeding too!

Title: Re: We are very pleased with our Texel x Romney ewe lambs, will keep for breeding
Post by: Beewyched on April 30, 2011, 08:42:11 pm

Tidy pair of girls - definately got the potential to make good mums - what Ram will you cross them with?

Title: Re: We are very pleased with our Texel x Romney ewe lambs, will keep for breeding
Post by: andywalt on April 30, 2011, 10:30:43 pm

well what tup to cross with them, thats the question, i think it will have to be a texel, I will have to change my tup by then in another years time, also have a south down that may be interesting.......what would you cross them with?

Title: Re: We are very pleased with our Texel x Romney ewe lambs, will keep for breeding
Post by: Beewyched on May 02, 2011, 09:34:18 pm

I suppose it depends on your market - early finishers or flavour (sorry never had a high opinion of Texels)  The South Down cross would definately be an interesting one ...

Title: Re: We are very pleased with our Texel x Romney ewe lambs, will keep for breeding
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 02, 2011, 09:38:13 pm

Quote from: Beewyched on May 02, 2011, 09:34:18 pm

early finishers or flavour (sorry never had a high opinion of Texels) 

Well we tried a Charollais tup for the first time last year and found the lambs to finish really well, early, lean - and with a tremendous taste, really succulent and sweet.  Our texel lamb has slightly more fat cover (still very lean but a layer of fat covering the chops even when finished early), is very tender but does not, to our mind, have anything like the flavour and succulence of the Charollais.

Title: Re: We are very pleased with our Texel x Romney ewe lambs, will keep for breeding
Post by: andywalt on May 04, 2011, 05:17:57 pm

thanks for your tips its always interesting, If I put a romney back on them they wouldnt really get the best meat carcass would they? in my eyes the Romney makes a great ewe but what about eating them?