The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Small Farmer on July 26, 2012, 11:20:08 am
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I wondered if anybody had anything good or bad to say about this sheep. I can see that a few people have them on the forum but there's few comments.
I'm looking for a good natured, easy lambing mid-sized ewe for hoggit or mutton rather than lamb. I'd be interested in anyone's experience crossing with other rams too.
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When we moved to Wales we thought they would be the ideal sheep for our hill farm. They produce a good lean carcass, good quality fleece, they are good mothers and usually produce twins or more. Unfortunately some are a bit soft because many people who breed them have small flocks and show them so they are rather mollicoddled. Ours are true hill sheep but do not make the weights that lowland keepers can boast without some feeding. If you are on better land you will be fine. I do love them with their pretty black neat faces and they become very tame if you want them too.
PS will have some ewe lambs avialable at weaning.
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How about...... some Shetland x lleyns or shetland x charollais.
Multiple birthers.... good milky mothers...good fleeces, better feet thanks to the Shetland genes, tidier tails reducing need for dagging and fly strike fear, bigger carcasses but not too big regarding handling and nice slow grown meat flavour low in cholesterol and a sweet meat and they thrive off poorer lands and eat less.
Also, being a cross prices in are lower... you could buy in some shetland ewes cheap and put a commercial ram to them (farmers by me are please to have a ram out of the way on someone elses grass for the winter) so the ram is essentially free.
I have always had commercials and Shetlands separate but after my last crop of Shetland x Charollais I am definitely doing this cross again this year...and next year will be crossing my Mules and Texels to the Shetland ram too!
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I would tend to think that the lack of people on fora moaning about how they have died/got struck/had to pull lambs/have poor mothering ability, is rather a good thing, myself! Don't know much about them though....
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If someone asks about Llanwenogs, why start throwing other breeds in to the pot. :wave: All the things you say about the sheep you are suggesting would be true of the Llanwenogs Mallows S&P. I am spoiled because my other breed is badger faced welsh. The Llanwenogs are not pricey and their feet are usually good because they are originally a cross between welsh sheep and shropshire downs. So really they aren't far off what you are suggesting but with the added benefit of being a uniform type and you can show them if you want. :sheep:
Why did you think of Llanwenogs Small Farmer?
Your question about crossing with other tups, we have succesfully crossed them with hampshire downs, but we thought might try a shropshire tup in the future.
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Omnipeasant.... I am sure they are but I know nothing of Llanwenogs and I was responding to this portion of the message:-
"I'm looking for a good natured, easy lambing mid-sized ewe for hoggit or mutton rather than lamb. I'd be interested in anyone's experience crossing with other rams too. "
Just my personal experience of crosses that may be easier to get their hands on (maybe not!)
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We've only been into sheep for about 5 years but that's long enough to know that while breed societies and the RBST never speak ill of a breed there's always a reason for them being rare.
We've made a habit of going to breed shows, county shows etc looking at different breeds and asking owners their opinions. At the same time we're clearer what we want and don't want. I'm too old and fragile to wrestle 100kg of attitude. I want taste and tenderness and I'm prepared to wait for it to grow. I want to have a bit of fun borrowing rams and seeing what happens: we're way too far away from most of the breed heartlands to breed true anyway.
We have strong links to Pembs and no-one has so far had anything bad to say about them. I'm far too wise to repeat the comments we've had about lots of other breeds! And we've experienced enough ourselves of dodgy feet and susceptibility to fly strike. Even our very noisy and opinionated multi breed owning shearer hasn't had much to say on the breed.
My current fave of our flock is a 3yo commercial cross wether who has survived only because there's always been others better qualified to send off. He's 70kg of nothing special but friendly with brilliant feet and nice wool. This ain't a rational business!
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Friend of mine has them and he has had a few here from time to time. They are a nice breed. My one reservation is whether they would be on the large side for hogget or mutton, particularly bearing in mind that you will be offering them better conditions on your side of the country than they were bred for.
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I love Llanwenogs and we have bred them pure and crossed with BFL and had some lovely mules from them. The annual sale at Llanybydder is the perfect place to purchase some bargains - details from the society. The only reason why we no longer have them is that we decided to try a primative and only have a few acres. I live on the edge of the somerset levels, and the only problem I have ever had is that they are very susceptible to fly strike and the occasional foot problems.
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Hi Small Farmer Sorry i haven't posted earlier but been really busy
We have some pure and crossbred Llanwenogs. They are fab sheep. we cross with Hampshires for a good quality meat carcass and also keep the F1 cross females to put back to a hamp tup.
We find them very good on their feet, easy to keep and not too greedy. i can turn them easily which i find a struggle with our big hamps and they are big enough to give a sensible carcass at finishing ( if you don't want to wait months to finish off the ewes)
Down sides are they don't really fight if get sick they will give up very easily so sometimes you can't even know why they died without a post mortem!! we have found them dead in the field and they showed no sign of even being sick.
Other than that i think they are a very good starter sheep as you can get them quiet easily if you want to just by feeding some cake, but saying that we don't feed that much and if anything is going to get away and lead the hamps off into the distance it will be the wenogs :sheep:
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I had never seen a llanwenog ntil about a month ago, when visiting someone in yorkshire they had a few and we were given a joint of meat to takke home. I qite enjoyed the lamb it was not as greasey as some other breeds.
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Padge here.....on PF's 'puter................we had Llanwenogs for a while and crossed to a Hampshire tup..........whilst they mother well OH didn't find them a particularly endearing breed if that's the right word we sold the ones we had as a small starter flock only a few weeks ago.......he just didn't enjoy them....found them awkward......i guess best to keep what you like and he didn't so they've gone........much prefers the Lleyns..........
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:wave: Big fan of Lleyns here too :eyelashes:
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I have Lleyns and Beulahs - but my neighbour has 8 Llanwenog ewes and asked him today - friendly, non escapist and easy lambers were his comments.
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A smallholding & spinning neighbour of ours switched from Shetlands to Llanwenogs because they couldn't keep the Shetlands in their pastures. They are very happy with the Llanwenogs (although the fleeces aren't as lovely for spinning, sadly), as are their neighbour who bought their starter flock from the first neighbour. I think I remember them telling me they have also had good success using a Hampshire tup to produce a commercial fat lamb.
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Anyone want to see a Llanwenog?
You can see my lovely Sue at the back working.
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Damn good upland ewe. Tends to be too small and short for modern commercial tastes but for small flocks providing easier handling and niche markets they are very good. Fatten easily, cross well and are not too expensive to run.
There are several other breeds which are perhaps easier to find that will do the same thing but if our fuzzy headed welsh friends are what you want to try then knock yourself out!
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We have a flock of about 30 and have to agree with all the comments above. We run them with our Hill Radnors and found they need better grass than the Radnors to keep their condition (then again I watched a Radnor eating nettles today standing in a field of lush grass) and the Radnor lambs are better doers as lambs. Other than that, the lambs finish quickly even purebreed and are meaty. No wanderlust and Wenogs are very nice sheep with good feet and lambing %.
Allison
Love the photo OP!
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Thank you everybody for your varied and helpful advice.
We've agreed to buy some ewes for collection on Monday from a lovely gentleman we found nearby who used to be a judge for the breed society. Its rather exciting!
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Good luck with your new flock - they sound a lovey breed :thumbsup: .
Omnip. Nice photo of Sue working but what is that white stuff in your fields ;D ;D ;D . Haven't seen that for years down here on the South Coast - that'll jinx me ::)
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Hi Small Farmer - did you get those Llanwenogs? :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: Would like to see some pics of them :thumbsup: .
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It's taken a ridiculous time to get photos and download them: my apologies
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OOH I am liking those fuzzy heads a lot!! Very smart! :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :thumbsup:
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I'm thinking of getting a handful to throw into my 'mix' , either these or Shropshires, although someone said Shropshires were hard to keep !!! Not sure why? ???
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Almost Shaun the Sheep aren't they :eyelashes:
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There's some for sale on preloved, near chester. If anyone interested.