The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Greenmoor on August 17, 2012, 03:46:17 pm
-
I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about the commercial value of Greyface Dartmoor sheep?
We already keep a small flock of 21 Mules, but I really like the look of the GfD and would love to keep a few. Hubs is a bit more head driven than heart(!) and claims they're worthless.
Anybody got any thoughts?
Gemma x
-
They produce useful meat lambs when put to charollais, Poll Dorset etc. The ewes are quite high maintainance needing their udders trimmed before lambing and they do get stuck on their backs when in full fleece and heavy in lamb. First cross GFD/Poll Dorset females put back to charollais work even better and don't have the wool issues like pure GFDs. Keep a few GFD ewes to breed cross ewes from then you can have the best of everything!
-
I have not found a use for the fleece yet, but lambs make a good size, the meat is lovely and the skins make beautiful rugs. Mine have lovely temperaments but are a bit high maintenance (like their owner ;D ;D ;D )
-
Pure bred GFD meat is nothing to write home about until it's over a year old when it is really tasty. However they're slow growers so we've been crossing with a southdown which has given us faster growing lambs with a nice temperament.
You have to like the GFD for its nature and put up with the extra work. I can't really recommend them except for temperament. I agree with Hazlewood
-
I'd love to see what a GFD crossed with a Blue Faced Leicester comes out like :thinking: :thinking: and I wonder what the fleece would be like :knit:
-
I'm going to try and weave the fleece from my GFD lambs into a rug, using a peg loom. Never tried anything like it before, but will post pix of my efforts (unless too hideous or laughable!). They have the loveliest temperament but mine certainly have feet and bum issues!
-
Thanks for your replies everyone :thumbsup:, some good points to think about there, I'll definitely give all of the points some consideration :o).
Say no more on feet issues - our mules have really struggled with all the wet weather so the grass is endlessly soaking (and a little on the long side as we had no stock on for the first quarter of the year).
Good luck with your rug Blackbird!
Gemma
-
I agree with the feet and bum issues and watch out for fly strike. They are by far the prettiest, friendliest and easy to handle. We got gfd cross shetland lambs born this year and they are brilliant. Looking forward to lamb chops!
-
Literally just walked through the door from helping a friend with flystrike on a lamb. First time I've seen it in the flesh (poor choice of words?!!). Poor little thing :(.
Your lambs sound very nice plt102 :thumbsup:
-
I agree with the feet and bum issues and watch out for fly strike. They are by far the prettiest, friendliest and easy to handle. We got gfd cross shetland lambs born this year and they are brilliant. Looking forward to lamb chops!
oooh... do you have any piccies of GFD x Shetland lambs? Would love, love, love to see!
-
I agree with the feet and bum issues and watch out for fly strike. They are by far the prettiest, friendliest and easy to handle. We got gfd cross shetland lambs born this year and they are brilliant. Looking forward to lamb chops!
oooh... do you have any piccies of GFD x Shetland lambs? Would love, love, love to see!
Me too. OH wants to try GFD X Shetland this year :thumbsup:
-
Would also love to know what they look like - they could potentially be my ideal sheep!
-
I'd love to see what a GFD crossed with a Blue Faced Leicester comes out like :thinking: :thinking: and I wonder what the fleece would be like :knit:
I think that would be my 'nightmare sheep'.... ;D
A really wooly sheep that is 'half-hardy' and loves to die.
-
I'd love to see what a GFD crossed with a Blue Faced Leicester comes out like :thinking: :thinking: and I wonder what the fleece would be like :knit:
I think that would be my 'nightmare sheep'.... ;D
A really wooly sheep that is 'half-hardy' and loves to die.
:roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim:
-
Well, none of you managed to put me off (I'm grateful for the advice on what to expect) and OH has agreed to me getting a few GFD :excited: Actually, I do believe his words were "Do what you want, you will anyway", but that's by the by :P
So next task is to find some!
Thanks again for all the advice :)
Gemma
-
Actually, I do believe his words were "Do what you want, you will anyway", but that's by the by :P
So next task is to find some!
:roflanim: :roflanim: Same here!
The breed sale is at Exeter very shortly but that is a long way to go. There are some nice flocks 'up country'- not all in the South ;D . The DSBA flock book is a good starting place. :thumbsup:
-
Thanks! Yes, Exeter is a bit far, but there is a sale at Chelford where there are some entered apparently. I'm going to Melton Mowbray, but OH is looking at pigs there, so won't be able to get anything there.
I'm not in a huge hurry so I'm not panicking :)
-
If you do make it to Chelford I'll see you there as I'm taking some ram lambs along for studding :fc:
It would also give you a chance to chat to both a DSBA judge and a DSBA inspector as well as some breeders.
I'm not sure there is going to be a massive selection at Melton Mowbray this year so you may want to check the show schedules before you go.
Happy hunting!
BTW, despite their foibles I absolutely love the breed. They are very docile and, apart from trying to sit them on their backsides :roflanim: , I don't generally have many problems with my lot (touch wood).
-
Thanks Haylo-peapod, good idea about Chelford. We're already going to Melton Mowbray anyway for the British Lop pigs so I'll definitely be having a nosy at whatever is there (although we don't have the trailer space to buy that weekend anywa
-
We went to Melton Mowbray last year but I don't think there were any there on the day. Far better to look in the DSBA website and find someone nearer. Tilly In Norfolk had very good sheep, but that's probably further in travelling time than Exeter which is motorway almost to the door.
If you can find a local contact it has advantages. We couldn't find a ram within 100mi although we're very happy with the crosses we did last years. Southdown cross GFD looks more like a Southdown so we missed out on the teddy bear lambs. On the other hand this years crosses born in April are all bigger than last years pure bred born 14 months earlier.
We will be having our ewes shorn or part shorn in September. That heavy fleece gets in the way of tupping, lambing and feeding, and we are in the soft south here.
-
......did I hear my name mentioned :eyelashes:
I will be going to Melton Rare Breeds Sale too :excited: , so hope to meet Greenmoor and any other TAS members there.
I still have a small flock of GFD, and have been showing them again this year at my local shows ,unfortunately though the Suffolk show and the Wayland were victims of the bad storms and cancelled :'( .
I`m going to the Aylsham show on Monday so :fc: for that one!
Sorry I can`t help myself -another picture the "Greyfaces" haveing fun at a show
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae26/thomsett_bucket/norfolkshow005.jpg)
Tilly :wave:
-
Ohhhhhh, gorgeous - well done Tilly :thumbsup: :excited:
-
Ohhhhhh, gorgeous - well done Tilly :thumbsup: :excited:
I have just been looking at your lovely website Blinkers.... how DO you get your pork rind THAT crispy. i am literally salivating! I am making Saturday roast tonight now - that's for certain!!!!