The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: melholly on September 04, 2012, 08:56:46 pm
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Had some cracking lambs this year from our P Dorset girls and loaned P Dorest ram. Sadly the farm with the ram are selling him this month. He's offered me the services of a Southdown ram but I'm too inexperienced to know if this suits me!
I only have 6 ewes to be covered and next year I may keep 1/2 lambs for lawn mowing and breeding then either slaughter and sell the meat or sell on at market The rest - whichever is more profitable????
So essentially would a Southdown x P Dorset impact negatively on my plans in any way? Any thoughts on this greatly appreciated and any local P Dorset rams that would like to visit are more than welcome!
Mx
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Well I have used a Southdown ram twice and it has produced some of the best meat I have ever tasted. I think it would be ok as both breeds have that 'teddy bear' look.
I crossed him onto mules and Suffolk crosses. I would say they came out a pretty ugly bunch except for my Suffolk x mums whose lambs had really cute faces and nice compact bodies. Only issue might be if you want to breed from ewe lambs. Southdowns seem to have fairly tight pelvises in my experience (which is not extensive but lost one ewe and need to assist my other one).
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Hi, one of the most popular crosses down here in the southeast is a southdown ram on a kent ewe. The southdown giving a good meaty carcase. (and tasty). I know of a couple of people with poll dorsets round here (kent), and i keep a few southdowns. Why not buy a p/dorset ram lamb, and then sell/eat him after tupping? :yum: