The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: raygezer on May 22, 2013, 10:06:41 pm

Title: black faced ewes
Post by: raygezer on May 22, 2013, 10:06:41 pm
hi folks a quick question i have been offerd two black faced sheep for 100 euros each they ate 1yr old os that expensive ?? and are they hardy thanx
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: ScotsGirl on May 22, 2013, 10:12:13 pm
If well grown then no I don't think so. I am selling some black faces, Suffolk crosses, and will be looking for £100 each. It might be expensive if boys for slaughter.
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: SteveHants on May 23, 2013, 12:50:19 am
I think the OP means Scotch Blackfaces - and 100 euro could be good, could be bad, depends on the breeding/age etc.


But yes, they should be hardy.
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: Ina on May 23, 2013, 08:46:26 am
I think the OP means Scotch Blackfaces

Scotch is whisky...  ;)

Scottish Blackfaces in Brittany? Whatever next! Didn't think they had them anywhere outside the UK...
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: kanisha on May 23, 2013, 11:58:30 am
they do have scottish black face outside of the UK but in this case I suspect they are more likely to be plain old suffolk crosses.
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: shep53 on May 23, 2013, 06:08:51 pm
S B sheep have been exported all over the world , big flocks in south america :sheep:
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: raygezer on May 27, 2013, 05:56:16 pm
hi all well i have just picked up my two new girls i think that they are sbf ewes but how can i make sure ? 1yr old looking good came from a breeder in brittany mainly for training sheep dogs !!!! going to try to find out more
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: Ina on May 27, 2013, 06:57:18 pm
Maybe if you post some pictures the combined efforts of all the sheep experts on here can come up with some educated guesses? Short of a DNA analysis, I suppose that's the best we could do... :D
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on May 27, 2013, 09:18:01 pm
Scottish blackface ewes are horned, are these? Would they be if they are crosses?

Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: hexhammeasure on May 27, 2013, 09:21:11 pm
suffolk crosses are usuall hornles but can have small nubbocks, Scottish Blackfaces are always horned

Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: raygezer on May 28, 2013, 01:13:56 pm
hi they both have horns and they look the same as ive seen on titernet i dont think they will put up with my dogs they are already standing up to them.  :excited: one question what are they like for stayin put in there field ??? thanc
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 28, 2013, 02:17:08 pm
C'mon, raygezer, we want pictures!   :D  Some of us can tell a Swale from a Scottish Blackface, a Scottish Blackface from a Hexhamshire one, a Dalesbred from a Rough Fell... and love to do it too! ;)

If they are horned black-faced hill sheep, they'll stay behind a fence only if they have enough to eat.  Otherwise, only if it's a really good fence. ;)  And yes, they will test a dog; dogs that know hill sheep know how to pass that test. ;)
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: raygezer on May 28, 2013, 02:34:51 pm
hi ill try an get pics asap not to good on tecy stuff ok :excited:
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: raygezer on May 28, 2013, 02:37:36 pm
hi pics of ewes on this site mobile.leboncoin.fr/vi/476268916.htm
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: kanisha on May 28, 2013, 04:01:01 pm
this link will work. http://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/476268916.htm (http://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/476268916.htm)
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: Ina on May 28, 2013, 05:00:10 pm
Well - it says in the ad they are SBFs... They look a bit different to the ones around here. Maybe just a different strain - or just fatter?
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: shep53 on May 28, 2013, 05:48:05 pm
 Look ok :thumbsup:   too much white on the face and legs for most blackie breeders :sheep:
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 28, 2013, 11:28:04 pm
Yup, wouldn't pass muster around here.  If I saw that much white on the face, especially on the forehead like that, I'd be expecting non-SB blood in there - Dalesbred or Lonk, maybe, or perhaps Rough Fell.

But in terms of the type, yes, Blackface - hardy hill sheep.
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: moony on May 29, 2013, 12:44:32 am
My first instinct would be rough fell. Whatever they are they would certainly be very hardy types.
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 29, 2013, 09:06:22 am
They certainly don't look like the Rough Fells jaykay used to have - and they were pukka  :thumbsup:  But it has to be said, over here TPTB in pretty much all our Breed Societies do seem to get overly hung up on colours and markings, when overall conformation, health and fitness for purpose are so much more important!

How are they settling in?  Has the dog got the measure of them yet?
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: raygezer on May 29, 2013, 12:10:40 pm
so the jury is out.the main thing for me is that they seem to be healthy bit timid but i am sure they will fit in with the crazy gang 3horses 5 ducks 6 chickens 3dogs 1cat. anyway many thanx
Title: Re: black faced ewes
Post by: Dougal on June 05, 2013, 05:10:58 pm
They are bona fidi Scottish Blackfaces, just not a type that are seen very much outside Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire. We call them Northies rather than the more common Lanark type that you see further south on the softer  ;)  hills in the borders! Perth type tend to have more white on their faces and a longer staple length to their wool. Their horns are more streamlined and they are longer of face and body. Usually their adult body weight is heavier than the border types, more in keeping with a rough fell.
Thankfully they are in France so I don't have to shear them, I clip about 4000 of them up here in their homeland, thin skinned cretins!!  ;D