The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Daisys Mum on May 14, 2015, 09:51:58 am

Title: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Daisys Mum on May 14, 2015, 09:51:58 am
i have a 2 year old zwartbles tup that I desperately need to get away, I have used him twice now and he has thrown some lovely lambs, my problem is that he isn't terribly nice when he is loose in the field and I have small grandchildren, last year my neighbouring farmer kept him for me but doesn't want to take him this year. He does not have the best feet in the world and was hard to keep sound last summer, requiring Micotil injections on a couple of occasions. At the moment he is in a tiny paddock with 4 shetland wethers but there is no grass so I am having to feed hay and he is now looking a bit skinny! If he was gone the wethers would be fine out with my ewes and lambs as they were last year. So anyone like a Zwartble tup very very cheap ( I paid £400 for him as a tup lamb) Any suggestions?
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Foobar on May 14, 2015, 10:06:17 am
It's unlikely that anyone else will want him if he is a "problem".  I would get him away now and put him in the freezer :).
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Me on May 14, 2015, 10:24:00 am
Cull him as soon as sound and off withdrawl. Just write it off and don't buy from that breeder again.
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Daisys Mum on May 14, 2015, 11:59:09 am
Cull him as soon as sound and off withdrawl. Just write it off and don't buy from that breeder again.
I have to be honest, that was my thinking too, just needed a second opinion, thanks!
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: mowhaugh on May 14, 2015, 12:40:45 pm
Take him to St Boswells on Monday.  You'll not get much for him, but at least he will be out of the way.
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: verdifish on May 14, 2015, 06:52:01 pm
I hope you are only breeding for the hook because the last tup id be using for breeding breeding  stock would be one who was unsound ! Get him away asap ! After summer he will be fat so do it now before he eats all your lovely grass !
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Anke on May 14, 2015, 09:29:06 pm
Take him to St Boswells on Monday.  You'll not get much for him, but at least he will be out of the way.

That's what I had to do with my black Shetland tup in March.... he was becoming very dominant and it was not possible for me to go into the field. All became much calmer when he was gone... and yes he didn't make much money, but Shetlands never do anyway.
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Daisys Mum on May 14, 2015, 09:37:10 pm
Don't think I can manage St Bowells on Monday but will get him away ASAP. and yes Verdifish I am breeding purely for meat with him, that wasn't my original plan but how it's had to be!
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Anke on May 14, 2015, 10:08:46 pm
Don't think I can manage St Bowells on Monday but will get him away ASAP. and yes Verdifish I am breeding purely for meat with him, that wasn't my original plan but how it's had to be!

Cull sales every Monday at St Boswells.
Title: Re: What to do with Arnie?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on May 14, 2015, 10:53:16 pm
I borrowed a zwarble fo a couple of months, I didn't trust him, don't know why, but then when I had to bring them in the field shelter for a couple of days I heard the occasional 'bang' as I walked away, went back and my little black ewe would be running round, one day I bolted the door, was looking at something when 'bang' looked back quick and he's smashed straight into little ewe's side, he seemed to wait till I'd gone before laying into her, couldn't wait to get him away.
She's just had a lovely black lamb, big chunky boy.