The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: nutterly_uts on August 05, 2015, 09:34:38 pm

Title: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: nutterly_uts on August 05, 2015, 09:34:38 pm
Seen pics of these guys on FB. Does anyone know anything about them?

Are they no just a colour variation on a texel and refined?

http://www.bonteschapen.com/ (http://www.bonteschapen.com/)
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: Kimbo on August 05, 2015, 09:42:06 pm
Ive never heard of them but I think they look rather lovely. Don't look much like a Texel though.
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: Herdygirl on August 05, 2015, 10:02:20 pm
They look like they are a Zwartbles cross.  A lot better looking than the boring and tasteless Texel.
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: nutterly_uts on August 05, 2015, 10:02:40 pm
I like them too but not enough to get any from Holland!
Seen some pics of them with very blocky heads which is why i wondered if they had Texel in them :)

Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: firther on August 06, 2015, 06:39:29 am
they got similar heads to the blue texel so you might be right. never seen them before though
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 06, 2015, 05:00:06 pm
It would seem that they're modified Texels.  Bonte = pied, Schapen = Sheep.  ETA fokkerij = farming (had to look that one up)

They and their fleece was discussed on Ravelry  (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/blacker--beyond-with-ffsb/1602608/1-25)four years ago.  I don't know if the type has received any official recognition since then.
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: devonlady on August 06, 2015, 07:57:38 pm
They look like giant Jacobs!
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: Melmarsh on August 06, 2015, 08:03:39 pm
Jacob x zwartbles ??? Interesting , wonder if they have the naughty Jacob bit in them ?? :roflanim:
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: Marches Farmer on August 06, 2015, 08:10:44 pm
Surely have a dash of Texel, with that broad skull?
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 06, 2015, 08:21:49 pm
Jacob x Zwartbles?  Where's that come from?

The article linked and translated by the Ravelry group read:
Quote
NLBS [Nederland Bonte Schappen, I assume] is not a recognised breed sofar- it is merely a club of sheep breeders that awaits recognision of the Dutch government. The breed is mainly bred from Texelaar schapen and because it lacks recognision it is officially not a breed, but a type of breed. No race to be named - is a quote from the chairman of the NLBS-club that is interviewed in this article. The sheep are living with the members of this club, but also not registered (with the club) sheep are known. Some 10.000 animals form the entire population, mainly in the region between the cities of Rotterdam, Utrecht and Leiden.

So it would seem that it is unequivocally a Texel type.
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: nutterly_uts on August 06, 2015, 08:29:16 pm
Thanks [member=10673]SallyintNorth[/member]  :)
Do you need to be a member of Ravelry to read the article as I can't seem to access it.

Very interesting to see they ARE Texel based. They have (imo!) nicer heads than texels - more like the blue texels as someone said, so I'd make a guess that you can either breed for giant head, or color but not both..
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: nutterly_uts on August 06, 2015, 08:30:36 pm
Also, much prefer their number necklaces to the ear tags we have  :innocent:
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: Me on August 06, 2015, 09:12:59 pm
I use the number necklaces for management purposes, easy to see and of the ewe loses both tags you still know who she is
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: nutterly_uts on August 06, 2015, 09:33:56 pm
I use the number necklaces for management purposes, easy to see and of the ewe loses both tags you still know who she is


Where do you get them?
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: Me on August 06, 2015, 09:57:46 pm
Imported Schippers
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 06, 2015, 10:01:11 pm
Thanks [member=10673]SallyintNorth[/member]  :)
Do you need to be a member of Ravelry to read the article as I can't seem to access it.

Yes, you will need to be a member - it's free to join  :)

Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: ewesaidit on August 08, 2015, 09:01:10 am
Got to be Zwartbles in there surely - white blazes on the heads     Zwartbles also a dutch breed.   Have seen Zwartbles x Dorper sheep in the past (known as the Monsa) and they were similar colouring (Jacob like) but with prettier heads  :-J
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: namethatsheep on August 08, 2015, 08:20:24 pm
Noted on page 6 of the Sheep Supplement in yesterday's Famers Guardian that five gimmers, a shearling ewe and a tup lamb, all MV accredited, have been imported by Caven Maguire, Blackburn (England). There's a picture of seven rumps and a happy shepherd. Plans are to flush the yearling and implant embryos in Zwartbles. A further 40 are to be imported next year.
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: nutterly_uts on August 08, 2015, 08:39:37 pm
Noted on page 6 of the Sheep Supplement in yesterday's Famers Guardian that five gimmers, a shearling ewe and a tup lamb, all MV accredited, have been imported by Caven Maguire, Blackburn (England). There's a picture of seven rumps and a happy shepherd. Plans are to flush the yearling and implant embryos in Zwartbles. A further 40 are to be imported next year.

One of the FB posts I saw was looking for buyers to share the cost of bringing some over. If they breed them pure (or as pure as you can..!) I might be interested in a couple - will keep an eye and ear out
Title: Re: Dutch Spotted Sheep
Post by: Kimbo on August 09, 2015, 09:37:05 am
Blackburn is not far from me. I might go over and have a nosey at them !