The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Hillview Farm on April 27, 2017, 08:45:09 am
-
So I'm off to View a bunch of mule yearlings. I know I'm jumping the gun a little but I'm just wondering what cross to put to them.
If your looking to buy some shearlings would you rather;
Suffolk X mule
Charollais X mule
Tees X mule?
I've got Charollais rams but just want to sell good desired breeding stock.
What do you think?
-
A Suffolk cross mule makes a nice breeding ewe. Then put them to a charolais tup and it gives a decent fat lamb x
-
Suffolk X very popular around here - lambs are tougher than the Charollais.
-
I'll throw a Dorset into the equation here... lambs easily and makes a good ewe for breeding, and a reasonable fat lamb too. We had dorset x nc mule pet lambs for a couple of years and although they don't look overly inspiring they always killed out well, never went over fat, maybe a bit longer to finish but all gone by November (lambed March), and would have made good mothers if we had kept them for breeding.
-
Texels out of Mules highly desireable up north as breeding ewes, and make decent fat lambs too. Charolais cross probably make better fat lambs out of Mules, and where you are the lighter fleece probably wouldn't be an issue for breeding sheep either.
I'm personally not a fan of Suffolks or Suffolk crosses, and they're a bit out of favour up north, but I'd imagine they'd do well enough where you are.
So that was no help at all, really! Your best bet is to ask the local auctioneers what would sell best.
-
As others have said speak to your auctioneer , in Scotland tex x mule sell in big numbers but Suffolk or charollais you would struggle to find
-
We put our mules to a texel tup and keep the gimmers to breed on. The wethers go as stores because although they grow like topsy we can't seem to get them fat (but darn sarf they would definitely fatten up.) We tried a Suffolk one year - and kept a few gimmers - only lambed them once and they went off on the one way bus - great big useless mothers and equally sackless lambs! Never again! We don't have charrolais, so cannot comment on them.
I like mules, they are wonderful mums, generally very milky and fairly easy to tame. Their downside is their size - they eat a lot and they are big to handle.
-
I'd be more than happy to put my charollais on anything to get a decent meat lamb. I would like to sell the ewe lambs hence thinking more text or Suffolk.
Will definitely speak with the mart and see what they say.
Clearly I shouldn't have said anything as the bloke has just called to say he's sold them.... third time this week this has happened to me! He's got some with lambs at foot so waiting to see what ram they are from and also how much more he wants!!