The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: woollyval on February 26, 2011, 08:52:12 pm

Title: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: woollyval on February 26, 2011, 08:52:12 pm
We are expecting our ewes to lamb in about a months time, however about 6 weeks ago took delivery of a new ewe from a college in the Midlands.....a ouessant ewe that had not been near any ram at all according to the college.....
So I left my ram in for a bit longer hoping to catch her late and anticipating that it was either a bit late or we would get a June lamb....
However today my son informed me there was a lamb in the field!
On inspection it became apparent its father was something unusual....so a quick message exchange with previous owners and the parentage was established....
A cameroon ram that had escaped from grazing the monkey enclosure ::)......I have heard everything now.... :D :D :D

Look...its very sweet.....and you can see the size of its mum by looking at the hayrack and bucket!
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: dyedinthewool on February 26, 2011, 08:57:00 pm
Real cute - what a surprise for you  :) :)

They both look well and content
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: ellisr on February 26, 2011, 08:57:29 pm
They are both beautiful but that lamb is adorable
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: Fleecewife on February 26, 2011, 08:57:48 pm
Lovely story  :D Do post another pic of him when he's all cleaned up and bouncing.  What is a Cameroon tup like?
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: woollyval on February 26, 2011, 09:20:21 pm
these are cameroons!!! http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cameroon_sheep (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cameroon_sheep)
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: faith0504 on February 26, 2011, 09:29:15 pm
they are both lovely, what a lovely surprise  :wave:
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: Joe11 on February 26, 2011, 11:29:52 pm
Very cute and lovely story to tell too. Cameroons sure look a lil funky  ;D
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: Fleecewife on February 26, 2011, 11:43:32 pm
Thanks woolyshepherd.  They look rather like Barbados blackbellies - are they related?    It will be extremely interesting to see how the little chap turns out.
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: Cinderhills on February 27, 2011, 08:37:30 am
Thanks for the pics.  What a lovely surprise.  :wave:
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: morri2 on February 27, 2011, 09:59:05 am
What an absolutely gorgeous lamb!!!  Has a good fleece by what I can see from the picture.  What are you going to do with him?
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: sabrina on February 27, 2011, 10:42:44 am
Very cute lamb and a nice surprise, unusual looking dad.  :sheep:
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: Blinkers on February 27, 2011, 11:53:31 am
What absolutely adorable little things.  Cameroon sheep look very interesting - never heard of them before.
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: Rosemary on February 27, 2011, 01:34:28 pm
Congratulations! Nice surprise. :)
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: andywalt on February 27, 2011, 04:32:59 pm
ahh well done nice surprise, how interesting.....


that ram gets about look at this, I think they must be good escape artists

http://lafermedesourrou.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-just-had-surprise-lamb-crossed-with.html (http://lafermedesourrou.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-just-had-surprise-lamb-crossed-with.html)

keep us posted it will be interesting how it turns out
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: woollyval on February 27, 2011, 09:16:17 pm
Andy....I knew Irene had a cameroon.....just didn't expect to get one here!
Mind you apparently 2 rams might have escaped.....the other one was a Herdwick.....so suppose I should count myself lucky!

He is belting around the field today with his mum....he is such a lovely mottled colour that I imagine his fate will eventually be meat and lambskin!
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: andywalt on February 27, 2011, 10:44:38 pm
 ;D ;D

I love the crossing of differant breeds and seeing whats the result !!
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: kanisha on February 28, 2011, 07:20:41 am
Fleecewife the cameroon and the barbados black belly are both hair sheep hence the heightened pigmentation ( hair holds colour better than wool ) but they are as far as i'm aware not that closely related.
Title: Re: interesting unexpected lamb!
Post by: doganjo on February 28, 2011, 08:53:42 am
Fleecewife the cameroon and the barbados black belly are both hair sheep hence the heightened pigmentation ( hair holds colour better than wool ) but they are as far as i'm aware not that closely related.
I am totally ignorant about sheep except I like the taste  ;) ;D  Does the different coat mean they can only be meat animals - or is there anything that can be made with the coat?