The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ellisr on September 23, 2011, 10:33:20 am

Title: southdown ram
Post by: ellisr on September 23, 2011, 10:33:20 am
I am sure I read on here yesterday about someone wanting a southdown ram in sussex area but I can't find it this morning. Anyway I have some very good friends in sussex that keep sheep pigs chickens etc that maybe able to help people out.
They also keep polled dorsets and hampshire downs, and Paul has a lot of knowledge and is a great shearerhttp://www.westsussexlamb.co.uk/south_downs.html (ftp://www.westsussexlamb.co.uk/south_downs.html)
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: mmu on September 23, 2011, 03:34:40 pm
I've just had some Southdowns brought up from Sussex.  I would be very interested in making contacts there for the future for all the breeds you mentioned, as I am trying to get them established in Scotland, where there aren't many at all.  I'll have a look at the website.
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: ellisr on September 23, 2011, 04:03:10 pm
Debbie and Paul are lovely people and will be only too glad to help
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: andywalt on September 23, 2011, 06:54:57 pm
HI

I have a nice pedigree southdown ram, lovely  chap  available
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: mmu on September 24, 2011, 02:07:23 pm
Thanks guys, if only I'd known about you before I went sheep hunting!  I will be going again, but not until next year. What line is your ran andywalt?
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: andywalt on September 24, 2011, 03:04:26 pm
We brought him from the Heydown flock, sue greener in Haywards Heath,we use him for our smaller ewes, hes perfect for that !! and nice junky lambs
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: mmu on September 24, 2011, 06:28:13 pm
What breed are your smaller lambs?  I'll have to investigate that line/flock, it's one I don't think I've heard of.
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: andywalt on September 24, 2011, 07:46:59 pm
I have some small shetlands and some small jacob x norfolk horn, so hes perfect on them, Jet my southdown is in the flockbook as they showed me and I could find the pedigree number if required
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: mmu on September 25, 2011, 10:53:27 pm
I was curious because when I had Shetlands and southdowns before i had to use the Shetland ram on the southdowns as the other way round made for very difficult lambing.  I have just now bought a ram from England, which is why I said I wish I'd known about you before.
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: andywalt on September 26, 2011, 09:03:51 am
ok, no problem,  where are you based?
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: mmu on September 26, 2011, 09:15:18 am
I'm in Aberdeenshire, and I need to find a good transport system from England, as the method we used this time was less than perfect!  Sheep seem o.k though, except one ewe lame and the ram looked very stressed when we unloaded him.  Paperwork was a nightmare too. It hasn't put me off though, and I will be looking for a new ram at some time to replace this one.  Obviously this would have to be from different lines to my ewes.  It is really nice to chat to someone with Southdowns, as there are very few up here.
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: andywalt on September 26, 2011, 10:24:11 am
wow thats very far north !!
Title: Re: southdown ram
Post by: mmu on September 26, 2011, 12:43:15 pm
Very good grass though, full of clover and very rich.  I have to be very careful with down breeds or they get too fat for lambing, especially if they're a bit late in the year.