The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Gunnermark on July 01, 2012, 09:27:57 pm
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I have 2 poll Dorsets and a Lleyn ewes. I am currently looking into purchasing a ram and unwanted to know which breed people thought would be best to keep pure?
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The Dorsets, for no better reason than they're cute looking ;D
But seriously, since a Dorset is a terminal sire, using a Dorset tup would give you pure Dorsets and also good meat lambs from the Lleyns.
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Totally agree with Jaykay tho I may be so bold to mention maybe even using a Charollais sire on both Lleyn and Poll Dorsets. Now those WOULD be some stunning lambs ( I know and am totally biased 'cos that is exactly what I have :o) )
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After seeing the results from a Charolais ram on our pedigree Lleyns this year, I'm off to find one for my lleyn's next year!
Tim
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Charollais x Lleyn Shearling Ewe - you gotta love them :o)
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Thanks for the pic that has given me food for thought! Thanks Jaykay I have been looking at a Poll Dorset ram but thought I would put it out there for opinions!
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Charollais' are a very popular breed at the moment and there are some very high prices being paid for tups. At Worcester this weekend the bidding was going sky high so be careful and don't get screwed over on price.
But i agree a good cross to have.
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I like my Lleyns pure.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/castlefarmpoultry/The%20Farm/100_1977.jpg)
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That pic has thrown a spanner in the works Castle Farm!
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I'll be honest.... I just love sheep full stop and would have Llleyns pure, Lleyn x Charollais, Llleyn x Poll dorset, Poll Dorset x Charollais, Charollais pure and Poll Dorset pure by the hundred if I could ;D
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I've got pedigree Charollais ewes and they make a fab cross with my Ryeland ram. Not that it answers the OP question but just thought I'd add a bit after seeing Charollais posts ;D
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Ok I can resist no longer.
The Charollais tup should give you small birthweight, easy lambing, get-up-and-go, fast growing, solid lambs. Ours are smaller and barer at birth than the Texel cross lambs, but grow faster and in some cases better, reaching target weights and top grades as soon or sooner than their Texel x peers. The fleece ('skin' as they call it up here) will be improved (made thinner and 'tighter') by the use of a Charollais tup too - and for selling finished lambs liveweight in the ring, this will add value.
The only thing to watch with a Charollais, if you are likely to have cold and wet weather at lambing, is that the lambs can be too bare and unable to withstand prolonged cold and wet. A plastic mac will help, but some can be so bare that they'd need a little rainhat too and maybe a warm waistcoat... If you would be in this category, then the trick is to get a tup with a lot of wool on his head. His lambs are likely to be less bare than those of a smooth-headed tup. We've had two Charollais tups; the latest has a carpet on his head ::) and has sired only a few very bare lambs, which we can manage with little macs and the occasional night in for the odd family who need it.
Oh, and the tups may need sunscreen on bare skin (face, lower legs, maybe belly) if you are in a region where you get proper sun in the summer... (we're not, I've only ever had to do this once.)
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Seems to me someone could make a good living breeding a line of Charollais with sufficient fleece! If you could make them less ugly-pink too, they'd then be the perfect terminal sire ;)
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Seems to me someone could make a good living breeding a line of Charollais with sufficient fleece! If you could make them less ugly-pink too, they'd then be the perfect terminal sire ;)
Eye of the beholder, eye of the beholder... ;)
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:D
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Seems to me someone could make a good living breeding a line of Charollais with sufficient fleece! If you could make them less ugly-pink too, they'd then be the perfect terminal sire ;)
:o Ugly pink??????????? LOL. I had to hide my girls' eyes from that post! they are my BEAUTIES!!!!
So basically, we are all agreed. Charollais' are absolutely WONDERFUL!
Mine did ok with macs on this year but we havd lovely weather in March. Llugwy farm do some amazing lamb coats... I am investing in some for defo!
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I will defend myself by pointing out that I used to keep Rough Fells, some of the most beautiful of sheep ;D My Shetlands are not as pretty. Better shut up before I offend anyone else ;)
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I will defend myself by pointing out that I used to keep Rough Fells, some of the most beautiful of sheep ;D My Shetlands are not as pretty. Better shut up before I offend anyone else ;)
Quite. And you have Muscovies too. Mrs Pot. :D
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Did anyone mention the fact that poll dorset can be put to the ram anytime of the year. Handy if you want autumn lambs! :thumbsup:
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No Muscovies any more, they've gone to another home as they were terrorising my calls and runners.
Partly accidentally, as they were practising their wings and would flap them energetically, thereby propelling themselves at high speed along the ground straight into a peaceful flock of ducks!
But also on purpose, they pecked the calls and had pitched battles with assorted hens. So they have gone to a much bigger lake and waterfowl collection where hopefully they will fit in better.