91

Sheep / Re: Best time of year to send a ram for slaughter

« Last post by Richmond on October 04, 2025, 08:24:01 am »

Why don’t you send him to your local market? Cull prices are good and if you don’t need the meat back that’s where I’d send him straight after tupping. If sending in May I’d not bother wasting money to have him shorn.

I've never sent a sheep to market! Not even sure when/where our local livestock market is - probably Swaffham - but if his destiny is to be turned into mince then I'd rather he went straight to the abattoir (less than half an hour from here) than have the stress of going through a market first.

92

Sheep / Re: New tups, new breed in the mix

« Last post by Richmond on October 04, 2025, 08:14:22 am »

Sounds like you're all sorted then. Shame about Nigel though. 

93

Marketplace / weaners available, kune kune and saddleback x tamworth

« Last post by waterbuffalofarmer on October 03, 2025, 10:07:42 pm »

Hi
Advertising these on behalf of my friend. They are based in Chacewater, Truro.
Saddleback x Tamworth weaners 👀 🏡
1 litter ready to leave 01/10/25
2nd litter ready to leave 08/10/25
14 SBxTW boars
1 Tamworth boar
2 SBxTW gilts
Pedigree Kune Kune piglets 👀 🏡
Ready to leave 18/10/25
All pet quality
2 gilts
2 castrated boars
Lovely quiet temperaments, handled daily, will make great pets

94

Sheep / Re: Best time of year to send a ram for slaughter

« Last post by Twotwo on October 03, 2025, 11:54:12 am »

We’ve just sent a shearling ram to slaughter.. he hadn’t been used but was out with our older ram. The meat is rich but not in slightest tainted👌

95

Sheep / Re: New tups, new breed in the mixr

« Last post by SallyintNorth on October 03, 2025, 11:39:28 am »

The Shetland we're getting is a 5 year old black, whose owners are not tupping this year so wanted to find him a working home.  They've had him advertised on the Society "for sale" page for a while, and no nibbles, so when I posted looking for a lamb or aged polled tup, they got in touch.  They were so pleased to have the chance of a working home for him they offered him free to collect.  We were also offered one I didn't like and a very nice looking shearling moorit for a fair price for the evident quality, but we decided to take the freebie for now, knowing that it looks as though we should be able to source another polled boy when we need one, so no rush to spend money if we don't need to.

I'll be fetching Iain this weekend.  I've no doubt he will acquire additional monikers as we get to know him, lol.  Fingers crossed he and Thunderballs, James Thunderballs pal up nicely.  They've got two of our largest tame fleece wethers - 1/4 Wensey, 1/4 Romney, 1/8 BFL 3/8 Shetland brothers Marble and Corky III - for company too; Thunderballs, James Thunderballs is settled with them in a nice large pen already, awaiting Iain's arrival to do quarantine dosing of the two new boys. 

96

Sheep / New tups, new breed in the mix

« Last post by SallyintNorth on October 03, 2025, 11:20:29 am »

Dear Nigel, our polled Shetland of the Ever-ready Golden Balls, wasn't going to make it through another winter, and Vinny the Balwen's offspring can be a tad flighty, so Nigel's gone already and we've decided to let Vinny go, and try a Dorset Down tup.  I didn't want to switch to the Dorset for the first timers and smaller sheep until we've seen how big the lambs are and how they behave, so have found another polled Shetland tup to succeed Nigel.

Yesterday we visited our nearest Dorset Down breeder to have a look at a few tups of varying ages he was happy to part with for a reasonable price.

None were ideal but there were 3 whose issues we could live with for the price.  KT favoured the second oldest (he's 4) who happened also to be the tallest (although not broadest or best confirmation), and my favourite (who was the 5 year old stock tup) had a slightly runny nose when no-one else did, so we bought KT's choice.

The farmer is NJ Bond, James Bond, so of course we have to be 007 themed for the new boy's name.  We're going to make a game of it, get suggestions and have a vote, but personally I think KT's already picked the winning name, so I am referring to him as Thunderballs, James Thunderballs. 😂

97

Announcements / New diary post: Pickles / Apples / Flower beds

« Last post by TAS Bot on September 29, 2025, 09:08:57 am »

A new TAS diary entry has been posted: Pickles / Apples / Flower beds

98

Announcements / New diary post: Sunken garden / Winter Palace / Yellow bums

« Last post by TAS Bot on September 22, 2025, 09:06:19 am »

A new TAS diary entry has been posted: Sunken garden / Winter Palace / Yellow bums

99

Marketplace / Re: Small livestock trailer wanted

« Last post by SallyintNorth on September 21, 2025, 12:24:43 pm »

Just in case you haven't come across them, CLH trailers are excellent value for money.  Dealers nationwide.  I've no connection, but I've had 2, one on my last farm and I bought the same again here.

100

Wildlife / Re: Swallows'25

« Last post by doganjo on September 19, 2025, 08:12:04 pm »

Ours are still here but very active and occasionally grouping on the wires