[Scrumble The Goose]

Hi all
We have about half a dozen llyn sheep. We are considering changing the flock from Llyn's to Shropshires. The reason foe this is that we are told that Shropshires don't chew trees...is this correct? We have a Cider orchard and woodland, both recently planted with around 700 trees, and could do with the grazing benefits of sheep, without the hassle of tree & bark chewing...
 
Any advice or comments ?
 
Thanks
A (aka Scrumble the Goose)

[ShaunP]

Hi A


I have Shrooshires that I use to graze in between Xmas trees. They are great!!!


The Shropshire society website usually has local breeders listed. They push a book callers 'one crop from two acres' which is worth reading along with there guidance note called the 'golden rules'.


The main rule is that they need to be pure breed or the no tree chewing rule goes out of the window. Seeing what my Charolais used to do to jump the fence to get into the trees  it took a lot of faith to trust that it was a good idea. I was convinced after a visit to another Xmas tree farm where they grazed with Shropshires.


Shaun

[SteveHants]

Have you tried the Lleyns near trees?


I suspect they wouldn't debark unless they were pretty hungry, tends to be the more primitive/hardy of breeds that do this my experience.

[Rosemary]

I suspect they wouldn't debark unless they were pretty hungry, tends to be the more primitive/hardy of breeds that do this my experience.

Hmm, my Ryelands, or at least some of them, will eat bark.

[horlicks]

Hi,

I keep a small flock of shropshire,s in among xmas trees and  young woodland, they won,t debark your trees, but will certainly eat the leaves (not xmas trees). Best bet is to wait to trees are big enough that they can't reach the top third, I found 5/6 ft ok. You could probably winter graze before this and take them out when leaves emerge.   
 The  shropshire's have been easy enough worked with and produced good lambs (pure) of grass and have used the tip on x breeds again with good results. Just don't expect as many lambs as your llyens.

p.s. first post on forum (have found it very useful in past).

[SteveHants]

I suspect they wouldn't debark unless they were pretty hungry, tends to be the more primitive/hardy of breeds that do this my experience.

Hmm, my Ryelands, or at least some of them, will eat bark.

I have Wilts Horns and Lleyns often alongside each other and the Wilts will and the Lleyns seem not to.

[Bramblecot]

Hi and welcome horlicks .  My Shetlands and Greyface Dartmoor adore trees and have demolished fruit trees in a few days even with plenty of summer grass.  So be careful with your cider orchard!

[Raine]

 


My Balwen's have stripped bark off the trees in the area they are in.  Good grazing, hay and a daily feed, so they are not hungry.  The even strip the trees which have been cut down ready for drying as fire wood!