[jeff23]

If so what was the cross like ?

[Anke]

Why would you cross with a smaller tup?


Shetlands are great for crossing with terminal sires, like Texel or Cheviots. If you can't do that I would go for pure breeding.

[Fleecewife]

Hebs and Shetlands are the same size, so the benefit of that cross would not be size, but to maintain the primitive character of the meat, and the sheep itself, if for some reason, you have only one breed of tup.  It's years since we did that cross, and then only a few times, as we don't breed primarily for meat.


When you say 'what was the cross like', do you mean the appearance, colour, fleece, meat quality, hardiness, or other specific traits, or just was it a worthwhile cross ?

[SallyintNorth]

I’ve put a Heb on some
Shetland cross sheep this time (all 1/4 or 1/8 Blue-faced Leicester) and also to one Zwartbles. I’ll let you know in three weeks’ time what the lambs look like 

The reason for using a tup the same size as the Shetland is that these are first timers (except the Zwart - we do want smaller lambs from them) and I like to give them an easy one while they learn their job. 

The experienced girls have gone to a Romney this time.

One of the most gorgeous fleeces I’ve ever had came from a retired Shetland x Heb...