[juliesherriff]

We're gradually entering into smallholding world. We both work but have managed to acquire 6 shetland/cherolais ewes (Just under a year old). Looking to lamb next spring and searching for a ram to hire, shetland rams in the area are like chickens teeth, what are anyones thoughts on cherolais ram? We live near Brackley Northants. Any ideas. We have six hens and a cockerill and looking to add to this by hatching my own eggs. Also looking to try out a couple of weaners, any advice would be appreciated! We have 5 acres and have been growing vegetables for a couple of years. Any ideas or advice would be great.

[Fleecewife]

Hello and welcome   
I am surprised that you can't find a Shetland tup as they are numerous  You could try the Shetland Sheep Society www.shetland-sheep.org.uk for breeders near to you. As you are not breeding pedigree stock, your best bet might be to buy an unregistered tup lamb, use him on your ewes in November then send him off for meat.  That way you don't have the problem of where to keep a tup on his own, or of handling a fully grown tup, and your purchase price would not be much more than a hire fee for borrowing one. Also if you borrow a tup then you will have to wait until the owner has used him so your lambing will be 4 - 6 weeks later than ideal for your area. You would get larger lambs using a Charolais tup, but in fact you could use a tup from just about any breed you could get hold of.
Your set-up sounds great - good luck with it 

[juliesherriff]

Thank you so much ..... very useful info. The sooner I can give up the day job!!!

[Hatty]

Hi and welcome from South Yorks 

[little blue]

I love that "managed to acquire!"   thats must be what happened here!

hello and welcome

[CameronS]

hiya and welcome from fife 

[Hilarysmum]

Welcome from the pig fanatic and the pigs 

[Eastling]

Hi and welcome from Kent 
Good luck with the venture.