[Remy]

Although I've had sheep for five years what I know about them has been picked up on the way and learning from mistakes!  I was first talked into getting six cade lambs which were initially intended for grass cutting; then talked into getting a ram from a sheep farmer friend as he said my ewe lambs looked like they would make good mothers (which they did!).  So from knowing nothing about sheep I then got into breeding which I knew nothing about  .

Anyway, apart from a hit and miss first year my Ryeland ram has produced some really excellent lambs from my ewes.  I then got some purebred Charollais and they too have had fantastic lambs.  From what I have read crossbred lambs usually have the hybrid vigour that purebreds don't have, for the commercial market.

I have three rams - a Ryeland, Zwartbles and Gotland.  My Ryeland is used to produce lambs for market and I got the other two to breed pedigree lambs (as I have Zwartbles and Gotland ewes) but also to experiment with cross breeding.

My question is, can you cross larger sires with smaller ewes?  Am I right in assuming that the smaller rams can cross with larger ewes with no problem, but would it be a bad idea, for example to cross my Zwartlbes ram (large breed) with a Gotland ewe (medium/fine breed)?  I wouldn't want to risk problems for the ewe at lambing.

[lachlanandmarcus]

I think it depends more on the ewe confirmation than the size of the ewe. For eg Shetland are one of the smallest breeds, but apparently they have one of the widest hip confirmations, hence they can when mature be bred to sires that normally you would think 'noooo'.

Not sure whether your breeds have this advantageous characteristic but Im sure someone on here will know!

[woollyval]

Will depend on hip size of dam and head and shoulder size of ram......I would never cross a gotland ewe with anything else because the pure bred fleece is worth a lot of money and pure bred skins can be sold for in excess of £120......I know because I have sold them!!!

[Anke]

I know that people cross Gotlands with Texels, because I have some. Once they are back to 3/4 Gotland the fleece is the softest light grey in colour and phantastic to spin!

Where in the country are you - I am on the lookout to send three of my Gotland X Texels to a pure Gotland tup next autumn, as it is not really worth my while to get one myself...

[Remy]

It's a shame that I didn't think of the worth of the pelt when I lost my little Gotland, she had the most beautiful fleece - but at the time it was a bit traumatic!

Anke, I am in north Shropshire.

[Anke]

Oh that's a bit far away from the Scottish Borders....

[SteveHants]

They say that successful sheep farming is getting big lambs form small ewes.....

So yes, is the answer, within reason.

[humphreymctush]

It will be fine.

[clydesdaleclopper]

Oh that's a bit far away from the Scottish Borders....

There is a new breeding flock of Gotlands in the borders called Tweedside Gotlands 

[Remy]

It's good to hear Gotlands are spreading!