[SallyintNorth]

You could do worse for their 1st time than use a shetland tup
Nice small lambs for a newbie to deliver, and once on the ground shetland crosses grow like weeds

I can vouch for this too 

We experimented with a Shetland on two Charollais X hoggs this year - and have two very very nice lambs.  Both born without assistance or attendance; both up and suckling with minimum delay and no fuss; conformation looks fab  , fleeces are very soft  ; growth is excellent; in fact, we are mulling over using the tup lamb on some hoggs and some shearlings this year... or alternatively getting our own Shetland aged tup or tup lamb.  (Problem with latter, for us, being keeping a horned tup when all our other tups are polled.)

[colliewoman]

Such a shame you are so far away, I know of a to die for POLLED patterened tup looking for a free to good home as his breeder is so enamoured with this beast she can't eat him
If you can fetch him, I'll go get him and hold him for you
 
Dunno if you can TB test sheep though, if I remember correctly that is a must for you isn't it?

[graham-j]

Hi,sorry I haven't mentioned TB,its not even something I have thought about to be honest.Should I be thinking about it.
What breed is the Tup are we talking about a Shetland.
If I crossed a Shetland with my Texal X Suffolk's,what sort of lamb would I end up with moving forward,they would all have to go for meat?
Can I expand my flock,buy breeding my Texal X Suffolck or do I need to buy in more ewe's.


Thanks Graham.

[SallyintNorth]

Such a shame you are so far away, I know of a to die for POLLED patterened tup looking for a free to good home as his breeder is so enamoured with this beast she can't eat him
If you can fetch him, I'll go get him and hold him for you
 
Dunno if you can TB test sheep though, if I remember correctly that is a must for you isn't it?

Yes, we only bring in stock from "TB-free" or wholly TB4 areas - which basically means Scotland is ok  and some parts of the very north of England.  Other than that, I have to say no, unfortunately.

Yes, you can test sheep for TB, although I don't know how easy or expensive it is, but since diseases have arrived on these shores in tested and certified disease-free animals, we would still not take the risk!

So thanks for the offer, but I'll have to pass.  I hope she finds someone who can use him.

[SallyintNorth]

What breed is the Tup are we talking about a Shetland.
If I crossed a Shetland with my Texal X Suffolk's,what sort of lamb would I end up with moving forward,they would all have to go for meat?
Can I expand my flock,buy breeding my Texal X Suffolck or do I need to buy in more ewe's.

We are absolutely keeping the good Shetland x ewe lambs on for breeders - we want those genetics in the flock.    So yes you could keep the best of the females on to increase your breeding flock.