[Clive]

We are considering starting a flock of Wiltshire Horn sheep, with a ram and three or four ewes. In order to keep the ram busy and graze all of the land we have we were thinking about supplementing the flock with some (less expensive) commercial breed ewes. We were thinking of suffolks but that is purely a preference thing. Does anyone have any idea what would make the best cross? Or is this a bad idea altogether?

[ShaunP]

I have crossed my Charolais with a Wilts Horn and been happy with the outcome. Haven't kept any of the off spring for breeding as I want to down size my Charolais flock, all 6 of them, as I bought some Wilts Horn lambs last year to breed from.


Where abouts are you as I might be interested in hiring your Wilts Horn ram?


Shaun

[devonlad]

hi
we started with some wilts horn ewes and for the first couple of years we have put them to a lleyn ram. largely due to convenience as getting hold of a wilts horn ram to borrow proved difficult. the resultant offspring have either gone to the freezer or been kept to breed from. the lamb produced has been fabulous, nice chunky lambs rather than the rather slight pure wilts horn. i understand that crossing wilts horn with something like a lleyn or a welsh mountain breed is well recommended. we have managed to get hold of a wilts horn ram now on a 6 month share and this year all our ewes including crosses go back to him in the hope of producing our own easy cares.

[SteveHants]

for replacements, I'd but them to a lleyn or some other milky, maternal sheep - if you can get an 'easycare' along those lines, so much the better. Your 1st cross offspring to a wooled sheep might not shed fully, but will at least probably dag themselves - if you used an easycare they will shed and some may end up pollled.