[pauline]

In your opinion how many sheep would I have to keep to justify having a tup? We would like to go down the line of keeping a native/rare breed and due to the fact that we will be in the highlands (Sutherland) and will not possibly have access to a tup of the breed that we decide on. I don't want choose a breed just because it will be a good cross with a cheviot etc. I know we can do A.I. but would keeping a tup be less hassle
Thanks!

[shetlandpaul]

you would need a companion for when he is not with the girls. if you have enough land then a couple of extra sheep are not a big deal. our ram is friendly or he could just be thick were not sure yet. if your going to raise rare breeds remember that you won't be able to keep the lambs or you will need to switch him every couple of years.

[hexhammeasure]

also you don't necessarily need to keep two entire tups as companions to each other a castrated tup of sufficient age and size will be just as good a companion but remember to run both with the ewes otherwise they will fight when you re-pair them up

generally we allow one tup per forty ewes or 1: 10 if its a tup lamb 1:20 for shearling first timer

when our flock first started we shared a tup with another small flock. running both flocks together for tupping time ( we started with 6 ewes, now have 60)