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Author Topic: Sheep breeds  (Read 5055 times)

Martyn

  • Joined Jan 2014
  • South lanarkshire
Sheep breeds
« on: February 01, 2014, 09:02:13 pm »
Any recommendations for a newbie?

mab

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • carmarthenshire
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2014, 10:12:29 pm »
are you looking to make money? keep as pets? lawn mowers? or lambs for your own freezer?

langfauld easycare

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2014, 10:33:16 pm »
 :wave: easycare ewes do what they say on the tin  :thumbsup:

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2014, 10:37:09 pm »
tinned lamb  ??? ??? :-J

 ;)

darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2014, 10:38:06 pm »
Black Welsh Mountain worked for me.  I bought the first two from a show flock so they were good and tame then everything that came after just followed on, so it made the flock very easy to handle


I sold the ewe lambs for starter flocks and ate the boy rams, or sold the occasional one that was good enough. 


Dont need tails or other bits cutting off


Meat is excellent, and almost fat free.  Nice size joints not to big.  Good mothers, very milky, never had foot problems and they are less prone to fly strike than many breeds as the fleece is not particulary absorbant, though I would still recommend using one of the pour ons.


And they were small enough for me to handle on my own
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

Fleecewife

  • Joined May 2010
  • South Lanarkshire
    • ScotHebs
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2014, 12:05:57 am »
It depends on exactly what you want them for, how many you have space for, how many you have time and skill and funds to care for, your local climate and pasture quality, and the market or niche you intend to sell them to.
Have a good think about those questions - once you know why you want the sheep then you can start looking at the breeds available and suitable and get the best breed for you.
To begin with it may well be a good idea to have a look around at what your neighbours have - mostly blackies I expect - then try them for the first year or two.  If they suit then fine, if not it's very easy to change your breed.  The advantage of sheep is that you can eat your mistakes.
"Let's not talk about what we can do, but do what we can"

There is NO planet B - what are YOU doing to save our home?

Do something today that your future self will thank you for - plant a tree

 Love your soil - it's the lifeblood of your land.

Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2014, 03:24:41 pm »
Something YOU like :D - we all have our favourites.  The type of ground and facilities you have may dictate what breed.

Backinwellies

  • Global Moderator
  • Joined Sep 2012
  • Llandeilo Carmarthenshire
    • Nantygroes
    • Facebook
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2014, 04:20:13 pm »
How wet your land is will have some influence on choice
Linda

Don't wrestle with pigs, they will love it and you will just get all muddy.

Let go of who you are and become who you are meant to be.

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Martyn

  • Joined Jan 2014
  • South lanarkshire
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2014, 05:32:34 pm »
Going to check with the neighbour and see what he has. I have about 30 acres as one big open space,  it's a hill side but not steep, and only planning to have around 12 sheep at most. Like the idea of buying some lambs raising them and then breeding to sell lambs in future and eat some;) it's Lanarkshire in Scotland so pretty wet most of the year !

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2014, 05:43:55 pm »
Buy Tim Tyne's Sheep Book for Smallholders.  It'll give you the basic information you need to make an informed choice and a good idea of what you're letting yourself in for!

Fleecewife

  • Joined May 2010
  • South Lanarkshire
    • ScotHebs
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2014, 06:25:39 pm »
Hi Martyn.  Something else to think carefully about is how you're going to round up and pen your 12 sheep on those 30 acres  :roflanim:  Hope you've got a sheep dog  :dog:
"Let's not talk about what we can do, but do what we can"

There is NO planet B - what are YOU doing to save our home?

Do something today that your future self will thank you for - plant a tree

 Love your soil - it's the lifeblood of your land.

Martyn

  • Joined Jan 2014
  • South lanarkshire
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2014, 08:17:30 pm »
I live on 262 acres at Biggar and have a very nice shepherd with dogs who will help me over at my other site. Also going to help with other aspects and advice.

Martyn

  • Joined Jan 2014
  • South lanarkshire
Re: Sheep breeds
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2014, 08:18:41 pm »
Will Defo buy that book

 

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