Author Topic: This year's Ram  (Read 3297 times)

Raine

  • Joined May 2011
  • Lincoln
This year's Ram
« on: March 24, 2014, 09:40:44 pm »
 :wave:


I'm hoping for some advice ready for later this year.


I have two BFWM, one Balwen and two Suffolk cross's.  The Balwen and Suffolk X's will have had their first shear.


Any suggestions on what breed of ram to go for.  I had wanted a registered BFWM, but none anywhere near this side of the country (Lincoln).

Pedwardine

  • Joined Feb 2012
  • South Lincolnshire
Re: This year's Ram
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2014, 06:14:51 pm »
No advice, but, should you opt for Gotlands I have some rams here in South Lincolnshire (nr Sleaford) which are all pedigree registered.

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: This year's Ram
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2014, 09:25:02 am »
Can you get a Southdown?  You'd have some decent fat lambs and some nice fleeces  :eyelashes:  :spin: :knit:

I always sing the praises of the Charollais as a terminal sire (for a fat lamb.)  Lambs are usually fine-skinned and slippery, not too large, so easily lambed, very active so up and round to the milk bar quickly, and then grow well so should make a decent fat lamb from any mother.  And as it has a 'fine skin' too, again you could get some nice fleeces on the offspring.

What else is available locally?
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

roddycm

  • Joined Jul 2013
Re: This year's Ram
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2014, 01:45:01 pm »
Any ram will do te job! Just pick one you like the look of... Have you contacted the bf society? Bf don't tend to sell as well if you are wanting to take yours to market at all I go for a more traditional terminal sire... Maybe a local farmer can lend you one or hire for a minimal fee!? Worth asking as it makes life much easier not having to have a ram on the place all the time and you then don't have to worry about father daughter makings as you can hire or borrow a new one every year!

Raine

  • Joined May 2011
  • Lincoln
Re: This year's Ram
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2014, 02:40:47 pm »
 :wave:


Not sure what's around, really trying to get idea's ready for summer, when I will look in earnest.


We eat all our own rams and had our own ram last year.  He was a Balwen and bit of a steeple jumper, so sold him on.


Will keep looking and listening.

Fowlman

  • Joined Apr 2012
  • Wiltshire
Re: This year's Ram
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2014, 02:52:31 pm »
How about a Dorset ?

Tucked away on the downs in wiltshire.

 

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