[georgielmgm]

Hi, me again!
Based on Rutland/Lincolnshire border and wondering if anyone could help with a bit of info on a few breeds that I'm look at to start a Pedigree flock. Looking to sell lambs for meat, possibly breed some good Pedigree tups to rent out, would love to start showing if possible, and also would ideally love a breed that gives good wool for my mum to hand spin and market the wool. I'm also only 17 so an easy handled breed would be lovely, but I do have lots of experience so I can grit my teeth and work some muscles! I know, lots of criteria! But any advice would be great!

So, the breeds in question; Shropshire Downs, Ryelands, Hampshires and Suffolks??
I prefer the look of the Hampshires and Suffolks overall, but have heard that the Shropshires have good wool for knitting, as do the Ryelands? Bit of a pickle! Any opinions would be brilliant!
Ta 

[Me]

Renting rams out comes with a few problems I would imagine, biosecurity ones for you and them. Breed a good one then sell it would be my advice. My preference of your two favourites would be for Suffolk, simply because Hampshires are suddenly so popular you are likely to struggle to find something genuinely good for a sensible sum of money. Possibly the un-trendy Suffolk would be a better bet?

There you are, an opinion. 

[Marches Farmer]

Hereabouts the Suffolk (non-show type) is still very popular for crossing on Welsh mountain breeds.  Show type ewes have a reputation for being "too posh to push" but I think it's because they've been selectively bred to look good in the showring but the big head and legs makes the birth process too tiring for the ewe.  We hire out Southdown tups but all are wormed, feet checked and quarantined for six weeks after their return, or are culled after the standstill period.  We're getting increasing enquiries from farmers wanting to go back to the "old" breeds as folks get tired of lambing problems with Texels and Beltex and thin fleece on Charollais crosses.  Sold a couple of rams to a chap with Scotch mules lambing outside in April, for just that reason.

[SallyintNorth]

Is there a reason you've already discounted other breeds?  For instance, Southdown? Llanwenog?  Norfolk Horn?  (Beautiful spinning fleeces all   )

Personally I'm not a fan of dopey Suffolks, and they certainly do not all have nice spinning fleeces.  And many have poor feet, so I would avoid if your ground is on the wet side.

I'm not sure what Hampshires are like to spin; if I remember I'll ask a friend who has Llanwenog and Hampshires, and spins.

And I've no idea about Shropshire's fleeces, sorry.

[Backinwellies]

Llanwenogs here ....  prolific  150% lambing percentage in our first year which didn't sound great till I remembered over 2/3 of ewes were ewe lambs!
  Lovely wool .  Not too big to handle,  and so far lambs growing very well.  I bought half of mine from someone who shows.

[georgielmgm]

Didn't want anything too obscure, and thought having something like Suffolks or Hampshires could be used as terminal sires for more commercial flocks, meaning a bigger market for me to aim at? Will have a look at the 3 you mentioned SallyintNorth, thanks! Never heard of Llanwenogs before, but they seem to be popular!
Thanks all 

[Porterlauren]

The thing with Terminal sire production, is that although it seems like a good way to go, most folk are unlikely to take a punt on an unknown ram from an unknown flock in their breeding programme. It's similar to the pedigree market in that it takes a long time to build up a good reputation.

[shotblastuk]

I have a theory to this question. Most breeds of sheep are the shape and size they are by many hundreds of years(in many cases) of selective breeding and developing to suit the areas they originated from by our forefathers, whether that be mountain hill or lowland breeds. For example Cotswolds look right in the Cotswolds,Suffolks are suited to The lowlands of Suffolk and Herdwicks to the Northern High regions. This is not to say they will not thrive in other areas but many don't. Different soil types,weather variations etc play a factor in this. This is just my own opinion but I do prefer to see the right breed of sheep in the right location.

[novicesmallholder]

Shropshires are great, we are addicted to them. Great personalities, great fleece for spinning, good  meat,  easy to lamb. Why not have a look on the website.

www.shropshire-sheep.co.uk

[georgielmgm]

Thanks for your advice everyone, been interesting reading! Think I'm going to give Suffolks a go, lots of them round here and met a guy at our local county show whose got some smaller bred ones and says he's got stock for sale not too far away, will let you know how I get on! Ta 

[Pedwardine]

Good luck 
Good points made by shotblastuk.