The thing with ped sheep is you are selling them based upon your name, and your showing criteria and history etc.. . . . . . . it's not something that happens over night. But if it's something you are passionate about them crack on, but maybe not the easiest introduction to sheep!
LLeyns are very popular - and in certain parts of the country are a real 'go to' breed, they make a good maternal sheep. I personally don't run them, but know those that do, and they are very happy. They are also not too expensive.
I personally find that the system that works for me (and many others) is to establish a maternal flock, focussing on hardiness, ease of lambing, milkiness, etc etc etc. Aiming to get a ewe that is minimal hassle, will lamb outside, doesn't break too much, and can rear a good set of twins (her own bodyweight in lamb) on a grass based system.
I (and most others) them put a terminal sire to that maternal flock, so usually one of the continental breeds, or one of our meatier home breeds, in order to produce fast growing, heavy weight, good conformation butchers lambs. This also takes advantage of the hybrid vigour. The breed of terminal sire is probably less important than the kind of system and flock it comes from - i.e I wouldn't use a show type suffolk if you paid me! But would seriously consider one of the imported NZ Suffolk, same with the Texels, don't like them, but the NZ Texel is an interesting prospect!
Then when it comes to breeding replacements for your flock, I would use a maternal sire over the best ewes, and keep back any ewe lambs. So if you were using lleyns as your maternal flock, you would stick a lleyn ram over your best ewes, and keep back the ewe lambs to add to your flock.
Also, I know many, who lamb all ewe lambs to a maternal sire for their first year as in general they are easier lambed then the terminal breeds.
Eventually you aim to have three standards of ewes. The very best are in your replacement breeding flock, the worst (or those who have fallen below your set standard for some reason) have been sent to market and everything in between is in your flock put to a terminal sire (your cash flock).
As for what I would spend my money on - and i'm not sure how wise it'd be, but i've got a hankering to try - I was looking at a small flock of shetland ewes being sold with their lambs. I've mused about buying them, putting all of the males in the freezer and then putting them to a small terminal sire (i.e a Charmoise) and letting them get on with it outside. Then in a couple of years (or maybe next year) stick a shedder over them. Hill sheep should lose their coats pretty quick. But thats just me and i'm odd.
Topic: Price of Suffolks? (Read 4036 times)
