[Je]

Hi I am new to sheep, very keen for any tips. Thinking of getting a couple of Zwartbles and Coloured Ryelands a shearling ewe and lamb ewe of each. Is this a good combination/breeds? I have my holding number and know I will need herd number is there anything else? Field is 90% stock fenced but has a small section which is just wired, on other side is a steep bank with a burn 2m wide. Would they be likely to go through fence here? Also fair amount of buttercups, would this be a problem for my sheep? Sorry real newby any info really appreciated.

[bakerosc]

Hello!  Welcome to the interesting and satisfying world of sheep..:-)  Sheep keeping seems to me to be quite simple with the experience I have had and I also good fun-plus you can have a lot of meat for the table with just a few sheep! U will need a CPH number and a herd number which are very easy to obtain.  Then you need to register at www.arams.co.uk or phone 0844 573 0137 to register you have sheep at your holding.  On the fence side of things, stock fencing will be fine.  I have the stuff and the lambs have never been through or over the stuff...  I don't know about the wire fencing though as I don't know what it looks like...   If it is not suitable you would always just fence of a bit so they just have the stock fencing?? I not to sure but I don't see buttercups being a problem..  I have to Shetlands and they just eat anything!!

[Corajoan]

If you have a passive non escaping breed you will be fine. Ryelands are calm and won't try and escape.. We have patched some area with Harris fencing/ chicken wire or what ever we can find! Stock fencing however is perfect! Sheep will eat anything, good mixed grass and herbs... The only thing they won't eat is thistle and nettle... Buttercups are defiantly fine!

[SallyintNorth]

Lambs will go through the wire fence (no matter how docile the breed you choose), yes, so I would get that section patched with stock fence or a few hurdles or something.

If you start with 2 shearling ewes and 2 ewe lambs, you will need to be able to keep them separate when tupping time comes.  If your plan is to send the 2 shearlings away to a tup, then that's fine, but if you are bringing a tup to your own spot and don't want to tup the lambs, then you will need another paddock to put them in.

Sheep are lovely and great fun, but they can be a bit keen on dying, and do need pals of their own species.  So if you are not planning on tupping the lambs, I'd get 3 ewes and 3 lambs at least, so that you've a fighting chance of still having at least a pair of each when you need to keep them separate at tupping time. 

There is also an argument of starting out with experienced ewes, so that when lambing time comes around, at least one of you knows what they are doing!    So some people start by buying ewes with lambs at foot.  (And if a few of the lambs are males, that means you'll have your own lamb to eat sooner )

[Kimbo]

good luck Je.
We are also new to sheep and we get our first Ryelands in 2 weeks time ( and counting!). Having done as much research as I could, not least on this forum, I have to disagree about sheep being easy. I have bred cats, dogs, horses and chickens but I certainly don't feel I know enough to start breeding sheep.
My friend says "Sheep live to die" and I have found the experiences on this forum quite alarmingly like that! Im defo not ready for that yet. So we are just going to fatten our lambs for the freezer for a couple of years at least so that we get to understand sheep better, get used to handling them and don't overstretch ourselves.

I expect you have more confidence than me....nothing wrong with that as long as it comes with a good dose of common sense too 

[fiestyredhead331]

definitely get that last bit fenced off, especially as there is a burn on the other side, you can pretty much guarantee they will find that wire fence and go exploring! I have a burn in the middle of my croft which is fenced off but they still manage to find their way through to the burn and had a couple of losses 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Hi I am new to sheep, very keen for any tips. Thinking of getting a couple of Zwartbles and Coloured Ryelands a shearling ewe and lamb ewe of each. Is this a good combination/breeds? I have my holding number and know I will need herd number is there anything else? Field is 90% stock fenced but has a small section which is just wired, on other side is a steep bank with a burn 2m wide. Would they be likely to go through fence here? Also fair amount of buttercups, would this be a problem for my sheep? Sorry real newby any info really appreciated.
[/quote




I don't think that buttercups are a problem, I've never had any problems with em, but look em up anyway just to make sure. The wired part may be a problem, I would get it fixed to stop them from getting out a real determined sheep can get out from the smallest hole. If you cross breed a good Zwarbles ram onto any good strong breed of sheep they can improve them hugely. Remember Zwartbles, pure, take at least one year before you can slaughter them for meat, as they're a slow maturing sheep and the fat layer needs to be able to build. They have a lean fat layer, and if they're slaughtered before a year their meat is not very good, at about a year the fat layer has built up nicely and you get a good tasting and sizeable carcase. I crossed Zwarbles with wenslydale cross ( they had a lot of other breeds in them too I can't remember I keep pure pedigree Lleyn now) sheep and the meat was some of the best I have ever tasted. Hope this helps  and all the best, if you have any problems remember we're all here to help.

[Je]

Thank you for all your replies. Good advice and will be acted apon. Sure to have loads more questions over the next few months. Interesting about Zwartbles meat, thanks Waterbuffalofarmer  and SallyintNorth good points will rethink numbers if chequebook allows.