Author Topic: Dorset s help (Read 3878 times)

Chrissykelly482 · « **on:** May 22, 2016, 04:45:15 pm »

Hi wondering. If any one has ever kept Dorset s want advice on there twice year lambing there needs and are they a flighty breed thanks

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2016, 04:55:17 pm »

I've never kept them but the folks I know that do lamb them every nine months. I know one chap who uses their ability to breed "out of season" to lamb in October and have well grown lambs ready for the breed sales the following Spring.

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2016, 05:05:38 pm »

I kept them about 10 years ago. I found they were quite suceptible to flystrike, very friendly did often breed twice a year if allowed to and they did tend to suffer foot wise too. On the plus side tons of milk, so a good choice for milking and their carcasses are quite fatty too, but a very nice meat. I would say give it a go, if managed very well they are very easy to keep, they're not usually flighty, again it depends on breeder, ours wwere very friendly. A word of advice be careful what stock you buy as some small breeders pile them full of cake, so look at them well and have a good chat with the prospective seller. Hope this helps and all the best with whatever you decide. It is a good breed to go with as a beginner, so I say yes so long as you choose a reputable breeder and make sure you see the sheep in their working clothes

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2016, 05:08:06 pm »

Quote from: Marches Farmer on May 22, 2016, 04:55:17 pm

I've never kept them but the folks I know that do lamb them every nine months. I know one chap who uses their ability to breed "out of season" to lamb in October and have well grown lambs ready for the breed sales the following Spring.

My neighbour crosses them with texel, definately a good breed for the commercial boys

harmony · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2016, 07:22:33 pm »

Quote from: Chrissykelly482 on May 22, 2016, 04:45:15 pm

Hi wondering. If any one has ever kept Dorset s want advice on there twice year lambing there needs and are they a flighty breed thanks

Lambing twice a year would take a lot of a sheep. You would need very good pasture. I would look on their website and see if there is someone near you that you could visit.

Backinwellies · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2016, 07:41:56 pm »

Technically isn't twice a year .... 3 times in 2 years is the norm (so 9 months as MF says) This obviously requires very good housing as you wont be doing an outdoor lambing in winter. The advantage of them is to be able to lamb Nov /Dec and rear lamb for easter .... but lots of feeding costs in this

shep53 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2016, 08:46:50 pm »

Used to keep dorset horns , easy sheep to handle very milky , lambed in nov pure and if they missed then lambed with other sheep in march to Suffolk , easy lambers , feet a slight problem but it was west coast

Sbom · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2016, 05:29:48 pm »

Does anyone know of a flock close to Staffordshire? I'm interested in the poll Dorset breed, particularly seeing what the lambs are like when crossed to a terminal sire...

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2016, 12:39:03 am »

it may be worth asking the NSA if there are any breeders around your area at all. I think that there is indeed a dorset sheep society they will almost certainly be able to tell you about any breeders in the area. good luck with it all and do let us know how you get on

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2016, 08:40:30 am »

There are three Dorset breeds - Dorset Down, Polled Dorset and Dorset Horn. All three are non-seasonal breeders, afaik.

The fleece is interesting from all three, but the Down has a very nice Downs-type fleece, as you'd expect from the name

, while the Horn and Polled have a longer staple, less crimp and slightly coarser (but nonetheless very usable) fleece.

I know less about any other differences, apart from only the Horn is horned, of course.

twizzel · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2016, 10:28:34 am »

From what I've heard if you regularly go down the 3 lambings in 2 years route it can take a lot out of the sheep. Most people I know with Dorsets lamb them in Nov/Dec to capitalise on the Easter lamb trade, but only lamb every 12 months.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2016, 12:36:13 pm »

Quote from: twizzel on June 17, 2016, 10:28:34 am

From what I've heard if you regularly go down the 3 lambings in 2 years route it can take a lot out of the sheep. Most people I know with Dorsets lamb them in Nov/Dec to capitalise on the Easter lamb trade, but only lamb every 12 months.

The only person I've known with Dorsets had two flocks - an Autumn lambing flock and a Spring lambing flock. Anyone who scanned geld could be moved onto the other flock for a second try, I guess, though I don't know whether she ever actually did that. She had a farm shop and cafe, so wanted fresh lamb year round.