[kanisha]

no ouessants on the list either you could put a hundred breeds on there and still not everyone would be satisfied. just take a look at the number of different breeds people on this forum keep and you have your answer.

[Castle Farm]

Real Shepherds keep Llyens 

[andywalt]

Ive added the lleyns but as for ouessants I dont think they will be a match with suffolks as they are really a miniture not really good for meat etc?

[kanisha]

now there you go with an assumption. lean dark sweet tasting meat they taste yummy. 

[andywalt]

that does surprise me and I will accept with my ignorance if thats correct. I thought that the breed would have been focused on staying small like any minuture or toy animal.

[Fleecewife]

Hi Andy.  OK I've voted and that makes 11 of us  .  I have put Hebridean but in fact I would do the cross the other way around so that I would put a Suffolk cross tup to Heb ewes - they are milky, thrifty, long-lived and excellent mothers who can raise large crossbred twin lambs for the meat trade, with meat which is leaner and tastier than the Suffolks. The cross gives white, tight wool so the skins are excellent for tanning.

For skins at the abattoir, they usually sell them to fellmongers (I think that's what they are called) and they get a fair bit for them.  Or at least that was the case, but most skins went to Russia and I believe that trade has dwindled recently.  I once got a cheque for my skins (I think about £5 each) but had to return it as I get mine back and send them to Fenland for tanning.  So clearly the money came back to the owner, or at least some of it.  I've no idea what happens now.  Some abattoirs may have brine baths in which they can soak your skins for you, but if not you must collect them almost as soon as the sheep have been killed, rush home and salt them straight away, otherwise the wool slips.  I can give you the details of how to salt skins if you want.

[kanisha]

that does surprise me and I will accept with my ignorance if thats correct. I thought that the breed would have been focused on staying small like any minuture or toy animal.

oops another assumtion the ouessant is neither miniature or toy. the words smallest ( non miniaturised breed) they are naturally very small if you see their island home and the numbers in which they died trying to survive the climate you will understand why. ideally adapted to the climate sheep on the island  can be traced back to the bronze age I believe.
they remain one of the few largely unimproved breeds of sheep left in Northern / central europe ad by unimproved I mean that they were not bred by selection for an excess of either meat or fleece. The islanders men were mainly mariners and away at sea for many years it was the women of the island ( and a true matriachal society where the women proposed marriage etc) who sold the meat which is renknowned for its good eating being considered pré salé. their predominantly black fleece is ideal for felting and can be rooed for fine wool was their supply for the traditional black attire of the islanders. sorry can't vote no ouessant on the list:-)

[Blacksheep]

We have had the skins/pelts back free from one abattoir, however we were having the lambs slaughtered for ourselves rather than selling them to the abattoir. When we have sold the lambs to the abattoir we have had to pay £5.00 to have the skins back. Each time have had to wait to collect them so we could get them salted quickly.

Have voted - and am of course biased as I have Zwartbles sheep - they have attractive dark brown fleeces with pale tips so do make for attractive lambskins. A goodsized breed with good maternal qualities and their confirmation, whilst not ideal butcher conformation, does generally make for easier lambing - have had feedback from a nearby farmer that bought one for his commercial flock that none of the black lambs needed assistance.  The meat is a leaner meat, but still with a good flavour and texture, and kids always seem to love it because of it not over fatty.  Lambs kill out out at over 20 - 22kg easily at 4 -5 months and can be taken to a much bigger weight if wanted without going over fat. They are a nice sheep to have about too!

[Brucklay]

ok - just me - love Jacob's - possibly not the best all round breed (maybe they are) but I just love them - not on the list!!!!

[andywalt]

Great.....Ouessants and jocabs on the list, great history on the Ouessants lets have some more........ any other sheep not on the list that you think will be a good match with the suffolk!!!

[andywalt]

anyone left to vote? any breeds that are not on list that should be?

[TheCaptain]

Portlands - Devilishly handsome Rams, good eating, cracking fleece and quirky red lambs.  what more could you ask for?   

[Rosemary]

What about Ryelands? They'd get my vote 

[andywalt]

rylands and portlands on the list ready for your vote   

[Brijjy]

Hello there. New to this site but not that new to keeping a few sheep, pigs, chooks etc. I notice that Wiltshire Horns are not on your list. Great meat producers. Great mothers who will lamb easily. Great looking. The best bit about them for me is no wool so no shearing and flystrike very uncommon in the breed. And if you like sheep with huge horns then these are the guys for you.