The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Alan on October 21, 2007, 06:25:03 pm
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Nice to see that you have managed to get some Ryelands, I think last time I looked you weren't sure that you had space. Our jacobs arrived friday having been held at St boswells because of foot and mouth. They are four horn so the Ram is a quite impressive; shearing should be interesting though!
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The Ryelands are awfully cute - I've had lots of reaction from friends and neighbours in that vein. But I do hope to make a "professional" job with them. I certainly hope to keep good records of the sheep - lambing %, lamb weight etc. To start with I'll be breeding from all the ewes, but hopefully as the flock grows I'll be able to be more selective.
I'm actually a bit cross with the Ryeland Flock Book Society, which runs things for the breed. I've twice contacted them via the website for information on how to register a flock (albeit small) and I haven't had any response. There's nothing on the website. I know it's a bit pathetic, but I've picked my flock name and I'm paranoid that someone will steal it before I get a chance to register it - not much chance, in reality. It doesn't say much about the Society's stated aim to encourage folk into the Ryeland breed.
Is the Jacob breed better?
He, he - I bet shearing Ryelands is easier than a four horn Jacob.
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:o
As a totally non sheep person, those sheep with horns sound dangerous. Are they?
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Our Ryelands don't have horns, but I've worked with Blackface sheep, which do (but only two!). Yes, they can give you a nasty knock, but having said that a shhep's head without horns is pretty solid if it butts you. The horns do make good handles, though - useful to grab at as the animal rushes past!
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Have made enquiries here in France about these adourable sheep and it seems so far there aren't any. A guy from Yorkshire has the sheep, and has a house in Britanny but does not live here yet.
We have emailed eachother a couple of times, and he may move out here next spring.
Can you tell me about the Ryeland? How does the meat taste/rate? What is the weight attained by the time of slaughter? What about temperament?
I have a real fancy for something different and these look just adourable! I know the foot and mouth restrictions affect things at the moment, but by next spring things may have changed.
Any info greatfully received!
Kate
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Ryelands are a dual purpose breed producing high quaity wool and excellent meat - so says the Ryeland Flock Book Society! I can't comment personally being a new owner and not having either sheared them or killed them yet. The breed was very much a wool breed and was developed by the monastries centuries ago to serve the wool trade. It's a down breed so should have a decent carcase and can be used as a terminal crossing sire.
They are quite small sheep, so easy to handle and seem very docile and friendly. Because they have little short legs and stocky bodies, they're supposed to be good in orchards and stuff because they aren't built to get up on their hind legs to eat leaves etc. They also have a reputation for only wandering as far as the next clump of grass, if they escape - unlike the Shetland sheep owned by a friend of mine who are wild wild wild and escape over, under and through fences and demolish small buildings!
I think they are a rare breed so there will be stuff on the RBST and have a look at the RFBS website.
If you wait long enough , you can buy some Rosedean lambs!!
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We are having a problem trying to get information from the Ryeland sheep association
website re breeders in UK.
We are deffinately interested in importing a small group to our smallholding here in Normandy but cannot commence our search without knowing who to contact. I have emailed twice now having received no reply to my first enquiry.
Any help would be appreciated. We know we have to wait for the import ban to lifted, but are gearing ourselves up to get some in for next spring if possible.
Thanks
Kate
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Oh, you and me both. I've made several enquiries via the Ryeland Flock Book Society website and eithre had no response or had to wait ages. It's not a great way of promoting the breed, huh?
I've got the Flock Book which lists names, addresses and phone numbers of Society members. Do you want me to pick out two or three in the South of England and give you their contact information?
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Yes please Rosemary! Ideally we would want to use Portsmouth harbour so any contacts in the south would be fantastic.
As you can see from our website we are keen on the rare breeds and since reading your entry on the Ryeland breed I have be reading with interest on google and would love to add them to our family here.
By the way I finally recieved an acknowledgement of my email from the society but still no information!
Thanks so much and looking forward to the info.
Kate
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Just say thanks Rosemary for the info - we have now made contact with a lady in the Portsmouth area by sheer luck, who may have 2 two year old ewes 'in lamb' for us in the Spring and has kindly offered to try to source an unrelated ram for us. If unsuccessful with the ram, there are three other contacts in an accessable area of Portsmouth for us to try, so as you can imagine I am really excited and looking forward to introducing the Ryeland breed, albeit on a small scale, into our smallholding.
I will keep you posted!
Kate
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Once they arrive Kate you are going to have to take up spinning cant allow beautiful wool to go to waste.
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Congratulations, Kate. You won't regret it!
Are they coloured Ryelands? I'm looking forward to a jumper from our wool - although I may have to find a spinner / knitter, if I don't get my act togeter!
Photos of the new arivals, Kate, please, in due course!
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From her website I think she has white and black, but what colours she will have available I am not sure yet. I really don't mind what they are though - just looking forward to introducing something a little unique for others to enjoy as well as us.
Kate
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Here is the link to the website of the lady who has the Ryelands.
http://www.asly29.dsl.pipex.com/alaec_index.html
I thought it could be of interest on here not only because it is a nice site, but they show what can be made from the fleeces. They actually send theirs away to Wales so do not have to bother processing the fleeces themselves.
I am going to see if I can source someone in France who could process in a similar way with not only the Ryeland fleeces but also the Ouessants as well.
Kate
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Kate re the Ryland and Ouessant wool, there is a lady called the Spinner who works out of 56, not far from Pontivy. She takes the raw fleece to the final product if required. She spins and weaves as well as knits. She takes knitting to an art form. I probably have her phone number somewhere if you or any one else over here is interested.
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Hey
:o
As a totally non sheep person, those sheep with horns sound dangerous. Are they?
Sheep with horns are not dangerous unless they have not been treated properly and then they can be dangerous!
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Hello ,
I would have to disagree slightly on this one . I have worked on many farms with sheep over the last 30 years and ,although I am by no means an expert, I have come across more than one or two sheep ,both with and without horns , that hadn't been mistreated in any way but , were downright dangerous. It was mainly rams , all they are doing is protecting their girls in their eyes. But on more than one occasion they have knocked me off my feet. Like goats it just depends on their temperament, mainly good but now and then a nasty one . There is a ram on the next farm to me here , he will chase you all over the field to have a go , and he can really motor. He has no horns to grab hold of either, so you either hope you can out run him ,or don't go in there with him ....I choose the latter !!! Ewes with young can be very dangerous too, if you aren't used to them . Once again that is with or without horns. The main thing is to take care with any sheep till you are used to them and they are used to you ....
cheers
Russ
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Hi, Russ
I'm with you on that one. I suspect that few sheep are dangerous through "malice" - they are dangerous because they behave like sheep and will protect either their females, in the case of rams, or their lambs, in the case of ewes. So it's up to us as the "smart" ones to think ahead, think like a sheep and avoid putting ourselves in potentially dangerous situations.
The same probably applies to most animals.
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Hello Rosemary,
yes thats about it . Trouble starts when we try to turn animals into people ...lol.
I have come across one or two sheep that were just nasty , but maybe they had a reason I knew nothing about? I think we all know of a bull somewhere that you daren't go in the field with . They say that one in onehundred bulls are dangerous , well I don't know I have never counted .....but maybe it is the same with sheep ?.... As you say though Rosemary , take care and avoid danger .
cheers
Russ
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If you want to know more about Ryelands just look at the Southdown Sheep Society website, which is comprehensive and the Secretary, Gail Sprake, is excellent. The majority of the flocks are on or near the South Downs (mostly Sussex) so if you want a similar type of sheep or can't find a Ryeland ram Southdowns are a good alternative. The Southdown was used extensively in the breeding of all the Down breeds, including the Ryeland - many folk can't tell the difference! The SSS has a number of members that regularly export to the Continent and are all geared up for it.
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The Ryeland secretary is pretty good too :innocent:
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I know this is a super old post but as its showing again in the sheep section i just thought I'd add my thoughts as I'm sure the society has changed in the last 5 years!!!
I would say that I'm more than 100% pleased with all the excellent help, support and advice that I have received since getting my Ryelands in August. The Ryeland flock book society in my option has been great and Dot is awesome as secretary!!! Everyone I've met so far has been great and super helpful. The society seems really keen to support new flock owners and explains things in plain English for those just getting into pedigree sheep.
Fingers crossed for a successful lambing in March for our Mules and my woolly bears with no SBV lambs, we are in Somerset and it seems that the area has been pretty badly hit :-(