[Azzdodd]

This year is my first year of putting a full Texel ram over my ewes there all crossbred Welsh X cheviot X an Suffolk X There coming upto the last 4 weeks now and so far they have had no concentrates at all been on good winter grazing with as much hay as they wanted also had some fodder beat as I get it delivered by the tonne for the pigs. I don't know yet if there going to lamb unaided but only time will tell all ewes have lambed before with no problems. Does anyone else use a Texel or other commercial ram an there ewes lamb unaided outdoors?

[Ladygrey]

I have lambed outdoors with charollais, charmoise and shetland rams

I however have not lambed outdoors with a texel but not sure of anyone who does either apart from the new Zealand texel bred by easyram...

I don't know anyone who lambs the modern type with block heads outdoors

I know of loads of farmers who lamb outdoors with charollais rams though!

[moony]

A lot depends on the weather. We used a Texel on our Hebrideans a few years back in horrendous weather. No lambing issues, up on their feet & suckling quickly - they had very active mothers. We still have some of the ewes that it produced and every year I say they are the best ewes on the farm, we should do that cross again but never do! Your cheviot & welsh x ewes should be fine, your suffolk x lambs might need a bit more care as they will be a bit softer and dopier.

[Old Shep]

Most farmers around here use texel tups on nc mules or texel ewes and lamb outdoors.. We are lambing 75 texel texelxs mules and a few lleyns all to texel or suff tex tups.  We will lamb ALL OUTDOORS unless there is a problem. Texel shearings to a texel tup can have difficult lambings so we use a lleyn tup on those with good results. You have done the right thing not to feed concentrates but i would introduce some in the last couple of weeks to encourage the milk to come in. Dont panic and dont listen to the bad press on Tas about texels  they are our favourites 

[shep53]

 And I know loads of flocks lambing texels out side but no one with charollais as the lambs aren't tough enough ,  you can easily find texels without block heads and big shoulders  , more and more grass fed outdoor lambing pure flocks of texels are appearing

[langfauld easycare]

  i have used various texel .charollais, beltex ,and this year suffolk (lambs not here yet ) all outdoor the only problems i have had were a beltex that left lambs with a bull head which needed assistance . and 1 charollais tup which left soft lambs , there is defiantly alot to do with the breeding of the tup .both my problem ones were bought in 

[FiB]

The texel ram we used on a Lleyn and mule allegedly has gone onto Welsh mountain for that last 2 years and they have lambed outdoors no problem - he is a particularly narrow headed boy. I'll let you know how we get on, but We are outdoor system too.

[Azzdodd]

Thanks everyone for you replies I used a 2 year old who went onto Welsh ewes as a ram lamb all bar 1 lambed unaided (big single) the ewes are all starting to bag up now bar 1 or 2 all are carrying singles (abit fat going to tup) so my nightmare is huge singles so that's why I've held of on the feed but will introduce some in last weeks

[Old Shep]

One tip worth noting is get some lux type soap flakes. They work much better than lubricant if you have a lamb stuck. Mix with hot water to a gungy paste and push in around the head or whatever is coming out first!

[SallyintNorth]

We tup 220-250 commercial ewes each year, using Texel, Dutch Texel and Beltex tups.  All lamb outdoors.

The ewes are predominantly Texel X, with some Charollais, Dutch Texel and other breeds in the mix.  We have a few NC Mules, and breed up replacement ewes from them using the tup breeds listed.

We do get the occasional lambing that needs assistance, but so we would with any breed.  On the whole, it will be the ewes that have the most Texel in their makeup that need help, and the Mules need help lambing less (though may need more help with the lambs, due to more triplets.)

It's a fact that a Charollais tup gives easier lambing in our flock, but we have to watch for newborn lambs in cold weather in case they are too bare.  We don't use a Charollais every year.

A good (not too wide) Dutch Texel is the best option with our flock, but it is becoming increasingly hard to find one that isn't too wide and stocky.  We've tried a Beltex x Texel tup this year instead.

You've done the right thing not feeding concentrates until the last few weeks.  Fodder beet is very nutritious, though, so if they've had loads of that there may be some well-developed lambs...

[Azzdodd]

Well one went early today....still born lamb so had to get a pet lamb an adopt on hope it ain't the sign of things to come lol

[SallyintNorth]

 

Don't get hung up on problems - there are always a few at the start, keep positive and look forward to the happy healthy lambs to come