Sheep
Prior to the Foot and Mouth Epidemic of 2001, the farm had a breeding flock of 3200 mule ewes. They were very prolific and we regularly weaned 185 lambs for each 100 ewes put to the ram. They were all killed in the "Firebreak cull" that was designed to stop the spread of F & M. It certainly helped us in so far as it prevented our 1200-strong cattle herd contracting the disease despite many of our neighbours getting it.
With the decision to convert to organic production we wanted a sheep flock that would “self-replicate” i.e. the replacement breeding flock would come from within the flock. This would negate the need to buy-in replacements which prevent a disease risk, and it would mean we would have more control of the genetics of our flock.
We restocked primarily with Scottish Blackface ewes (because they were available) and crossed them all to Lleyn rams. The resulting cross-bred lambs proved hardy and we kept the ewe lambs as replacement breeding ewes. We established a pedigree flock of Lleyn sheep; these are a Welsh breed which is quiet in nature, prolific, has very strong maternal instincts, and is economic to maintain. You can find out more about the breed at: www.lleynsheep.com
We now have 400 pedigree Lleyn ewes, and their performance and those of their progeny are recorded and analysed by a company called Catapult Shepherd, a New Zealand company that specialises in animal genetics. All the pedigree stock is DNA analysed and gene markers linked to beneficial traits sought e.g. resistance to stomach worms or footrot. The rams with the best attributes are used to sire the next generation of pedigree lambs, or used on the commercial flock of 5000 ewes to produce replacement ewe lambs.
4 shepherds manage the flock and each has a gas-powered ATV to get him and his dogs around.
Good handling facilities are a prerequisite for handling this number of livestock.
With the decision to convert to organic production we wanted a sheep flock that would “self-replicate” i.e. the replacement breeding flock would come from within the flock. This would negate the need to buy-in replacements which prevent a disease risk, and it would mean we would have more control of the genetics of our flock.
We restocked primarily with Scottish Blackface ewes (because they were available) and crossed them all to Lleyn rams. The resulting cross-bred lambs proved hardy and we kept the ewe lambs as replacement breeding ewes. We established a pedigree flock of Lleyn sheep; these are a Welsh breed which is quiet in nature, prolific, has very strong maternal instincts, and is economic to maintain. You can find out more about the breed at: www.lleynsheep.com
We now have 400 pedigree Lleyn ewes, and their performance and those of their progeny are recorded and analysed by a company called Catapult Shepherd, a New Zealand company that specialises in animal genetics. All the pedigree stock is DNA analysed and gene markers linked to beneficial traits sought e.g. resistance to stomach worms or footrot. The rams with the best attributes are used to sire the next generation of pedigree lambs, or used on the commercial flock of 5000 ewes to produce replacement ewe lambs.
4 shepherds manage the flock and each has a gas-powered ATV to get him and his dogs around.
Good handling facilities are a prerequisite for handling this number of livestock.