Benefit from no more shearing, crutching or tail docking.
Benefit from lambing outdoors with minimal hassle.
Benefit from high levels of output from grass.
Our aim “To provide commercial sheep farmers with rams that will produce lively lambs which will finish quickly off grass or can be retained as replacements”
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Easycare Shearling Ram and Hogget |
Easycare Shearling |
Ewe and lambs, April 2009 |
Ewe and lambs, April 2009 |
Our
woolshedding flock was established in 2008 with the purchase of 12 ewes specially selected
for bloodlines,
performance information, age and physical correctness from a flock of 140. They
were purchased just after mating. They
arrived at Ballyreagh in February and remained in the same 1.3 ha field of
grass/clover until weaning time. The field received no fertiliser and the sheep
no concentrates.
The
12 ewes produced 24 lambs, reared 22 and each ewe weaned on average 64kg lamb at
110 days. The lambs weighed 35kg on average at weaning. From February till
weaning in early August the ewes and lambs were handled 4 times, once for foot
bathing, twice for dosing for worms and then at weaning.
2009 Update
In 2009, 11 ewes lambed down outside with 23 lambs, 3 singles, 5 twins, 2 triplets and a quad. Currently 18 lambs are being reared on the ewes and two are being artificially reared. Again no meals have been offered to the ewes or lambs. Growth rates to 10 weeks have been 314g/day, with the average lamb weighing 26.5kg.
For many full and part-time farmers woolshedding ewes would be ideal for mating to a terminal sire. Do not be put off by the thought of fields littered by wool. As can be seen from the last photo above the fields are not covered by lumps of wool.
The Woolshedding sheep at Ballyreagh are being performance recorded through Signet Sheep Breeder and a few shearling rams will be available for sale in 2009.
For further information on Woolshedding sheep email Roberta at
ESI
Suffolks
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The Suffolk ewes must lamb easily and the lambs up quickly to suck. As can be seen in a couple of the above pictures ideally this will all happen outside, even in the frost. Selecting genetics based on Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) ensures or genetic improvement trend has been upwards. In terms of overall index, a measure of growth and carcase traits, this has improved for our lambs from an average of £1.00 in 2004 to £2.86 this year (2008). In addition the maternal EBV (measure of mothering ability) is 0.75kg. To place these figures in context the average Suffolk lamb in the UK has an index of £1.47 and a maternal EBV of 0.14kg.
2009 UPDATE
The ewes were exposed to the ram for one month in 2008 and as a result 25 ewes have lambed down with 38 lambs. Lambing commenced on the 27th January and the last Suffolk ewe lambed on the 26th February. Due to the snow and frost in early February (see picture 1 below), most lambs remained in the house for 3 to 5 days after lambing. Ewes received concentrates until the end of March and the lambs have been offered creep from 3 weeks of age. Lambs were weighed on 13th April as part of the Signet Sheepbreeder performance recording program. The batch averaged 30.8kg, 3kg ahead of last year and have gained a very respectable 384g/day. The Suffolk hoggets were mated with an Easycare ram in 2008 and most have lambed without much hassle. Picture 2 shows a hogget lambing outdoors unassisted.
Pictures below from 2009
| 1. Weather not pleasant in Feb'09 | 2.A hogget displaying good mothering instincts | 3.Some ewes and lambs | 4. A half NZ bred ram lamb at 9 weeks of age |
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For further information on our Suffolk sheep email Roberta at
Visitors are always welcome. The farm is just outside the small village of Clough, near Ballymena, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. BT44 9QN.