Tari Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. I am small and don't have the luxury of not breeding ewe lambs if they are big enough. I have raised BFL crosses and have bred yearlings and have never had a problem. I'm not only raising sheep to work my dogs but for meat too. I will consider another ram for the first time but not breeding is no option. Thanks again to all who commented. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthfieldNick Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Tari, I use a Katahdin ram on all my first timers, no matter how old. I find that the small, vigorous hair sheep lambs make for a good first-time mothering experience. I almost never keep a lamb from a first-timer, so I'm not concerned about the wool-hair cross (although I DO have several of that cross, but not from first-time ewes). The Katahdin lambs are so bouncy from the get-go, they're generally smart enough to keep up with their mom, even if she's too dumb to keep track of them. The lambs are also small so make for an easy birthing. They grow fairly well (grass-fed operation, even my ewes get no grain), and while they don't finish as big as my NCC crosses, they make a fine carcass. That said, I am also small, and raise lamb for meat, and I've had terrible luck breeding lambs their first fall. I've been much happier holding them until their second fall. They often twin, then, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Hey Ben, The people I got my BFL from also raise Katadhn. They used to cross their BF with cheviots but got tired of shearing, so they got the hair sheep. Maybe I can use one of their rams. I saw the pictures of Nick. He looks alot like my Craig who is 15 months old. Thanks for the input. Tari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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