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Breeds at Lackham |
The Mule
These
hardy animals are breed in the North of England by crossing a Bluefaced Border
Leicester ram with a Swaledale ewe. This cross has the hardiness and strong
mothering ability of the Swaledale combined with the larger size, fertility
and milking ability of the Bluefaced Leicester. The mule is the most popular
crossbred ewe in England used for producing finished lambs because a flock
of mules can average 1.8 lambs sold per ewe per year. It is crossed with a
ram from a recognised meat breed to give lambs weighing around 40 kg when
ready for slaughter.
The Dorset Cross Mule
These
are ewes produced by crossing the mule with a Polled Dorset Ram. This gives
a ewe which has a meatier frame. From the Poll Dorset the ewe gains an ability
to lamb early in the year (from Christmas onwards). These ewes are kept at
Lackham for the Early Lambing Flock. Lambs born in January will earn a premium
price from Easter onwards when supplies of finished lamb from those born the
previous year are coming to an end.
The Lleyn (pronounced kleen)
Originally
from Wales the Lleyn is gaining in popularity as a breeding ewe. Lleyns can
be kept as a pure bred flock to produce lambs for meat and also to breed ewe
replacements. They are a hardy ewe, smaller than the mule but with a respectable
carcass quality and good lambing performance. By breeding replacements on
the farm we can avoid the risk of introducing diseases into the Lackham sheep
flock. Good quality Mules from the North of England can be bought but inevitably
there is more risk involved, as was demonstrated during the last Foot and
Mouth crisis.
The Suffolk
The
exceptional growth rate of the Suffolk contributes to their outstanding performance
and popularity as the leading terminal sire in the British Isles. The Suffolk's
rapid growth rate unlocks potential and opportunity for quick production of
lean meat with minimum costs, with carcass weights of lambs averaging 18kg
- 21kg at slaughter.
The Hampshire
Hampshire
sheep, large sheep bred originally in Hampshire, England, by crossing Southdowns,
Cotswolds, and other breeds. Hampshires are large in size and hornless, have
black faces and legs, and are characterized by rapid growth. Recognized as
one of the popular meat breeds, they are raised all over the world on farms
and ranges and are one of the leading breeds in the United States, particularly
in Kentucky and California.
The Texel
The
Texel Breed is famed for its exceptional carcass qualities, which has resulted
in the Breed becoming the dominant terminal sire used in the UK. In 2002 it
is estimated that over 30% of all lambs slaughtered were sired by Texels.
The Breed is well known in Europe as a provider of a high quality carcass
which has a high killing out percentage. The Texel ewe is hardy and exceptionally
thrifty and her lambs have a tremendous get-up-and-go attitude, searching
hard for milk as soon as they are born.
The Polled Dorset
This
is the polled version of the Dorset Horn breed. The Dorset's natural ability
to lamb at any time of year provides the unique facility, only Dorset flockmasters
have, of supplying the quantity and quality of lambs at any preset time -
including the period normally considered out of season. The meat is tasty
and succulent. The ratio of meat to fat and bone is high, suiting the needs
of the market.
Berrichon du Cher
A
docile, powerful lengthy sheep, with thick loins and deep well fleshed gigots.
As a terminal sire the breed "clicks" with breeds and crosses, hill
and lowland sheep. The breed is exceptionally hardy, at a 185% to 200% lambing
average and a good will to live. Naturally lambing out of season cross ewes
make good early lambers.
Ile de France
A
popular terminal sire in France the Ile de France is a hardy sheep with high
prolificacy. Rams sire lambs which are strong and active and easily lambed.
Both rams and ewes are fertile all year round thus suiting early lambing systems.
Carcass quality is excellent with lean, well muscled gigots, large eye muscle
area and a good killing out percentage.
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