Purebreds? or mixed breeds?

[HilltopDaisy]

Do you have a mixed flock or purebred? I have two ewes, 2 years old, that are pets, mixed breed. I have this yearning to increase the flock, and have been toying with the idea of adding a Shetland ram lamb (he's 9 months old and available for a very reasonable price, in my area). I'm wondering if I ought to find two Shetland ewes. Will I regret not having purebreds? My goal is very undefined. I will not eat babies. I am learning to spin.

I'd really like to hear about your flock, and how you decided on which way to go. TIA

edited to say-if I were to chose a breed it would be Shetlands!

[Fergus]

We've had mixed breeds for 20-some years. You can do your own experimenting in genetics with the mixed breeds and the results were often quite interesting - They are just for wool. - all pets and each one has quite distinctive features!

[kesoaps]

When I got my sheep (3 to begin with), I just bought what the neighbor's daughter had for sale! One Suffolk cross and two Romney crosses. I knew absolutely nothing other than I was interested in milking them for my soap. Turns out the Romney's aren't good milkers, but the Suffolk is worth her weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. Not only do I get plenty of milk for soap, she has awesome lambs! Since I only paid $25 each, I made back my money pretty quick with the lambs as I sold them for three times that amount.

I have purebred icelandics as well. Still interested primarily in the milk, but have gotten into the spinning and felting as well. The only real difference I see between getting purebreds or cross bred animals is the sale price of the lambs. In this area, purebred icelandics without papers sell easily for $200 each. Registered animals are twice that.

A good friend of mine always said about his horses, "Doesn't cost anymore to feed a good one than it does a bad one." Same is true of sheep. Just depends on whether you want lawn mowers or an animal for some specific purpose.

[Ranchermom]

We started out with Barbados but recently got rid of the rams so now we are breeding them with two Friesian/Desert mix rams. We are hoping to get more milk from them in time, but also add some more meat and get them climatized to this Texas heat in time.

We hope to do the cheese thing someday, but in the mean time we have no problem at all finding buyers for the meat especially near Easter. I have a waiting list! I am not in it for the wool but that may be something I look into for just myself someday. I have a friend that is learning to spin maybe I can learn too.

I am also not going to become a breeder with our sheep to sell so I dont have to worry about pure breeds. Four years we started with 8 ewes and now we have 27 ewes, good breeders, no problems, twice a year sometimes too.

I think if your in it for the wool just find some mix you like and don't worry about the breed. If you want to sell them but not for meat then I think getting a pure bred is best.

Sam

[Terry W]

Originally Posted by kesoaps

A good friend of mine always said about his horses, "Doesn't cost anymore to feed a good one than it does a bad one." Same is true of sheep. Just depends on whether you want lawn mowers or an animal for some specific purpose.

This is always true-- and feeding high quality food is less expensive, in the long run, than feeding junk.

Now, I am committed to picking up a ram and a wether next month. They are hairsheep-- so no shearing. AND, they are rare breed, so I have committed myself to increasing numbers, preserving diversity, and maintaining the goals of the consortium--I figure when the 'ladies" arrive, I will have the wether butchered, and give some of the locals a sample- sort of a way to create a demand for the culls. I sure hope I don't get attached to these guys!!

[kirsten]

If you are interested in wool and will have extra wool and plan to sell it, I think it would be easier to sell purebred wool as people like what they like and buy what they know they like such as shetland wool. Other than that, you should consider your area and what sheep are already there and what your market is like.
Like for me, I want to raise Finnsheep but that is not happening for another year or two and so I have settled with doing crossbreds for the market place and replacement white faced ewes. I have started with 11 bottle lambs as my terminal flock and am buying my dorsets later this year. It is ncie to be able to produce purebreds and crosses which you will be able to do making your marketing options greater. But I tell you shetlands are tiny buggers so I would sell to specific individual buyers if I were you when you have extras. Your flock could grow fast so I would consider your options. kirsten

[ShortSheep]

When I was researching what sheep breed to invest in, the shetlands also caught our interest. One look at a purebred shetland flock, and I knew they were the sheep for me. I had a passing interest in cross breeding (shetland ram over ? ewe) for meat but it passed. We had babydolls for several years, but got rid of them as I just love the shetlands so much more.
I suppose it is personal preference, but I like breeding purebred sheep. I like seeing what I can do with the breed. I like selling purebred breeding stock, showing at breed shows, browsing bloodlines, and showing off/discussing my lambs to other shetland breeders via the internet. The shetland community is a friendly one. It wouldn't be quite the same if I raised cross breds.

[elgordo]

We started out with Barbadous and then switched to Katahdin. I tried to find another ram in my area and was having a hard time doing so, so I will also be buying a Dorper and a St Croix ram to mix in with my "girls". I also have managed to find an unrelated Katahdin, so he will join the mix also!
I don't find it nec to keed the breed pure; I want meat, lawn mowers and a few sheep to sell! I think each ram will contribute something to the overall flock vitality.

[Maura]

Your ram is half of your herd. Conformation is very important, and good hooves. The lambs get their wool quality from the sire. Obviously, you want a really fine ram. Purebred or not is up to you, but if you get a purebred, you will have a better idea of what you are getting in regards to characteristics. You want easy birthing, good hooves, easy keepers, and good spinning wool.

My ram is mostly Corriedale with some Merino. He has beautiful spinning fleece, sound conformation, and a decent personality. Three of my ewes are Black Welsh Mountain. I had a BWM ram and butchered him. The BWM rams have lousy personalities. The resulting lambs of the Corriedale cross and BWM have their father's fleece quality, but rich black like their mothers. I'm happy.

[Hank - Narita]

We have mixed breed also. The newest ewe lamb was from one of our 2 Dorper/Katahdin cross rams. The ewes are all St. Croix/Painted Desert cross. The only one who has lambed that gave us any trouble is fine now. SHe wasn't the motherly type but after 2 days locked in a cell with her baby, she is "normal" and protects the little girl. Another question: what would be a good cross for this baby when she grows up? Can we breed her to her dad with any problems? My neighbor has Barbs so that might be the way to go. Narita in AZ

[Somerhill]

The main reason to have purebreds is to produce breeding stock. In that case, its important to buy the best you can find/afford, and learn the breed standards. Then you select for type, conformation, productivity, etc. Its fun but hard. Takes time and strict culling to develop into a reputable seedstock producer. But as someone else has mentioned, you can then demand higher prices for your breeding stock.

From your post, it sounds like you'd get just as much satisfaction and enjoyment from your sheep buying some crosses, and experimenting with what types wool you get from different crosses. That is fun too, and just as valid a reason to keep sheep!

Lisa at Somerhill
Bluefaced Leicesters and Katahdins
www.somerhillfarm.com