Strong case for Beltex tups
22 June 2001
Strong case for Beltex tups
High quality lambs from a
low-cost production system
underpins the management
of a commercial flock of
ewes run by one of the
UKs most successful
prime lamb exhibitors.
Jeremy Hunt reports
COMMERCIAL Beltex cross ewes are well suited to late lambing systems, producing lambs with good conformation at low cost, according to one Worcs-based producer.
David and Ivy Bishops flock of 80 late lambing Beltex-cross ewes is tightly stocked on the 10ha (25 acres) it shares with 20 pedigree Beltex sheep at Colwall, near Malvern.
The flock eats only 12 bales of hay/year, is fed virtually no concentrates, yet earns hefty premiums for its prime lambs.
Last year, Mr Bishop won nearly every major prime lamb award at the major shows, culminating in the supreme championship at Smithfield.
But showing apart, as more flockmasters consider the advantages of breeding their own replacement ewes, he believes using a Beltex tup could provide more of them with foundation females for this type of system.
Mr Bishop has developed a system of lamb production based on breeding and management principles that have much to offer larger sheep enterprises.
"We are capitalising on ewe type and a late spring lambing. Feed costs are minimal, but with prime lambs killing out at 55% – about 5% higher than most – they can earn a premium of up to £5/head."
He reckons such premiums are no longer confined to selling on the hook.
"Before live selling stopped, we were seeing wider recognition of the quality of this type of lamb by market buyers. I believe this trend will continue."
The commercial flock is based on North Country Cheviot and improved Welsh-type ewes, originally crossed with Dutch-bred Texels.
But use of Beltex rams, soon after the breed arrived in the UK in the early 1990s, helped ensure the flocks success.
Commercial females, which are 75% Beltex, are put to a Beltex ram. A small number lamb from mid-February to mid-March, alongside the pedigree flock, but the majority lamb in late April or early May.
"The commercial flock is easy to manage. Ewes are only housed at night during lambing time and lambs are turned out within 24 hours of birth. Lambs are very hardy.
"Mineral licks are always available and we drench regularly because we are tightly stocked. We feed virtually no concentrate," says Mr Bishop.
Preventing in-lamb ewes of this type putting on too much condition from grass in late pregnancy is a critical part of the flocks management.
However, there are obvious advantages to later lambing in terms of production costs.
May-born commercial lambs weigh up to 50kg by Christmas. "If we didnt need to keep lambs for showing we could easily draw them by late July or early August," says Mr Bishop.
BELTEXFUTURE
• Hill and lowland terminal sire.
• Quality lambs.
• Suitable for late lambing.