Draft Ewes

THE HERDWICK DRAFT EWE

ONE OF THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE COMMERCIAL OPTIONS

HARDINESS & ADAPTABILITY

• born and bred on the Lake District fells
• strong characteristic conformation
• moving to grazings at lower altitude accelerates performance with twin lambs frequently produced
• readily adapts to most conditions and sheep systems
• high health status

 

 

MOTHERING

• calm nature and easy handling
• ease of lambing
• milkiness
• mothering instincts strong when the ewe is in good condition, these traits are even better in the first cross gimmers
• strong mothering instincts mean no abandoned lambs
• cross gimmer lambs retain these characteristics when put to a terminal sire such as Texel

 COST EFFECTIVENESS

• regularly lamb from around 150% but up to 200% on good land
• low depreciation
• high retained value means cull ewes usually return their purchase price
• minimal overwintering costs
• perform exceptionally well on average land improving significantly on better grazing
• when crossed with almost any terminal sire will produce quality butcher lambs of R3L grade and above
• demand from both live weight and dead weight buyers
• finish off grass with minimal supplementary feeding