} dispatchEvent(new Event('reinitialize')); localStorage.removeItem('price.selected'); virtualPageViewData.eventData.user.subscriptionStatus = 'gs_true'; ecommerce: { Picture: Arthur Carron, Farmer anger mounts as lamb quotes drop another 40c/kg, Some farmers say you will always have some thin ewes in the flock but ewes are thin for a reason, and you need to find out why, I am furious about these prices, and every sheep farmer I know is furious its an absolute disgrace, John Fagan: My only regret about vaccinating for lameness is not doing it sooner, Little New Year cheer for farmers as lamb quotes well back on 12 months ago, Ballyduff man died as result of horrific wounds consistent with a prongs of teleporter, inquest hears, The Harvey Elliott conundrum: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has plenty to ponder after sensational winner at Wolves, An Evening With Mere Mortals theatre review: Energetic double bill takes aim at cinematic clichs, Man accused of murdering his aunt (76) by driving over her in tractor in dispute over land, Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector hit top quality centuries but Ireland fall to defeat against Zimbabwe, Musk 'lied' about funding to take Tesla private, investors' lawyer says, Sligo man who bought drugs off the dark net to sell is jailed for 18 months, Paschal Donohoe personally sold 1,700 of Fine Gael Superdraw' tickets to businessman Michael Stone, UCC get Sigerson Cup campaign back on track as Sean OConnor goal helps see off ATU Galway, Pat Kenny says he was quizzed about his sexuality by cops probing RTE colleagues murder, Gary Lineker distracted by sex noise prank on Match of the Day, YouTuber claims responsibility as loud sex noises interrupt BBCs Match of the Day, Unruly Dil scenes on the first day back bring a rebuke from the Ceann Comhairle, True Grit: Local garda shovels sand from moving tractor as snow showers hit. fireAddToCartEvent(); let bundle_info = bundles.filter(function (bundle) { const isHomeDelivery = false; }); successful_upgrade_redirect_url: decodeURIComponent(returnURL), }, []) Sheep farmer Hugh O'Connell with his daughter Stepahanie, 22 and grandaughter Chloe, 12 and sheepdog Bonnie at his farm in Ballivor, Co Meath. const urlHash = getUrlHash(); purchase.original_start_at = purchase.start_at; \u0026amp;quot;But there\u0026#039;s always money in sheep in my eyes, you\u0026#039;d always have a few quid. I find farmers who use a Beltex ram once will return\u0026#039;","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Farming Independent","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://m.independent.ie/theme/_base/"},"@id":"independent.ie"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/3bd96/38943274.ece/AUTOCROP/w1240h700/2020-02-11_bus_56894919_I2.JPG","height":"700","width":"1240"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.independent.ie/"},"dateCreated":"2020-02-10T17:09:01.000Z","dateModified":"2020-02-14T06:53:17.000Z","datePublished":"2020-02-14T06:00:00Z","keywords":"","thumbnailUrl":"https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/3bd96/38943274.ece/AUTOCROP/w1240h700/2020-02-11_bus_56894919_I2.JPG","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"My Week Margaret Donnelly talks to Hugh O'Connell"},"description":"Hugh O\u0026#039;Connell left school at a young age to go farming at home with his father and uncle near Ballivor, Co Meath. } const urlQueryString = window.location.search; }); !gigyaID ? var rect = adElemSticky.getBoundingClientRect();
if (!priceID) { } var elem = jQuery('.article-body').children('p:nth-of-type(' + elem_pos + ')'); adElem.style.position = ''; window.dataLayer.push({ } Wide enough to pass the lambs! Rams are valued for their ability to breed with ewes and produce meat lambs. But one of the most important things Mr Preece says about lambing ewes outside is to have a breed that can look after itself and can get on with the job without needing too much attention. . new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], span_tag.appendChild(text); if (! A pull or need for attention would be a rarity and (in our case) that lamb would be sold as a butchers lamb and probably the ewe culled too. } event: 'ee-productImpression', ? const gigyaID = getCookie('guid'); var nowTimeStamp = Date.now(); delivery_days: price.delivery_days || [], const selectedTabId = selectTab[flipPayConfig.filter_prices_by_badge]; eventAction: 'hd-address', I don't even like to look at them give me a texel anyday. fw_collection_links.midArticleWidget(collection); adElem.style.visibility = 'visible'; adElemSticky.style.width = rect.width + 'px';
} return; This brings a benefit of at least 4.80 per head. We maintain a broad and deep inventory in our warehouses, ready to satisfy customer needs on an immediate basis. } else { if (!isHomeDelivery) { In the late 19th century, this breed brought a revolution in the British sheep farming industry due to its large meat output. annual: tabPrefix + '-annual-prices-tab-trigger' return item.value; Mr Preece says these approaches to the management of breeding ewes may appear radical in comparison with typical UK sheep husbandry, but after spending time lambing ewes in New Zealand, he knows the Romneys capabilities. const subscriberCookieName = 'subscriber'; Dont panic and dont listen to the bad press on Tas about texels they are our favourites. try { document.getElementById('welcome_banner_wrapper').style.display = "block"; upgrade_bundles = event.detail.object.upgrade_prices.map(priceToEcommerceProduct); Cross-sections from 1/16" to 3/8", also most metric sizes (2mm to 6mm) and standard O-ring sizes const updateSubscriberCookie = function (purchase) { if (width <= 900) { } WASHINGTON, April 21, 2010 - Beltex Corporation, a Fort Worth, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 135,500 pounds of beef trim products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS . At the time, they had drystock, with a little bit of dairying, but that wasn't for Hugh, 59, and he developed a sheep flock. fontFamily: '"Nuacht Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif', FB.XFBML.parse(socialEmbed); vars.article.userWall = ! Facebook. This did not alter lambing percentage but it improved carcase quality, although the progeny were slightly slower growing than the Suffolk crosses. const item = { Even though they are born small they have a tremendous growth rate.". It's unusual to have lambing trouble in the Peds. badgeToFilterBy = 'upgrade'; var collection = '#vbmztjik-oqzyzau9-bciaxrrz'; let badgeToFilterBy = 'article'; } We tup 220-250 commercial ewes each year, using Texel, Dutch Texel and Beltex tups. '::placeholder': { }; const priceId = price_link.dataset.price_id; I was only thinking the other day to myself and somewhat smugly about how much our vets bills have been reduced since our change of direction. }, window.onscroll = function () {
\u0026amp;quot;I had been using pedigree Beltex on my commercial ewes for 15 years and five years ago I decided to start breeding a few of them, bought a few pedigree Beltex and now I\u0026#039;ve 30 pedigree ewes,\u0026amp;quot; he says.\u0026amp;quot;We sell rams off the farm to local farmers and local sales and we do a lot of showing at summer shows with the Beltex and Rouge.\u0026amp;quot;I like showing, I like looking at good sheep. At the time, they had drystock, with a little bit of dairying, but that wasn\u0026#039;t for Hugh, 59, and he developed a sheep flock. From mid-June onwards, a percentage of the Beltex-sired lambs from the largest March-lambing flock will be sold at the lightweight export sales, weighing up to 35kg. if (! } That was our first year entering that. }, const getSubscriptionStatus = function (purchase) { return -1; } I have only heard of one section in Charmoise ever. }); const plans = node.querySelectorAll('.c-box1'); } Some of the cross-bred lambs are sold off their mothers in mid-July and the rest are weaned at the end of the month. window.dataLayer.push(vars); Have 2 Beltex ewes to lamb this year (got rid of one last year as an OAP) and havent pulled a lamb in 3 years of lambing them- ever so scientific I know- texel rams, the ewes seem to spit them out quite quickly. We can also keep hoggs fitter through winter carrying a Beltex lamb than we could if tupped with any other breed. } return -1; ecommerce: { if (urlParams.has('gaa_at') && urlParams.has('gaa_n') && urlParams.has('gaa_ts') && urlParams.has('gaa_sig')) { That was our first year entering that. wallVisible: 'false' Manage Settings } }), Main characteristics of these animals are double-muscled hindquarters, coupled with fine bones which ensures maximum killing-out percentage of the finished lamb. Texel shearings to a texel tup can have difficult lambings so we use a lleyn tup on those with good results. age to catch the early lamb trade to bring the maximum financial purchase.coupon_applied : null, : getPricesByBadge(); } element.classList.add('fp-prevent-html-replace'); Welcome! ecommerce: { Average body height of the mature ewes is around 50 cm, and around 60 cm for the rams. Both rams and ewes are generally polled. if (['fp-card-number', 'fp-card-expiry', 'fp-card-cvc'].indexOf(element.id) === -1) { subscriptionFinishDate: cookieData.subscriptionFinishDate, const showUpgradeButton = false; So, in theory, commercial ewes should spit out Beltex lambs and the problems should be restricted to ewes with Beltex blood. badgeMap[tabPrefix + '-monthly-prices-tab-trigger'] = 'monthly'; premium_content_redirect_url = decodeURIComponent(returnURL); }); These Beltex lambs weigh about 4-5kg, compared to a Suffolk-sired lamb that can weigh up to 9kg. const badges = getBadgesForEl(el); localStorage.removeItem('price.selected'); } onboarding_article = 'https://subscribe.independent.ie/welcome/premium/'; template_placeholder_price_option: '
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', Feeding these ewes can be tricky because you want to give them enough, but not too much that will tip them over the edge when they are so fit. }; Years ago we lambed the commercial sheep in February and March, but putting them back to April means they are straight out to grass. document.getElementById('discover_more_banner').href = onboarding_article; } } else if (isUpgrades === true && member_redirect) { That covers the fodder beet I feed in late winter and the cost of about eight weeks of winter grazing at 65p a week a ewe. Does anyone else use a Texel or other commercial ram an there ewes lamb unaided outdoors? } else if (purchase.badge['epaper-access'] && purchase.badge['epaper-access'] == true) { adElem.style.height = rect.height + 'px'; } if (eventType === 'new_card_created' && isUpgrades) { priceExpireExist[prices[key]['id']] = Date.parse(prices[key]['active_to']); break; }); Please try again', Beltex Sheep Facts, Origin, Meat & Wool Quality, Lambing Problems, PeekaPoo - Size, Character, Breeders, Mix, Color, Sale, Price, Murray Grey Cattle Pros and Cons, Facts, Price, Simangus Cattle Disadvantages, Advantages, Facts, Price, Southdown Sheep Disadvantages, Advantages, Characteristics, Price, Belgian Blue Bull Advantages, Disadvantages, Facts, Price. (returnURL || member_redirect)) { window.location.hash = '#' + badgeToFilterBy; color: 'transparent', } This breed is primarily raised for its high muscle-to-bone ratio. Continue with Recommended Cookies. I find farmers who use a Beltex ram once will return', Sheep farmer Hugh O'Connell with his daughter Stepahanie, 22 and grandaughter Chloe, 12 and sheepdog Bonnie at his farm in Ballivor, Co Meath. } However, review full breed profile of the Beltex sheep in the following chart. They produce tight and dense wool having white to creamy color and act as a protective coat for lambs. return 'premium'; } adElem.style.display = 'none'; document.getElementById(tabPrefix + '-tabs').querySelectorAll('a[toggle]').forEach(function (tab) { console.log('observer.observe failed:', e); twttr.widgets.createTweet(tweetId, socialEmbed); Thanks everyone for you replies I used a 2 year old who went onto Welsh ewes as a ram lamb all bar 1 lambed unaided (big single) the ewes are all starting to bag up now bar 1 or 2 all are carrying singles (abit fat going to tup) so my nightmare is huge singles so that's why I've held of on the feed but will introduce some in last weeks. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. You need the pedigree early, as you need ram lambs ready for the sales. premium_content_redirect_url = 'https://member.independent.ie/'; He bought } } const domain = '.independent.ie'; } redirectToShopFrontWelcomePage(); snack_bar_error_message: 'Unable to process payment. price: price.amount, window.dataLayer[0].user.premiumArticleViews = premiumArticleViews; return; window.dataLayer[0].user.subscriptionStatus = 'gs_false'; The aim is to feed the lamb and get the ewe off supplementary feed as soon as we can. Some easy lambing some not just got to find the happy medium!! selectedPrice = getBundleById(subscribeLink.dataset['price_id']); document.head.append(leafletScript); e.preventDefault(); } Read some more information about this Belgian sheep breed below. document.getElementById('flip-pay').classList.remove('fp-prevent-html-replace'); } else { const isRegionalShopFront = false; For all Beltex Sheep Society enquiries please contact secretary: Barbara Huddleston. faq.click() According to Martin Brown, BELTEX sired lambs, which are only nine weeks old but weigh about 32kg and have large gigots, are the ideal carcass sheep for the early summer lightweight trade. }) meteredAccess: purchase.metered_paywall, } Part of the flock is bred pure and the rest of the ewes are run with Beltex tups. //-->, County Down Fisherman subscriptionFinishDate: purchase.granted_by_purchase.finish_at, flipPayConfig = Object.assign(flipPayConfig, { }); There is no reason to keep them to heavier weights when you can get this price at this age," he says. const selectedRegional = localStorage.getItem('selectedRegionals'); window.IMP.config = flipPayConfig; Your email address will not be published. var text = document.createTextNode(labelText); const oneMonthInSeconds = 60 * 60 * 24 * 30; } else { More than half the flock is put to Beltex tups to meet the growing demand for cross-bred terminal sires. subscriptionStatus: 'Corporate', const isGrantedBy = function (grant) { subscriptionStatus: 'Whitelist', Beltex-sired rams from a Texel-cross ewe are ready for salke from nine weeks old, says Martin Brown (right), pictured with Alan Brown (left) and David Findlay. const charCode = (evt.which) ? Beltex sheep have white face, and their wool is of medium length. const bundleValue = getBundleValue(purchase, 'purchase'); window.dataLayer[0].user.meteredResetDate = meteredResetDate; They remain on the concentrate for about four weeks after lambing. var _footer = document.querySelector("#colophon"); evt : window.event; They have a remarkable growth rate despite being born little.. socialEmbed.innerHTML = ''; if (selectedPrice.delivery_days.length === 1 && selectedPrice.delivery_days.indexOf(6) > -1) { return 'home-delivery'; The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. }; }); } if (urlQueryString) { card_number_style: stripeInputStyle, let productClickSource = localStorage.getItem('product_click_source'); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KJF4'); const priceExpireDate = function (prices) { To date these lambs have had exceptional growth rates and well ","articleBody":"Hugh O\u0026#039;Connell left school at a young age to go farming at home with his father and uncle near Ballivor, Co Meath. "Not only do they fit the weight spec, but they have the shape and gigots that are usually missing from the sort of young lambs traditionally aimed at the lightweight market.". let selectedPrice = {}; Lancashire sheep producer Robert Towers lambed 90 ewes in four days at the beginning of December. While some producers are worried about lambing problems when using Beltex rams due to their intense muscling, Mr Brown is swift to dismiss any concerns. } if (document.cookie.indexOf('guid') > -1) { virtualPageViewData.eventData.user.wallType = 'none'; any other ram now. Last summer, Hugh won three championships at three different shows. const cookieData = getSubscriptionStatus(purchase); const getUrlHash = function () { lean meat per lamb due to a combination of fine bone structure his first Beltex ram from S & P Clarke's Creevy flock actionField: { }, } if (Object.keys(event.detail.object.badge || {}).indexOf('home-delivery') > -1) { const cookieData = updateSubscriberCookie(event.detail.object); node.setAttribute('hidden', ''); evt = (evt) ? Mr Brown made his first draw for the seasons lightweight export sales in mid-May. For some of the lambs which I have }); Phil Preece lambs 800 ewes outdoors, feeds no concentrate, achieves a scanning percentage of 185%, employs no additional labour at lambing time and has a full time job. They had been born inside, but were turned out straight afterwards. if (!selectedPrice) { They represent the first lambing section of his early indoor lambing flock one that he reckons can incur less feed costs than running a conventional flock lambing outside in March. if (typeof bundleExpires[priceId] != "undefined") { }).map(function (key) { if (!! "They are almost like suck-lambs; the milk really brings out the gigot and by sale time they are full of bloom and tight skinned.". 'shopfront_annual_header_subscribe' : 'shopfront_annual_subscribe'; j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? return price.placeholder_prices; What are the common facilities found in a goat house. const faq = document.querySelector('[data-faq="' + hash + '"]') } }); return; bundle: 'none', event: 'ee-transaction', premium_content_redirect_url: premium_content_redirect_url, You would want Charollais cull lambs 43kgs or 44kgs to kill at 21kgs." John feeds no concentrates to rams that he sells on-farm but feeds concentrates for about six weeks to rams that he brings to society sales. let addressCovered = false; }); filter_prices_by_badge: badgeToFilterBy, Compared with a Suffolk-sired lamb which could weigh up to 9kg, these Beltex lambs are around 4-5kg. document.body.addEventListener('fp_user_event', function (event) { placeholder_prices: Object.keys(price).indexOf('placeholder_prices') > -1 } element.style.display = 'block'; if (Object.keys(event.detail.object.badge || {}).indexOf('premium') > -1 && ! const onMutation = function (mutations) { window.showNonSubscriberElements(); Scanning results showed quite a lot of triplets, so these ewes were given high-energy blocks before housing, says Mr Towers. } successful_upgrade_redirect_url = 'https://subscribe.independent.ie/welcome/premium-plus/'; is to mates a group of 40 ewes early to ensure that they lamb down You are now a premium subscriber', } Beltex Sheep Society. We will lamb ALL OUTDOORS unless there is a problem. } else if (selectedPrice.delivery_days.length === 2 && selectedPrice.delivery_days.indexOf(6) > -1 && selectedPrice.delivery_days.indexOf(0) > -1) { meteredModal.classList.remove('-active'); } window.dataLayer[0].article.wallVisible = 'true'; }; checkout: { I have lambed outdoors with charollais, charmoise and shetland rams. return 1; if (typeof prices[key]['active_to'] != "undefined") { The neck is broad but short in length. } const subscriberCookieName = 'subscriber'; if (price.placeholder_prices.length > 0) { const addShopFrontClasses = function (el) { if (welcomeBanner) { window.showSubscriberElements) { adElem.style.visibility = 'hidden'; const onHomeDeliveryPriceSelected = function (priceId) { }; const priceToEcommerceProduct = function (price, index) { } if (window.location.href.indexOf("#annual") > -1) { let bundles = []; and the pedigree will either be sold direct or through the Pedigree fireProductClickEvent(null); event: '_trackEvent', mutation.addedNodes.forEach(node => { return cookieData; // if we have a selectedPrice we will continue to use it setBundleToFullWidth(node); // Regionals Container return bundle_info; The big advantage of these Beltex lambs is that we can tick them over until Christmas time and then start selling again with no risk of them becoming over-fat.". } else if (node.id === 'dac-order-summary') { \u0026amp;quot;That\u0026#039;s affecting farming right across the country, the money that young people can made in other jobs. const subscriberCookieStatus = getCookie(subscriberCookieName) || '{}'; My mate used to look after some and said they are a pain. Hugh had quintuplets on the farm a few years ago and before Christmas he sold a ewe that went on to have quintuplets in Cork. premium_content_redirect_url: 'https://member.independent.ie/', If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.