High Hedges Hereford Cattle and Wiltshire Horn Sheep
Our Wiltshire Horn Sheep
Shearling ewe by Celyn Pedro - approx. 15 months old
We started our flock in 2010 with the purchase of some ewe lambs from the Abbess flock in Essex, who are a Signet recorded flock. We affectionately call them 'the Essex Girls'. The flock has been expanded with purchases at the Wiltshire Horn Society Shows & Sales at Stoneleigh and Exeter where we bought some more ewe lambs and some theaves.
We had attended an Open Day at Offley Hoo, organised by the Wiltshire Horn Society, where the idea of using a Charolais ram on theaves was offered.
The argument was that the Charolais has an arrow shaped head that was not too wide at the top (compared with breeds like the Texel and Beltex). It certainly produced a good cross and we have been delighted with the produce - the meatiness of the lambs and the good growth rates. The flavour of the meat was something else - we've not tasted better.
We had attended an Open Day at Offley Hoo, organised by the Wiltshire Horn Society, where the idea of using a Charolais ram on theaves was offered.
The argument was that the Charolais has an arrow shaped head that was not too wide at the top (compared with breeds like the Texel and Beltex). It certainly produced a good cross and we have been delighted with the produce - the meatiness of the lambs and the good growth rates. The flavour of the meat was something else - we've not tasted better.
Celyn PedroFor 2011 matings, we used a pedigree Wiltshire Horn ram, Celyn Pedro on the theaves and ewes.
Pedro was bought at the WHS sale at Stoneleigh as a ram lamb, having been a class winner at the competitive 2011 Royal Welsh show. Pedro did a really good job for us and covered all the ewes at the first opportunity, giving us a tight lambing period of three weeks. We sold him at the WHS Stoneleigh sale as a shearling where he realised third top price in the sale. We hope he has done a good job in the Cumbrian fells where he now resides. |
Approx 13 months of age in the wet Spring of 2012
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Millwood Dylan
Millwood Dylan: Approx 15 months of age
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Millwood Dylan, by Cynfarwy John, (left) was our pedigree sire for the 2012 matings. He was a ram lamb himself and a splendid example of the breed.
He was purchased from the WHS Exeter sale in October 2012. We had a tight lambing period from his ewes and the lambs have done well.  Just 3 months of age
He has sired a ram lamb that we think is promising (out of an Abbess ewe by Kislingbury Quaver) - below. Our norm is to castrate the male lambs in the first few days of life so that they can concentrate on growing rather than the ladies, so we are watching his progress carefully, with the hope that he will be good enough to make the grade and become a flock sire. He has good width and length of body and his horns are shaping up nicely.
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