Breeding Stock

We currently- autumn 2009- have gimmers for sale. These are registered with the Hebridean Sheep Society and will be ready to go to the tup this winter. The Hebridean sheep make really good mothers and are easy to lamb. The lambs are quick to get on their feet and are very hardy straight from birth. 

We will have 10 ewe lambs available in the autumn once weaned. We happily keep the gimmers until the lambs have been weaned if you wanted both lots.  The bulk of the flock has been scrapie tested. I have several ewes which carry the ARR gene- the good guy- while none have the VRQ gene- the bad guy.

We will not have any heifer calves for sale until next year-2010.

The Shetland cow does have a very good reputation for rearing cross bred calves as they are such good milkers and do generally calve easily due to their relatively short pelvis. Data taken by the Scottish Agricultural College from herds in Shetland show that the Shetland cow when crossed with Simmental or Charolais bulls allows her calf to achieve daily live weight gains comparable to the growth rates achieved in suckler herds grazing the lush pastures of lowland Britain. Daily growth rates of 1.25 kg from birth to weaning are achieved in Shetland while a farm on severely disadvantaged land in central Scotland when crossing Shetland cows to a Simmental bull have achieved daily growth rates of 1.42kg for cross bred males and 1.3kg for females- see www.shetlandcattle.org.uk  

If you are interested in breeding stock and would like to see them first then we will happily put you up for a night and can advise on travel arrangements. We can also arrange for transport south for the animals.