hi there everyone

I have a 3 acre property but I only got 1 acre to have some sheep as I am only 14 and still living with mum and dad. They have horse so there will be 3-5 horse with them most of the time.

im not looking to show the sheep or anything its more for sending them to the sales or meat works.

what breed would best suit my purpose I was thinking dorpers because of the way they shed and dont need crutching ect.

how many would i be able to have on a acre. i was thinking 3-4 ewes and 1 ram.

any opinions appreciated

Hi Rion,
Glad to see a young bloke having a go at farming activities.
Dorpers are a good choice and so are Wiltipolls. Both are shedding sheep, however dorpers don't shed completely. They normally have some left on their backs, even the pure bred ones. Wiltipolls shed completely. In both cases, if they are not pure bred, they may require shearing, for instance if they are 1st or 2nd crosses. Third cross is usually pretty good.
As for how many, it depends on how much grass you have and how much your horses will leave for the sheep. You didn't say where you live and what kind of pasture you have.
If you need more info - send a reply.
Karl

i live in qld about a hour south of brisbane. the horses will be moved for a month or so while i plant rye grass i the paddock and then i will get a round bale or so. hope that helps.

in the paddock at the moment it is just normal pasture grass.

how much would a 3rd cross Wiltipoll ewe be?

cheers

Seems you are getting lots of rain up your way. How about you send some down our way around Mudgee.
If you have a bit of pasture that is reasonable quality, you should be able to run 3 or four sheep all year round. Maybe 1 or 2 more. But you may have to give them a bit of barley or sheep pellets to supplement their diet. Also it helps to keep them quiet and approachable. Do not buy just 1 sheep. They are herd animals and need to have mates. Always keep 3 or more sheep at any given time. I have a Wiltipoll breeder in Qld if you are interested. They may be able to give you a quote on prices. For your situation I would suggest around $100 per good quality ewe.
Nice to talk to you. Karl

Would i be able to get a email to the Wiltipoll breeder in Qld. would luccern hay be good for them i can get a fair bit of that.

I might be able to get this 2 acre property out the front of my house the guy that owns it dosnt use it so i might go see him on the weekend and find out.

what is the average number of lambs do the ewes have?
i have been told 3 is the max they have.

when are the ewes old enough to breed?

Thank you,
Rion

Would i be able to get a email to the Wiltipoll breeder in Qld. would luccern hay be good for them i can get a fair bit of that.

The email address for the Qld breeder i:
Lea Johnston, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it home
07 5483 3707 Home
"Flinders"
83 Old Coach Lane
Canina Qld 4570

I might be able to get this 2 acre property out the front of my house the guy that owns it dosnt use it so i might go see him on the weekend and find out.

Sounds good

what is the average number of lambs do the ewes have?
i have been told 3 is the max they have.

Many ewes have twins and occasionally they have triplets

when are the ewes old enough to breed?

Ewes can be joined as early as 6 months of age. However, Wiltipoll ewes are seasonal breeders. This means that they will become pregnant only in autumn (Feb to May) and lambs will be born in spring ) Aug to October. Dorpers can become pregnant at any time of year.

Regards, Karl