Trevor Border is the manager on the Wills Estate at Ridlington where he is responsible for 1500 acres, 700ft up in the Rutland Hills. Now all in grass, it was previously in arable rotation. Trevor is delighted to low stocking, Easy Care sheep management.

 

He runs 1000 Lleyn Ewes – half bred pure for replacements, the other 500 crossed to Shropshire and Meatlinc rams for commercial ewes. All the resulting cross bred ewes go to meatlinc rams. Lambing is in May, entirely at grass with skilful management but very little attention.

 

“What you get is what you see – I appreciate going to the production farm where I can chose the best. Commercial management no pampering or over feeding. No lambing difficulties – no nonsense of having to lamb the ewes. And well over 90% of my lambs get top carcase grades. And don’t forget, I sell a lot of lambs after the New Year and they don’t get any hand feeding, all off grass.”

 

 

 

James Dobie in Berwickshire has some 4000 ewes, all of them put to Meatlinc rams. All his lambs go to Marks & Spencer and well over 90% meet their stringent quality specifications. “I need 20 rams a year and I can not afford the time to sit around a ring bidding for rams about which I know nothing. Buying direct from the production farm where the rams have been commercially reared and are sold on their performance figures is the only intelligent way to do it.”

 

An estate in Rutland has now gone out of cereals and is only in sheep grass on an easy care system. The manager insists that he comes to make an early choice of Meatlinc rams. They give me what I want and What I need.

 

Meatlinc rams are used by commercial producers from Shetland and Orkney in the north to those in Cornwall and the south of England. Over 75% of the annual sales go to repeat orders. They must be satisfied.

 

The Meat processors say – quality of carcase is important, of course it is; but also is the length of the carcase, we do not want small and short carcases even if the meat quality is good because we lose important joints.

 

The economists say – finishing two weeks earlier as a result of using fast growing high quality, rams is an essential element in making a profit.

 

 

A farmer in Wales who brought Meatlinc rams in 2004 to compare with Texels was asked by Edward Vines in May if he wished to buy any this year. No way, he said, It is important to see any difference from the Texel. At the Royal Welsh Show, the same man came on the stand and said – “My apologies, I was quite wrong; we have now sold 3 lots for slaughter and virtually all of them were Meatlinc crosses not Texel. I want 3 more Meatlinc rams please.”

 

 

Hamish Dykesa at Slipperfield Farm, Linton trialed 2 Meatlinc rams against Suffolk Rams on Texel x Mule ewes & Gimmers and made the following observations.

 

            Far easier Lambing with the Meatlinc

 

Meatlinc Cross Lambs up and suck much quicker

 

At first draw, similar numbers from each group at same weight – 45-50kg

 

Meatlinc Cross Lambs 1.5kg dw. Heavier

 

Meatlinc Cross            56% E or U grade

Suffolk Cross               40% E or U grade

 

Meatlinc cross lambs averaged £2.50 more than the Suffolk Crosses.