With our long standing friend/customer Mr Percy Gilman in mind, I asked the above question of two farming businesses that either changed totally to North of England Mules or bought into them for the very first time.
Mr Richard Gale of Tetbury, Gloucestershire changed from a 50% flock of Suffolk x Mule to totally North of England Mule in 2003. He runs 1,000; is very pleased with the Mules performance and would like to continue. September is a busy time of year when he can't afford the time to come North. He buys his replacements locally, is looking to get £40 per lamb profit. Mr Gale has a contract to supply a supermarket and must produce to a tight price. Very interested in EASY CARE and would like to source lambs from an Easy Care Flock.
Messrs Gerald & Richard Botterill of Croxton Kerrial near Grantham, Leicestershire changed to an all Mule flock in 2002. They don't see any reason to change from North of England Mules. The replacements are all bought in as theaves through Meadow. They like the idea of trace-ability and being sourced from one farm. Trace-ability is the thing. 1 - 3 farms within the locality from which they purchase 80-90 replacements per year.
Most of their sheep ground is permanent pasture and they run them to cull ewes. Use good MLC recorded tups that achieve a set weight: all lambs go straight to Abattoir. This year they never had a lamb grade under R3L.
They see the biggest benefit of the North of England Mule as its prolificacy. Ultimately it's always the number of lambs of reasonable quality. Able to sell 2 good lambs than l1/2 excellent lambs. "Never been paid properly for good lambs". More people from the pedigree world are using MLC recording. It is becoming more viable to buy recorded rams.
