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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14974 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 17 10:13 pm Post subject: Merino sheep |
 
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If, hypothetically speaking, I were looking for some Merino sheep, where might I find some? Perfunctory googling suggests New Zealand. Or Vermont. Not exactly practical. I don't think I've ever seen any, even at yarn shows (I can't be sure. I've always been far more interested in the end product) |
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sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 41984 Location: North Devon
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 17 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not sure that I should be doing this but:
Est A Laine Merino - an attractive, strong, large framed sheep with very fine wool. The head is long, white in colour with long ears. The sheep is naturally polled. The neck is clean with no folds or dewlap. Average mature ewe weighs 90-11kg, rams 130kg.
The wool is classified as Grade 1 and 2 by the British Wool Marketing Board, and has a Bradford Count of 80’a to 64’s.
Society contact: 01953 607860 |
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gil Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 18379
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14974 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 17 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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sean wrote: |
I'm not sure that I should be doing this but: |
It's fine. Really. I am allowed to have as many animals as I like. I said so. I am dithering a little because a) sheep are nothing but trouble looking for new ways to die and b) I don't like prepping wool. I don't really like wool, except Merino wool. But I have found a local mill, where you can send them off full of yuk and get back yarn, in small amounts. Given the amount I spend on the stuff, it's only sensible.
Also, I don't like mowing grass much.
Thank you both. |
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clydesdaleclopper
Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 100 Location: N E Scotland
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Posted: Thu Mar 09, 17 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Why don't you try Bowmonts - the Scottish Merino |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14974 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Fri Mar 10, 17 8:14 am Post subject: |
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I've never come across Bowmonts. Do you know where I could buy some yarn before I invest in a whole sheep? |
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frewen
Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 11405
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 17 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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Watching with interest ... |
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Chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 35907 Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 17 7:20 am Post subject: |
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Mill details, please! |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14974 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 17 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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frewen wrote: |
Watching with interest ... |
For the sheep or the end products?
Chez, it's http://griffithsfarming.com/index.html prices don't look too bad. Better than spending days up to my elbows in sheep crud anyway. I think they will blend as well. It's fairly local to us, and they have their own Merinos I'm gong up to see them at a show at the end of this month.
I found it by working backwards, in the end. I looked for British Merino yarn, and saw who had flocks. I'm not sure if there are any for sale, though. |
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frewen
Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 11405
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 17 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Both of course! |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 35917 Location: yes
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Posted: Mon Mar 13, 17 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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yarn is unlikely to decide to headbutt you over a gate or drown itself in a drain  |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14974 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Mon Mar 13, 17 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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dpack wrote: |
yarn is unlikely to decide to headbutt you over a gate or drown itself in a drain  |
In that case, there will be roast lamb as well. I'm not putting up with any of that sheep nonsense. They just a need firm handling and to know who's boss, and they will stop looking for new diseases to get and creative ways to die. It's just attention seeking. Fly strike is a sign of needing more discipline.
I suspect, given the prices I have just paid for my special-treat-birthday yarn, that sheep are cheaper. There is possibly a reason for this. |
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 17 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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wellington womble wrote: |
I've never come across Bowmonts. Do you know where I could buy some yarn before I invest in a whole sheep? |
Bowmont Braf surfaced briefly a few years back and had good write ups, the chap who was behind that should still be out there, he was very active at Wonderswol etc.
also this, any use? : http://www.bowmontuk.com/ |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14974 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 17 10:03 am Post subject: |
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They don't seem to sell to the general public. However, it did lead me to a farm that breeds Bowmonts. In the next village. Only they've presold all their fleece. I'm going over next week to look at some. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 35917 Location: yes
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 17 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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wellington womble wrote: |
dpack wrote: |
yarn is unlikely to decide to headbutt you over a gate or drown itself in a drain  |
In that case, there will be roast lamb as well. I'm not putting up with any of that sheep nonsense. They just a need firm handling and to know who's boss, and they will stop looking for new diseases to get and creative ways to die. It's just attention seeking. Fly strike is a sign of needing more discipline.
I suspect, given the prices I have just paid for my special-treat-birthday yarn, that sheep are cheaper. There is possibly a reason for this. |
the reasons are many and much like the price of fish reflects the value put on men's lives the price of yarn .....
charming in a photo or on a plate , up close and personal i prefer poison arrow frogs and big bitey centipedes. it does go both ways , sheep i do not know hate me and seek to distress or destroy me as i type.
ps many historical examples suggests i'm not paranoid about them, some folk get on well with them but i recon there are better ways to suffer  |
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