Gortleigh News

Gortleigh wins most improved flock award 2016

Tue, 05 Apr 2016 18:27:07 GMT

The Gortleigh Flock is the 2016 winner of the AHDB Beef & Lamb Better Returns Programme Improved Flock Award for Dorset sheep. This award is presented to the English Signet performance recorded flock that makes the greatest improvement in the breeding potential of the lamb crop during the year. http://www.signetfbc.co.uk/improved-flock-award-dorset/

"This award seeks to reward those breeders that are using Estimated Breeding Values to enhance the performance of their flocks and assist them to promote their achievement. The impact of performance recorded stock is significant and is increasing every year because of the activities of progressive farmers.........

The Traces breed for good maternal traits of high lambing percentage and milking ability and select for muscling which results in robust ewes with good conformation. Most of the rams currently influencing the flock are homebred but top quality rams are also bought in.

Gortleigh Pacman

Gortleigh Winner is the second highest rated stock ram for the breed in 2016 with an index of 496. His sire Gortleigh Thickset has been a significant influence, also siring Gortleigh Unit (index 409). Other influential rams include Gortleigh T Rex (index 403) and the pictured Gortleigh Pacman who has an index of 398 and high EBVs for muscling and growth.

Gill and Richard sell most of their shearling rams and shearling females from the farm to commercial farmers, as well as fat lambs sold primarily March- May. Notable rams that have gone to other breeders include Gortleigh Hastings and Gortleigh Ulysses.

The Traces aim for steady progress with their breeding programme and this has paid off, both with the current award and with the publication of last year’s Decade of Progress report which ranked the Gortleigh flock top for genetic gain in maternal traits over the preceding ten years."

Gortleigh featured in Signet report

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 07:47:00 GMT

The Gortleigh flock has been featured in the Signet report, A decade of genetic progress in the English sheep industry.

"Frequent runners up in the BRP Most Improved Flock Award for Dorset sheep. Gill and Richard have made the highest rates of gain for maternal traits of any Dorset flock in the past ten years. Their achievement is more remarkable as Gortleigh is also one of the leading flocks for terminal sire traits"

For the full report see the Signet website: http://www.signetfbc.co.uk/decade-of-progress/

Pregnancy scanning results

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 06:57:27 GMT

Our pregnancy scanning results have been good again.

The shearling ewes have scanned particularly well – this group includes progeny of Ballytaggart Thunder and Ballytaggart Traditional, (purchased at Mayfair2013) and mated to some of our top maternal ewes. There are additionally progeny of Huish Topflight (also purchased Mayfair 2013)

The shearling ewe group also includes progeny of Ramsden Karimoor and Ramsden Kakaho, (both sons of loinmax ram semen import 512: 04147) and progeny from homebred rams Gortleigh Thickset and Gortleigh Shire

Preparing for lambing during the apple harvest

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 06:56:21 GMT

We are now preparing for another lambing, although we have not yet finished our cider apple harvest. We used to lamb in September / October, but now that our 80+ acres of commercial cider apples are in full cropping we cannot give the lambing sufficient attention until apple harvesting is finished. This year’s apple crop could be our biggest, if we can get the last 50 ton or so, but we have temporarily halted the harvesting due to the very wet weather.

Lambing Christmas 2014

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:25:00 GMT

Lambing got underway in the poll dorset flock in December with 200 ewes lambing. There were plenty of lambs at foot for Christmas including this (not so) little beauty. Warhorse was born on Christmas eve weighing in at 9.5kg. In the picture he is 4 days old and growing nicely.

Gortleigh flock has the top two poll dorset rams in the UK!

Sat, 12 Jul 2014 16:07:00 GMT

In the most recent (May 2014) Signet sheep breeder analysis of the Dorset breed the Gortleigh flock has the two rams highest performance rams in the country! Gortleigh Thickset (pictured right) has the highest terminal sire index at 490, which includes the biggest muscle depth EBV of 5.10. He also has the top maternal index for the Poll Dorset breed at 388.

For sale

Tue, 13 May 2014 19:48:00 GMT

Shearing and some older rams are currently available, with indexes up to 370.

2 new additions to the flock

Tue, 13 May 2014 19:47:00 GMT

Last week was busy for the Gortleigh flock as we spent two days at the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset May Fair. Its always interesting to see the other breeders and their sheep! The Gortleigh flock purchased two Poll Dorset rams: Blackhill Unwin (D26:U164) and Blackhill Udelle (U26:U251). Both rams are in the top 25% of the Poll Dorset breed for both Terminal Sire Index and Maternal Index. They will complement the existing team of high index rams working in the flock nicely. We welcome them to Devon.

Shearlings born in 2012 sold

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 09:09:00 GMT

The farm is looking a little quieter now as 26 of the poll dorset shearlings born in autumn of 2012 left Devon to start a new life in Cornwall. We wish them and their new shepherds well! The female replacements retained are getting ready to go to the ram in the summer.

2nd in EBLEX Improved Flock Awards

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 11:46:00 GMT

Gortleigh flock has been awarded joint reserve in the EBLEX most improved Poll Dorset flock award in 2014. It is an annual award made by EBLEX BRP, based on Signet data, which indicates that the flock has made significant genetic improvement during the last 12 months. This continues the Gortleigh Flock's trend of improving perfomance since 2003. Have a look at the Poll Dorset tab for the full data.

Lambing begins

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:12:00 GMT

Lambing has started at Gortleigh. Just over 200 ewes are expecting. Hopefully the mild weather will hold in Devon!