‘ TIMES are changing a little bit now ,’ that ’ s the message from Richard Wilson of Crimple Head Farm who works alongside his father David , uncle Martin and grandfather Michael . They operate their upland sheep and beef farm across 1150 acres that includes good pasture and meadow land that they have improved markedly over many years and 400 acres of moorland .

In 2013 the farm was host to North Sheep , but Richard tells of how their sheep enterprise is adapting to today ’ s demands .

‘ We ’ ve changed a lot since then . It ’ s about what the market wants and meeting that demand as best you can . We didn ’ t have any Texel X ewes at that time . This year we have 450 Texel X Dales Mules and we have bought a few hoggs with lambs at foot at Skipton , but we will still be 90 per cent homebred , stemming back to our Dalesbred sheep .’

‘ When we had North Sheep we had Dalesbreds and Mashams here , for which we have developed a fantastic reputation over the years . It ’ s what the farm has been based around for generations I very much like the Dalesbred and it is very productive in what it does , but the farmland has been much improved in the last 30 years and that has shown there is a more profitable way of creating a higher quality lamb , which is what buyers are looking for at market .’

‘ I think the sheep industry and the quality of everyone ’ s farming has improved and if you don ’ t move forward you get left behind . Our main focus now is to breed the best commercial sheep for the lamb that sells in the market that we possibly can . The first cross Texel out of a Dales Mule is what we ’ re keeping . It ’ s such a productive sheep and hardier than some give it credit . We also keep the Dales Mule and breed our replacement Texels out of the Dales Mules and I use my own rams to the Dales Mules to breed our own Texel X replacements .’

‘ This is what the livestock market buyers want . We very much like to support the livestock markets and if we supply what is demanded everyone wins . We also know that without the livestock markets the sheep sector is in trouble .’

‘ This year we ’ ll be lambing 1300 breeding ewes . We are in a slight transition period of keeping less horned sheep to make room for more of the Texel X ewes . We will be lambing 600 Dalesbreds keeping enough pure for the Dalesbred replacements , as well as enough for the Dales Mules flock and the Texels for replacement females in all .’

Richard is looking at getting to an overall flock of 500 Dalesbred ewes and 750-800 Texel X either with the Dalesbred or the Dales Mule , which he says do roughly the same job but the Texel X Dalesbred may run on the higher ground .

‘ I ’ ve kept back 100 Texel Mule gimmers this year and 50 Texel Dalesbreds . The remainder being Dalesbreds and Dales Mules .’

‘ The Dalesbred is a very versatile breed . They don ’ t just have to breed a Masham lamb as they have done traditionally . We are still breeding the Masham to take to the society sale held at Bentham livestock market , but it ’ s not the farm ’ s future . Dad ’ s still passionate

about his Mashams , and we keep the Teeswaters to produce them . He shows the Dalesbreds and the Mashams at the Great Yorkshire Show and others such as Otley and Nidderdale .’

Richard came back home to farm full-time in 2011 . He ’ s married to Alex and they have a young son Charlie . He has the bit between his teeth over the farm ’ s way forward .

‘ The Texel X ewe is proving a lot more profitable than your traditional horned breed and breeding stock that the market demands is so important now with margins . It is so important that we make things pay now more than ever . We are breeding for meat , for lamb that will be bought in supermarkets and butcher ’ s shops . We need to listen to what the buyers are saying , because if we don ’ t then we won ’ t attract the right price . It ’ s as simple as that .’

Continued on page 44

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