Page 18 - Commercial Suffolks 2019

North of England

Mule Suffolk Cross

– the Ideal Lamb

Farming with her husband Brian and nephew Tom
Turnham on 2 farms 26 miles apart, Angela Tarry-
Smith needs sheep which are easy to manage and
can produce good fat lambs with minimal input, and
she believes that the North of England mule crossed
with the Suffolk ram is the ideal sheep to do this.

They farm 2 separate units at Kiln Farm, Northamptonshire
farmed by Angela and Tom and Red House Farm in
Warwickshire farmed by Brian, covering around 800 acres “The
in total running around 2000 ewes and 120 suckler cows
mule ewe
who’s progeny are finished on farm as well as finishing
450 cattle bought as stores out of Cockermouth and other
marts in the North, which are all finished on farm. The North
backbone of the flock for a long while, with Brian remembering and the
of England mule served by a quality suffolk ram formed the

attending Carlisle Botchergate sales back in the 1950’s with
his father to buy mule sheep back then. “The mules have suffolk
changed in looks over the years but have retained that core
ability of mothering, milkiness and prolificness for which they tup are
are renowned” says Brian.
the ideal
All the sheep are tupped with the Suffolk rams at Kiln Farm,
many of which are bought up at the Kelso sale. They settled
on the Suffolk tup as the cross provides big framed lambs combina-
which get to good weights quickly. Lambing commences at
the end of February into April and all threes are left on as the
through the live weight system, mainly through Rugby, with tion”
mules are excellent mothers and milk well. Wethers are sold

16 Commercial SUFFOLKS – AUTUMN 2019