Our Hybrid Stock

At Logie Durno we are trying to breed a more advanced terminal ram, with all the major qualities and attributes you need to produce well fleshed quick growing lambs. We have used genetics from both our Charollais and Texel flocks to produce what we think is a winning combination. The Charollais blood provides impressive length, style, weight gain and lambing ease - all extremely important in our eyes. The Texel part of the equation gives hardiness, width and tremendous carcase.

The extreme length and carcase are not the only attributes that are impressive about these rams, The way they are reared and recorded is also important. The ewes are lambed in April on a low input system where they are totally reliant on grass. The lambs are recorded for lambing ease and vigour at birth, while the ewes are recorded on mothering ability. Breeding females are only kept if they pass our rigorous selection process - a process that  also applies to our rams which are expected to thrive on a low input system but still produce the goods.

All our Durno Hybrid Shearling rams are Signet Performance Recorded so that we can select for growth rate and muscle using EBVs. Rearing the rams in commercial conditions means the rams should live longer and serve more ewes, giving our clients better value for money.

Lleyn Based Hybrid Females

The idea of low input sheep farming is being explored even further as we are developing  a commercial flock of Lleyn based hybrid females. We are trying to make best use of the Lleyn ewes ability to utilise grass and her prolificacy whilst creating a fat lamb that will have a quick growth rate and hit the desired spec made by the abattoirs. The 700 ewe Lleyn flock has been crossed with our own “Durno Hybrid” rams which have created a lamb holding 50% Lleyn, 25% Charollais and 25% Texel genetics. These lambs finish very well on grass producing a carcase that is some 3kg heavier, currently worth at least £9-£12 per head more.