Lambing losses.

[yoki]

Even after 7 or 8yrs, I still consider myself as a newcomer to sheep rearing.

As my own lambing comes near an end and my mind starts to function somewhat nearer to usual, I'm wondering what others consider an acceptable or even inevitable level of lamb mortality at time of lambing itself and first 24hrs, and then over the next few weeks up to maybe a month or so.

Obviously the system of sheep keeping involved will make a huge difference, but talking to others there also seems to be a very wide range of opinions on what they consider a problem or "just the way it is".

What are others thoughts on it?

 

[steveR]

5% was the figure I have heard over the years. Seems bloody low to me some days!

Maybe that was the optimum??

 

[neilo]

I've been in several sheep discussion groups over the years, here and back home. Every time this is discussed, honestly, a figure of 15% or so is nearer the norm.

Obviously there will be variation, and some will never lose any of course...

 

[steveR]

I've been in several sheep discussion groups over the years, here and back home. Every time this is discussed, honestly, a figure of 15% or so is nearer the norm.

Obviously there will be variation, and some will never lose any of course...

Much nearer the figure I am familiar with. Think we were over 10% last year

 

[AftonShepherd]

I've been in several sheep discussion groups over the years, here and back home. Every time this is discussed, honestly, a figure of 15% or so is nearer the norm.

Obviously there will be variation, and some will never lose any of course...

I don't always work it out as it would depress me but I'd say in our hill situation 15% would be about average up until a month old, always a few more over the summer.

One year, out of 320 in-bye ewes, I had over 100 lambs on the ground before I lost one, and still ended up round about the usual total losses

 

[unlacedgecko]

Scanning to sale/retention is 15%.

Breaks down as
3% pre lambing
5% at lambing
5% post lambing to weaning
2% weaning to sale/retention

 

[andybk]

Yea recon 15% is about bang on over lambing and into first 4 weeks , a lot depends on lambing % , dont often loose singles , usually twins and small trips in first time ewes (stress or not knowing what to do ) , mind you cocci / Ji / watery mouth can play havoc with numbers if your not on it

 

[neilo]

I don't always work it out as it would depress me but I'd say in our hill situation 15% would be about average up until a month old, always a few more over the summer.

One year, out of 320 in-bye ewes, I had over 100 lambs on the ground before I lost one, and still ended up round about the usual total losses

So weather dependant outdoors anywhere.
We had a couple of horrendous days last April when I lost over a quarter. The next day it was still drizzling but a lot warmer and I had 40 ewes lamb without a single loss.
Same sheep, same fields, just different weather.

 

[David.]

I used to regard every loss in the lambing shed as a failure and testimony to how bad a shepherd I was.
A few years on, I realise that most of the lambs found dead at birth you could have done very little about, they were broken off inside, were non-goers, etc.

 

[Guleesh]

I don't always work it out as it would depress me but I'd say in our hill situation 15% would be about average up until a month old, always a few more over the summer.

One year, out of 320 in-bye ewes, I had over 100 lambs on the ground before I lost one, and still ended up round about the usual total losses

We had exactly that last year, 100 lambs on the ground before losing one, kept expecting to wake up from dreaming but it really happened. same as you, it all averaged out in the end.

In previous years lambings we've had several mornings in a row starting out by burying heaps of dead lambs, which is soul destroying.

I'd say we average around 5% through lambing. but 'black loss' figure on the hills round here from lambing to weaning can easily be 30% on a bad year, just takes a few predators, and for the bog asphodel to be doing well.

 

[yoki]

Scanning to sale/retention is 15%.

Breaks down as
3% pre lambing
5% at lambing
5% post lambing to weaning
2% weaning to sale/retention

Thanks for that.

The 15% doesn't seem as horrendous when broken down in practical terms.

 

[PhilipB]

I used to regard every loss in the lambing shed as a failure and testimony to how bad a shepherd I was.
A few years on, I realise that most of the lambs found dead at birth you could have done very little about, they were broken off inside, were non-goers, etc.

If I'm not on duty then every loss in the lambing shed is bad shepherding.

If I'm there then every loss is inevitable or a freak accident.

 

[texelburger]

Losses come in many ways,

Born dead,sometimes rotten,
Lay on in the pen,
Unexplained death,
Odd one with a difficult lambing
watery mouth,though we haven't had one for a few years,
Schmallenburg,had a few at the start,
Abortions

I've never really recorded deaths but,no doubt,it would be higher than I thought.

Not only is there losses but all the messing about with weak lambs,ewes with one quarter,big udders,big teats,lots of trebles causing fostering or onto milk machines.

I could go on but everyone lambing deserves the rewards of good prices as they have bloody well earned it.

 

[primmiemoo]

I think @Princess Pooper has just the video we need right now.... ?

 

[steveR]

I've never really recorded deaths but,no doubt,it would be higher than I thought.

Not only is there losses but all the messing about with weak lambs,ewes with one quarter,big udders,big teats,lots of trebles causing fostering or onto milk machines.

I could go on but everyone lambing deserves the rewards of good prices as they have bloody well earned it.

If it was easy, everyone would do it....

 

[MRT]

Obviously there will be variation, and some will never lose any of course...

We were on track not to lose any one year.. then a fox ate 10 of them. Yes, 10. That said same fox now resides in my sittingroom.

 

[Happy]

Not doing very well here at the moment.
393 ewes scanned at 207%. Due to start 25th March.
So far 3 dead ewes with Prolapse. 2 carrying triplets, 1 with quads. Another with quads also lying dead one morning.
2 ewes with rotten twins/triplets & first proper lamb a dead single

Think 5% is just pub talk

 

[andybk]

I used to regard every loss in the lambing shed as a failure and testimony to how bad a shepherd I was.
A few years on, I realise that most of the lambs found dead at birth you could have done very little about, they were broken off inside, were non-goers, etc.

when laura green did her dissertation for her vets degree at langford , she asked us for every dead lamb from birth to first week , she did autopsy on them all , nearly every one had an issue that meant it wouldnt have lived long all sorts of reasons bad pipework , heart valves you name it , was an important lesson for me going forward not to try to hard and beat myself up if they are duff and i get a few more than usual .

edit: a few times a new ram will throw a few genetic faults like bent legs etc so easy to see how unknown genes could affect the unseen ,

 

[unlacedgecko]

when laura green did her dissertation for her vets degree at langford , she asked us for every dead lamb from birth to first week , she did autopsy on them all , nearly every one had an issue that meant it wouldnt have lived long all sorts of reasons bad pipework , heart valves you name it , was an important lesson for me going forward not to try to hard and beat myself up if they are duff and i get a few more than usual .

Best advice is don't waste time trying force life into something that wants to die.

My job is to get the ewes into good condition, winter them well then provide lambing paddocks with good shelter and the right amount of feed. Actual lambing is the ewes job.

 

[Princess Pooper]

I think @Princess Pooper has just the video we need right now.... ?

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