Lambs lacking flesh

[saitek1989]

Why would lambs that are 42-45kg be lacking flesh sent 13 lambs away half came back as far class 2

lightest was 40.5kg on my scales that should be correct but my lightest kill was 17.1kg R2 that would mean a 41-42% kill out why are these lambs lacking flesh they are on grass only and came off the ewes they were left in over night and killed by 10:00am next morning

They are growing btw and have plenty of grass just don't seems to be fleshing up I think most were ram lambs also of the 13 I sent about 4 were texel cross.Suffolk rest were texel xlleyn 5 came back as I grades U rest R just wondering what the texel is supposed to have done as I get same grades for pure lleyn

 

[S J H]

What breed are they?

 

[neilo]

What breed are they?

And are they by different Rams/ewes to last year (assuming last year's lambs were OK)?

Anything else changed? Creep/no creep, etc?

 

[saitek1989]

Suffolk x texel and lleyn x texel

 

[neilo]

Suffolk x texel and lleyn x texel

 

[saitek1989]

Duno about the ewes but yes different ram texel but I have used him before on Suffolk ewes and has been fine texel on lleyn seem to be very hard to flesh for me had the same problem last year too

 

[Bury the Trash]

Why would lambs that are 42-45kg be lacking flesh sent 13 lambs away half came back as far class 2

lightest was 40.5kg on my scales that should be correct but my lightest kill was 17.1kg R2 that would mean a 41-42% kill out why are these lambs lacking flesh they are on grass only and came off the ewes they were left in over night and killed by 10:00am next morning

They are growing btw and have plenty of grass just don't seems to be fleshing up I think most were ram lambs also of the 13 I sent about 4 were texel cross.Suffolk rest were texel xlleyn 5 came back as I grades rest R just wondering what the texel is supposed to have done as I get same grades for pure lleyn

42 % ko could be expected in later lambs, also are your scales calibrated correct - i have had trouble with my old ones recently - and have taken to adding a few kg to be sure !
R2 is ok by the way, but no margin for error downwards ! in over night killed next morning would not be a problem.

 

[saitek1989]

I don't mind the R2 part it's the ko is annoying me

 

[saitek1989]

I'd imagine the low ko is because of the 2

And scales are brand new last year weighed a weight at a feed mill and set them to that if you work out the fat class 3 lambs they killed out @46% and up

 

[saitek1989]

And are they by different Rams/ewes to last year (assuming last year's lambs were OK)?

Anything else changed? Creep/no creep, etc?

I was creeping the things last year a fare bit and it was still a battle to get flesh on them and get a good ko wonder is it the lleyn doing the damage

 

[saitek1989]

Just looking at them again there was a 17.7 R3 assuming this was the lightest lamb @40.5kg that's a ko of 43% or so do scales need to be on a totally flat surface ?

The other two lightest were 17.2 and 17.1 are my scales wrong here or what's going on

 

[neilo]

I was creeping the things last year a fare bit and it was still a battle to get flesh on them and get a good ko wonder is it the lleyn doing the damage

If you were creeping last year (& not this year?) and struggling to get condition on, then I'd certainly be questioning the genetics on one or both sides. If they were struggling on creep, then they will certainly struggle without, IMO.

Texels are never great in mid-season IME though, normally going 'storey' when the grass feed value drops in July, then coming again later. That's not a 'breed bashing' comment, just what I have always found and what I have often heard from others.

 

[saitek1989]

I would say the grades this year with no creep look the same as last year with creep witch is strange

I will say however I have only started getting this trouble since I bought the new scales I think


But that's nothing to do with the 2s so I duno what to think pissing me off though

 

[Alan]

Have u taken bloods? See what's going on on the trace element side of things. I can't fatten my lambs without supplementing cobalt. I drench them every 2 weeks. Sounds a pain but it's not to bad.

 

[Happy]

If you were creeping last year (& not this year?) and struggling to get condition on, then I'd certainly be questioning the genetics on one or both sides. If they were struggling on creep, then they will certainly struggle without, IMO.

Texels are never great in mid-season IME though, normally going 'storey' when the grass feed value drops in July, then coming again later. That's not a 'breed bashing' comment, just what I have always found and what I have often heard from others.

I'd agree about the Texels.
Onto our third week of sending 1st April onwards born lambs to market but usually dry up once we get into August.

Suits me fine though as price usually dips due to higher numbers going through mart once the guys further up the hill start going through theirs. Lets me get on with harvest without having to go through lambs, take to market etc. as well.

Certainly worked out well last year as managed to completely miss the bottom of the market.

 

[saitek1989]

Have u taken bloods? See what's going on on the trace element side of things. I can't fatten my lambs without supplementing cobalt. I drench them every 2 weeks. Sounds a pain but it's not to bad.

No the lambs still seem to grow pretty well but seem to kill out terribly and lack flesh

 

[Nithsdale]

No the lambs still seem to grow pretty well but seem to kill out terribly and lack flesh

Aye but that can be cobalt - or even copper! Or other things at play/defficient. Bloods should hopefully give you an idea of whats going on - or at least rule out vit/min issues.

It could be the type - not breed! - of ewes or tups your using.

Do you buy in your sheep, or breed your own?

 

[saitek1989]

OHere's the weights that had for them

40.5
44
42
40.5
49
42
43
41
44.5
44
44.5
46.5
41

21 R3
19 R2
19.7 R2
19.7 U2
19.4 U2
17.1 R2
19.6 R3
17.2 R2
19. U3
19.5 R3
19.3 U3
23.9 U3
17.7 R3

Wish they would give you the bloody tag number then you'd know what was what

 

[saitek1989]

I just noticed that there are 7 lambs from 43kg up and there are 7 fat class three on it maby I shouldn't draft any thing under 43-44kg

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I just noticed that there are 7 lambs from 43kg up and there are 7 fat class three on it maby I shouldn't draft any thing under 43-44kg

The heavier (lw) ones aren't necessarily the fattest ones, or even the best ko