- Location
- Herefordshire
Commercials 187 % slightly down
Pure Texels 183 % similar to last year.
More empty than usual.
Pure Texels 183 % similar to last year.
More empty than usual.
Scanned here today.
View attachment 1005835
The drought has hurt most groups.
The Hill ewes were running grass on peat ground which thrives in drought so they've exceeded all expectations
Last group was a cock up (ewes and hoggs jumped dyke and got mixed this morning and I didn't have time to sort out before scanner coming)... 58 ewe hoggs in that group and I noted they're about 128% and the ewes about 176%
Not looking forward to the "lamb with no head"
View attachment 1005848
Last year's scan for comparison. I feel I've done well this year considering the 58 hoggs...
interesting he’s picked out issues. My chap never does that and he’s very experienced.
Your guy sounds super. Apart from him telling you about no head - he could have liedMy guy always do that - no extra charge. He marks for bad bags, dying/dead embryos etc... anything to watch for. First time I've heard him say there's a lamb with no head though
I help a close friend scan, he uses a different scanner man and like you gets no additional feedback - he doesn't even say if a ewe will lamb late
My guy always do that - no extra charge. He marks for bad bags, dying/dead embryos etc... anything to watch for. First time I've heard him say there's a lamb with no head though
I help a close friend scan, he uses a different scanner man and like you gets no additional feedback - he doesn't even say if a ewe will lamb late
I can’t remember the last time I had a scanner that marked the sheep himself. Is that normal up your way?
I always have to spray the scanner with aerosol gas myself.
I can’t remember the last time I had a scanner that marked the sheep himself. Is that normal up your way?
I always have to spray the scanner with aerosol gas myself.
. First time I've heard him say there's a lamb with no head though
His crate is built inside an Ifor tup/calf trailer so not much chance I could mark them... He uses paste and just dabs them as he goes. All I need to do is keep the sheep going into his trailer
Sounds as if it’s nothing to do with the scanning manMy scanner is coming to do the first mob tomorrow afternoon. I have to arrange for Mrs NeilO to be on hand for pushing up, or I could manage on my own with the dogs.
Not that I mind standing chatting with the scanners I mark them, with my good lady doing the work though.
Same mine does it herself it speeds the process up a lot and no chance of miscommunication over the day by time she’s shouted single and iv asked her too say it again would soon add up to a lot of time wasted… writes a big L on there arse if they’re late too not had any other feedback than that in the pastMy scanner sprays ewes himself, I’m too busy get ewes to run the race to him.
Same here our last guy who’s now retired used to mark them with paint as hated someone with a spray can in his face all day. Makes a hell of a difference in terms of labourI can’t remember the last time I had a scanner that marked the sheep himself. Is that normal up your way?
I always have to spray the scanner with aerosol gas myself.
Same here, too much of a hurry might say if theres something really obvious. crate weighs 2 ton needs 2 to lift it in his truck,been coming for years but got fed up with all the rushing & getting to make enough mistakes (mostly missing 2nd or 3rd lamb) So got a new starter last year bit slow but thorough, just as accurate at lambing.interesting he’s picked out issues. My chap never does that and he’s very experienced.
I also wonder wether only breeding from twins would work, anybody any knowledge of this?62% twins here is that good or bad. Can only tupping twin born ewe lambs improve this?
We’ve only retained replacements twins for the last 15 years or so, doesn’t seem to make a huge difference. Breed, bcs and time of year they tup seem to affect it from my experienceI also wonder wether only breeding from twins would work, anybody any knowledge of this?
I did hear once that twinning isn't very heritable so won't be passed on to offspring very strongly?
Every triplet ewe lamb I’ve ever kept has had triplets as a ewe lamb, yearling and the next year. I’ve only kept twins for 4years and have had years up to 70% twins in all ewes/yearlings combined.I also wonder wether only breeding from twins would work, anybody any knowledge of this?
I did hear once that twinning isn't very heritable so won't be passed on to offspring very strongly?
Scanning % is up but first time conception is down. Sold a couple of crossers scanned with quads.Scanned ewes today and numbers are up about 5% on last year.
But 12% are triplets with a few quads mixed in.
Outdoor lambing flock and triplets are a pain really.
How are others scans?
Scanner man said been mixed, some about same as last year but a few back, one place 25% back for some reason.
Where will you tag the one with no head?Scanned here today.
View attachment 1005835
The drought has hurt most groups.
The Hill ewes were running grass on peat ground which thrives in drought so they've exceeded all expectations
Last group was a cock up (ewes and hoggs jumped dyke and got mixed this morning and I didn't have time to sort out before scanner coming)... 58 ewe hoggs in that group and I noted they're about 128% and the ewes about 176%
Not looking forward to the "lamb with no head"
View attachment 1005848
Last year's scan for comparison. I feel I've done well this year considering the 58 hoggs...