Coming Home For Lambing.

Boydvalley

Member
Location
Bath
We had 64mm rain March (should had had double that!), and 17mm so far in April. It's been far too dry. March was warm and cold at same time but things seemed ok and the grass was shifting but April has been very cold so far and the place looks/feels bleak. Fields are pale/sick looking

We need a good week of mild, wet days to get things on track but I fear another drought is coming - either that or summer will be torrential rain. There won't be an in-between :banghead:
Your weather is never what I think it will be looking at forecasts. We've just had 3 fabulous lambing’s in a row at the end of March, but Aprils seem to knock everything back. Got plenty of grass in the sheltered valleys but very slow on the tops. Spring barley been in nearly 3 weeks and still not up. Beginning to get to the stage of what is normal.

Hows the lambing weather been with you @gators girl . Seen earlier you've only got 60 out. Is that weather or lack of time. Great to have so much shed space so you can choose.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Your weather is never what I think it will be looking at forecasts. We've just had 3 fabulous lambing’s in a row at the end of March, but Aprils seem to knock everything back. Got plenty of grass in the sheltered valleys but very slow on the tops. Spring barley been in nearly 3 weeks and still not up. Beginning to get to the stage of what is normal.

Hows the lambing weather been with you @gators girl . Seen earlier you've only got 60 out. Is that weather or lack of time. Great to have so much shed space so you can choose.


The cycle is definitely cold, dry April's at the moment. Has been for a few years. Valley looks like it's struggling, and the sheep ground is very obvious

As you say it's becoming the normal 😔
 

gators girl

Member
Location
Lancashire
Your weather is never what I think it will be looking at forecasts. We've just had 3 fabulous lambing’s in a row at the end of March, but Aprils seem to knock everything back. Got plenty of grass in the sheltered valleys but very slow on the tops. Spring barley been in nearly 3 weeks and still not up. Beginning to get to the stage of what is normal.

Hows the lambing weather been with you @gators girl . Seen earlier you've only got 60 out. Is that weather or lack of time. Great to have so much shed space so you can choose.
Weather hasn’t been to bad could of been better but it is what it is I guess.

Yes it’s nice to have lots of space I agree.

Think it’s a bit of both really. Was going to try and turn some out this afternoon but it’s hammering it down here so will leave them for today
 

Wood field

Member
Livestock Farmer
We walked in to chaos this morning 😖
Four ewes lambed , one hung but alive
One messing about so I pulled a big breach tup lamb , surprisingly still alive , it was bloody massive
Then off to check outside lambers and found a ewe with a lamb showing, one leg back but I couldn’t catch her, back home for the dog and then off out to find her cleaning a big single lamb
Rained most of the day here but it’s nice to be out checking around rather than stuck in the lambing shed!
Only 21 left inside now
 

LukeMcCullagh

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Yorkshire
IMG_20220419_004449407.jpg


Just got back home, after delivering these two. Apparently couldn't wait to arrive so thought they would come together.

Ewe was knackered but all seem happy now. Makes the getting out in the dark a lot easier when you have a good result like that 🙂
 

Wood field

Member
Livestock Farmer
We are all but done inside, had a ewe messing about the other night, one of those give it another 1/2 hour jobs.. any way no dog , knackered knee and a steep meadow in the dark .. I chased her up the hill , fortunately she stopped and blasted at another eees lambs long enough for the inevitable rugby tackle, mrs held the bugger down whilst I went back for the motor , lambing by headlights
 

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aangus

Member
Location
cumbria
We walked in to chaos this morning 😖
Four ewes lambed , one hung but alive
One messing about so I pulled a big breach tup lamb , surprisingly still alive , it was bloody massive
Then off to check outside lambers and found a ewe with a lamb showing, one leg back but I couldn’t catch her, back home for the dog and then off out to find her cleaning a big single lamb
Rained most of the day here but it’s nice to be out checking around rather than stuck in the lambing shed!
Only 21 left inside now
When a lamb is coming backwards is best to pull slowly or quickly? It’s when they get nipped before the ribs, I know then it’s not going to be a good outcome
 

Wood field

Member
Livestock Farmer
When a lamb is coming backwards is best to pull slowly or quickly? It’s when they get nipped before the ribs, I know then it’s not going to be a good outcome
I’ve always been told to get it out as quickly as possible, but as you say if they get stuck it’s usually the end
It sounds harsh but it’s surprising how much pulling and general mauling about a lamb can take, not that anyone wants to just pull them out but unfortunately they have to come out one way or another otherwise the ewe is also at risk
 

Bald n Grumpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
When a lamb is coming backwards is best to pull slowly or quickly? It’s when they get nipped before the ribs, I know then it’s not going to be a good outcome
Can't remember who told me this but get them out quick as the cord will be pinched cutting of the life support but the lamb can't breathe as it's heads still inside and will be filling up with goo
 

blackieman83

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co. Down
Another vote here for getting them out as quick as possible 👍

Make sure you're pulling 'downwards, with the natural bend of the spine', so less risk of damaging it.
IME, they can stand a helluva lot of pulling on the front legs, but a bit less so on the back legs.
I was always told to pull a backwards lamb "straight" out rather than "downwards" 🤷‍♂️
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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