Covers for gathering big numbers of lambs

[DrDunc]

Started speaning today.

Decided it would be easier and quicker to move a mob of 400 newly speaned lambs through two fields to the keep than trailering them in the ifor Williams as usual.

Don't think my old dogs will ever forgive me

Reading this thread gives me hope for getting the basterds in for weighing again in a fortnight

 

[Danllan]

Covers? I've not heard that term used before; we use the tough plastic / nylon 'windproof' netting to rig up temporary 'funnels' sometimes, lots around here do it. We use black stuff and rebar pins to hold it up, it can be used for the cattle too - if they are feeling compliant...

 

[Dyffryn]

Cant beat a Huntaway with lambs! And a collie working with it to gather the escapees.

 

[cheviot53]

Have lamb groups of 400+ plus 10 or so old cull ewes to lead through gates , fields along tracks etc , the hill lambs are much much harder to move then crosses . Use sheep netting tacked to stobs to block and funnel certain places

 

[Bob the beef]

Got a field of young grass/plantain split into paddocks. Went to shift mob of 300 lambs this morning into next section. Hunt away and collie and myself 1 hour later absolutely b......d! and sheep still in same section, pretty sure neighbours falling over themselves laughing while trying to eat their breakfast.
Returned at 4 o'clock with 2 more dogs and 2 daughters and all shifted in 2 minutes. Not sure what made the difference, more dogs or the daughters
Either that or the buggers finally saw sense

 

[hendrebc]

Got a field of young grass/plantain split into paddocks. Went to shift mob of 300 lambs this morning into next section. Hunt away and collie and myself 1 hour later absolutely b......d! and sheep still in same section, pretty sure neighbours falling over themselves laughing while trying to eat their breakfast.
Returned at 4 o'clock with 2 more dogs and 2 daughters and all shifted in 2 minutes. Not sure what made the difference, more dogs or the daughters
Either that or the buggers finally saw sense

I know how you feel going to get extra dogs with weaned lambs

 

[Global ovine]

Into weaning time now, and saw some videos in NZ of people using long covers for lambs that are breaking against the dogs. Anyone know what's best to use? There's 800 plus lambs in some of the group's. Thanks

I can only speak from NZ experience:
A roll of scrim works well, but you need a team of people to hold it upright in a wind. It does provide a visual wall to intending breakaways.
In latter years (as the scrim got a bit scruffy due to rot during storage from a leaking roof), I used that orange plastic netting bought from a work place safety retailer that is often found surrounding holes dug in roads and foot paths to prevent people falling into such traps. This material is quite stiff vertically and very strong. It comes in 50 metre rolls. I found it superior to scrim for penning month old lambs and dams and forcing lambs into portable yards anytime after.

 

[foobar]

I often think I must be a bit of a failed farmer dealing with big groups of sheep and struggling to pen them. All the photos on here or Facebook showing big groups of sheep penned and going through the shedder etc.
This thread has boosted my faltering ego no end, thanks for the counselling session @Logie Durno sheep

Sounds like we need a new picture/video thread to make us all feel better ... "Epic herding failures"

 

[Grassman]

Started speaning today.

Is that another word for weaning?

 

[DrDunc]

Is that another word for weaning?

Aye

 

[Old Tip]

Aye

We say the same but had no idea how to spell it, thanks for the English lesson @DrDunc

 

[DrDunc]

We say the same but had no idea how to spell it, thanks for the English lesson @DrDunc

Ah now, you got me worried I'd spelt it wrong, so googled the word. Apparently it's derived from an archaic term for a nipple / teat.

However, worryingly, this was the first definition that popped up


TOP DEFINITION
speaning
To finger your partners anus while wearing pink rubber gloves and whistling the theme tune to jaws.

 

[Old Tip]

Ah now, you got me worried I'd spelt it wrong, so googled the word. Apparently it's derived from an archaic term for a nipple / teat.

However, worryingly, this was the first definition that popped up


TOP DEFINITION
speaning
To finger your partners anus while wearing pink rubber gloves and whistling the theme tune to jaws.

I am currently unable to breath, please refrain in future young man

 

[Grassman]

I am currently unable to breath, please refrain in future young man

Why. Was it you he was fingering?

 

[sean m]

Ah now, you got me worried I'd spelt it wrong, so googled the word. Apparently it's derived from an archaic term for a nipple / teat.

However, worryingly, this was the first definition that popped up


TOP DEFINITION
speaning
To finger your partners anus while wearing pink rubber gloves and whistling the theme tune to jaws.

i cant whistle,do you think it will matter

 

[Old Tip]

Why. Was it you he was fingering?

No I was laughing that much I was crying

 

[Logie Durno sheep]

Sounds like we need a new picture/video thread to make us all feel better ... "Epic herding failures"

Great idea!!

 

[Yale]

This.

 

[Yale]

Lambs in pen and bags packed away easily.

 

[Woolless]

Ah now, you got me worried I'd spelt it wrong, so googled the word. Apparently it's derived from an archaic term for a nipple / teat.

However, worryingly, this was the first definition that popped up


TOP DEFINITION
speaning
To finger your partners anus while wearing pink rubber gloves and whistling the theme tune to jaws.

Hmm, I wonder how many naive young shepherds have found themselves on the wrong end of an unfortunate misunderstanding??