Docking before lambing?

[CharcoalWally]

I lamb indoors and yea I could tell when a ewe was about to lamb soon since I was 11!

But there's things like if a lambs backwards and the tail pops out you're not gonna see it through the wool/sh!t or a nose with no legs!

But as you say you know when a ewe's going to lamb, so I don't see the problem. If they're inside anyway, you're presumably around them quite a lot.

But if you want to clip them, then crack on as early before lambing as possible.

 

[Nithsdale]

I wouldn't do them pre lambing... but as already - plenty do.

For a couple years I did all my ewes pre-tupping. Surprising there was very little wool re-growth come lambing, tails were clear (and clean) and tails remained clear until shearing

It worked well, but I got purer into the Lleyns with tighter wool - not as much dirt problems and tails are more bare, so I don't bother anymore. I did the hoggs too back then, should still do it - made for easy shearing.

 

[exmoor dave]

Traditionally around here all ewes were dagged in late April or early May when the lambs were marked. It was a big job requiring lots of staff. These days nearly everyone dag their ewes before lambing when vaccinating. Far less stressful for all concerned. We don't dag ours at all though because we have the ultimate sheep breed, Easycares

Got some 1st cross exlana x exmoor mules entering the feb flock this year.
Most have good clean bellies and limited wool round tail.
Some are fluff balls!

For folk who didn't want to go full shed they'd be good practical ewes, the shearers love them as well, they surprisingly shear well and no leg/neck/belly wool, but small crop of wool.

 

[Nithsdale]

View attachment 620808

Got some 1st cross exlana x exmoor mules entering the feb flock this year.
Most have good clean bellies and limited wool round tail.
Some are fluff balls!

For folk who didn't want to go full shed they'd be good practical ewes, the shearers love them as well, they surprisingly shear well and no leg/neck/belly wool, but small crop of wool.

Small wool crop is what hurts them... it costs the same if you get the Shearer's in, and the less wool means less return after paying them (if any). Makes the job VERY easy if you are shearing them yourself though. Love it when I get a run of bare skinned/peeler types in my Lleyns - no belly, no neck and no tail. 30-40seconds after grabbing her and she's shorn

 

[CornishRanger]

My friend also noticed that he had more mastitis when ewe were fully crutched, we still do them but only clean off the tail and do a comb width around the tail, it's enough to keep them clean and make them easier to see with the benefits listed above, but doesn't take too wool away from the udder which he reckons may have contributed to the extra mastitis, so get the best of both worlds

 

[Gerf]

We dock a month before lambing and cant say i’ve noticed an increase in mastitis. Main benefit I find is that newborn lambs can find the teat easier in that vital first couple if hours,

 

[GTB]

My friend also noticed that he had more mastitis when ewe were fully crutched, we still do them but only clean off the tail and do a comb width around the tail, it's enough to keep them clean and make them easier to see with the benefits listed above, but doesn't take too wool away from the udder which he reckons may have contributed to the extra mastitis, so get the best of both worlds

I think they want doing at least four to six weeks before lambing. Similar to winter shearing in a way.

 

[exmoor dave]

Small wool crop is what hurts them... it costs the same if you get the Shearer's in, and the less wool means less return after paying them (if any). Makes the job VERY easy if you are shearing them yourself though. Love it when I get a run of bare skinned/peeler types in my Lleyns - no belly, no neck and no tail. 30-40seconds after grabbing her and she's shorn

Great for shearing.....not so good for wool chq

Only a stop gap for me on the route to full shedders so not too worried

 

[GTB]

Great for shearing.....not so good for wool chq

Only a stop gap for me on the route to full shedders so not too worried

It's not too bad if you shear yourself.

 

[tinsheet]

Ewes could get udder problems leave till after lambing.

Have had problems in the past, cold spring and no protection for the udder, black udder etc. Don't dock till well after lambing if at all. (Phasing out the Suffolk crosses helps).

 

[neilo]

Great for shearing.....not so good for wool chq

Only a stop gap for me on the route to full shedders so not too worried

Presumably you'll have wooly sheep, first cross 'less wooly' sheep and shedders about for some time? How long do you think it will be before you have all shedders?

 

[exmoor dave]

It's not too bad if you shear yourself.

Yep agree...... pity about the bad back last sheared in 2015

 

[GTB]

Presumably you'll have wooly sheep, first cross 'less wooly' sheep and shedders about for some time? How long do you think it will be before you have all shedders?

Took us about ten years to go from all wooly to all shedders..

 

[GTB]

Yep agree...... pity about the bad back last sheared in 2015

Sorry to hear that. Still I doubt your shearers will complain much.

 

[exmoor dave]

Presumably you'll have wooly sheep, first cross 'less wooly' sheep and shedders about for some time? How long do you think it will be before you have all shedders?

Ages

About 20% of the total flock is full shed (wilt or exlana) bred from full shedders.
Then about 15% are 1st cross, 15% exmoor mule.

other 50% suff mules.

1st aim is to get my April flock to full shed (replacements for both flocks are born to that flock), next year all replacements in to the April flock will be shedders (on paper)
With everything else going in to my feb flock (all put to terminals).

Momentum building year on year.
Would have course been quicker to just buy in shedder replacements but I wasn't comfortable with the disease risk

 

[neilo]

Ages

About 20% of the total flock is full shed (wilt or exlana) bred from full shedders.
Then about 15% are 1st cross, 15% exmoor mule.

other 50% suff mules.

1st aim is to get my April flock to full shed (replacements for both flocks are born to that flock), next year all replacements in to the April flock will be shedders (on paper)
With everything else going in to my feb flock (all put to terminals).

Momentum building year on year.
Would have course been quicker to just buy in shedder replacements but I wasn't comfortable with the disease risk

Grand, so in about 5 years time we’ll all see a tripling in wool price as you get almost all shedders?

 

[neilo]

Took us about ten years to go from all wooly to all shedders..

Was that through grading everything up? From Welsh, or something else?

 

[GTB]

Was that through grading everything up? From Welsh, or something else?

Yes graded up from north wales Welsh to full shedding. Still have the odd one that needs shearing but they get put to terminal sires. As a guide first cross, one third shedders. Second cross, two thirds shedders. Third cross , nearly all shedders......

 

[neilo]

Yes graded up from north wales Welsh to full shedding. Still have the odd one that needs shearing but they get put to terminal sires. As a guide first cross, one third shedders. Second cross, two thirds shedders. Third cross , nearly all shedders......

Given the reduced wool value (& same shearing cost), do you think it would pay to just buy in a nucleus of shedders and multiply them up instead, rather than breed up from the existing flock?
Serious question, as always hassled by sorting shearing for little real return, so always open to the idea of shedding sheep.

 

[exmoor dave]

Grand, so in about 5 years time we’ll all see a tripling in wool price as you get almost all shedders?

Hahaha! Would have to more than triple to make me turn back..... well the April flock at least!
Feb flock is still not finalised