Ear notching lambs

[Ryan774-80]

As per title, I’m wanting to notch ewes lambs to keep. Would there be any problems doing them while their say 3-4 hours old? Or is that too soon? Mainly welsh/speckled mule lambs born outside

 

[penntor]

Normally do mine within the 1st 24 hrs when tagging and ringing them. Seem to recover quicker the younger they are.

 

[M-J-G]

Normally do mine within the 1st 24 hrs when tagging and ringing them. Seem to recover quicker the younger they are.

⬆
This

 

[Al R]

Done from 30 seconds to 3-4 days, never notched older than that, there is certainly a lot more blood at 3-4 days than at a few minutes/hours old

 

[Nithsdale]

Thinking notching mine too this year.


If notching at birth is there any part of the ear to avoid? How big a notch do you make - use the whole notcher?

 

[Bullring]

I notch all my ewe lambs at birth, take out a notch at the end of the ear, I have in the past done it either on the top or bottom but found placement of tags more difficult later in life due to the notch in the way. Usually notch their right hand ear as that’s the side of the race I work on so easy to see when picking out lambs.

 

[M-J-G]

I notch wether lambs, I'll only take out a 6 or 7mm notch.
I do the lower part of the ear near the end as I find it easier to see.

For ewe lambs we're keeping I just put in a management tag and replace with a set later if they are still classed as suitable for breeding.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Notch all lambs with an individual number within a day or so
Don't go to close to the head because its more grisly (probably cartilage)
Notch about 5-6 mm
Don't be afraid to do it deep enough or it won't be very clear
Can read my ewes notches without catching in the pen

 

[Macsky]

Notch all lambs with an individual number within a day or so
Don't go to close to the head because its more grisly (probably cartilage)
Notch about 5-6 mm
Don't be afraid to do it deep enough or it won't be very clear
Can read my ewes notches without catching in the pen

What do you mean notch with an individual number?

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

You can number up to 99 easily never got any further
In the right ear you have 10 20 30 40 50 to do 60 you notch 10 and 50 etc
In the left ear 1 2 3 4 5
So to do 99 you notch 40 and 50 and 4 and 5 never need more than 2 notches in each ear
Been doing it all my life never had any problems get more trouble with tags

 

[Macsky]

You can number up to 99 easily never got any further
In the right ear you have 10 20 30 40 50 to do 60 you notch 10 and 50 etc
In the left ear 1 2 3 4 5
So to do 99 you notch 40 and 50 and 4 and 5 never need more than 2 notches in each ear
Been doing it all my life never had any problems get more trouble with tags

Not sure my maths is good enough for that

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Took me a few years to get it

 

[Boydvalley]

I just double tag all possible replacements, with different colour for each year, then when sorting out keepers spray a green circle on their back that makes it obvious it’s a first lamber until shearing.

 

[Ryan774-80]

You can number up to 99 easily never got any further
In the right ear you have 10 20 30 40 50 to do 60 you notch 10 and 50 etc
In the left ear 1 2 3 4 5
So to do 99 you notch 40 and 50 and 4 and 5 never need more than 2 notches in each ear
Been doing it all my life never had any problems get more trouble with tags

So what do you use the individual notch for?

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

If a lamb is number 5 you only use one notch
Or number 20 just one notch

 

[Al R]

If a lamb is number 5 you only use one notch
Or number 20 just one notch

But why notch and not use spray markers otherwise that lamb is that number for life?

 

[Bullring]

Notch all lambs with an individual number within a day or so
Don't go to close to the head because its more grisly (probably cartilage)
Notch about 5-6 mm
Don't be afraid to do it deep enough or it won't be very clear
Can read my ewes notches without catching in the pen

Is that a Suffolk sheep thing, I remember when I used to have pedigree Suffolk’s and using that notching system, it works well once you get used to it, that’s probably why I still notch now, one thing now is the notchers have got bigger, I still have my original notcher from 30years ago and it leaves a smaller neater notch than the newer ones.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Yes its a Suffolk thing no longer compulsory but notches don't get lost / rip ears or become infected ( I know tags don't very often)
And I want the number to stay for life that's the point
I also notch all commercial ewes and lambs
Not for everyone but it suits me

 

[poorsheepfarmer]

Is it not banned under RT?

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Not to my knowledge