Early lambing cidr , sponge or regulin sheep

[andybk]

We havnt used any chem means of oestrus for maybe 10 years , we still lamb early (the elderly ewes and a few shearlings to bulk the numbers a bit ) by just putting rams in but think we need to synchronise a bit better for feed reasons and shed space for later lambing ewes and ability to sell more ewes in the cull in april may , used to use regulin which was brilliant some years awful others (bright or dark summers) been out the loop for a while so asking the question , which would be preferred method of choice these days for lambing in december , cidr or sponge ?

 

[neilo]

Given the choice, I'd use a CIDR every time. Much easier to insert and remove, less smelly (which is a slight bacterial infection) and seem to lose far less of them (& easier to see when you have).

Note that they will come on heat slightly earlier with CIDRs compared to sponges, so don't leave the rams out until 48 hours after removal, or you'll miss most of them. They'll start coming on at 12 hours IME.

 

[andybk]

Given the choice, I'd use a CIDR every time. Much easier to insert and remove, less smelly (which is a slight bacterial infection) and seem to lose far less of them (& easier to see when you have).

Note that they will come on heat slightly earlier with CIDRs compared to sponges, so don't leave the rams out until 48 hours after removal, or you'll miss most of them. They'll start coming on at 12 hours IME.

thanks , never used them before , if i did say 50 , could i pull over a few days (maybe 10 a day) to spread workload out a bit, assume would need pmsg as well , ?

 

[neilo]

thanks , never used them before , if i did say 50 , could i pull over a few days (maybe 10 a day) to spread workload out a bit, assume would need pmsg as well , ?

You could, just the same as with sponges.

I know of an Iranian fella that used to sell sheep CIDRs all over the Middle East, now retired to England. He reckoned it was commonplace over there to use them for 6 days, remove them, rinse in antiseptic, then reuse in another sheep for another 6 days.
I've never tried reusing them, but have tried pulling a few batches after 6 days, just to see. They all cycled OK, and conceived, as if they were in for the full time.

 

[yellowbelly]

I'd forget about Regulin...

....have tried it twice here and got no noticeable improvement (maybe they were light or dark years ??)

 

[andybk]

I'd forget about Regulin...

....have tried it twice here and got no noticeable improvement (maybe they were light or dark years ??)

the hard part was keeping treated ewes out of sight or smell of a ram for the treatment duration , its got expensive now , £5.51 a dose which is high considering some years it works some it dont

Regulin 50 dose

Regulin; improves the reproductive performance of pure bred and crossbred lowland sheep which are to be mated early in the season before the usual peak of reproductive activity. When used as directed, it stimulates the early onset of natural reproductive...

www.farmacy.co.uk