Feeding ewes post-lambing?

[Skintagain]

No more than anything else. They all struggle when they’re soaking wet, standing in a cold wind, myself included.

Biggest issues with pure Charollais turned out into this weather, is the utter lack of maternal instinct in the ewes. They stand in the middle of a windswept field with their lambs, rather than seeking shelter under a hedge.

I picked two dead pure lambs up today, in a field with a 30’ tall wood along one side and hedges around the other sides and a few trees dotted about too. The dead ones were right out in the middle, with their mothers stood over them.

sorry I couldn’t resist,!

We have kept turning out but overdone it on some lower away land will cause a problem later we will have to shed some off somehow or put creep in to ease pressure

not having any pure Charley tups atm has helped. I know you say there Is no difference but having half texel half Charley has certainly got some wool back on the lambs. still have the vigour from The Charley though which we would miss if not present

 

[neilo]

sorry I couldn’t resist,!

We have kept turning out but overdone it on some lower away land will cause a problem later we will have to shed some off somehow or put creep in to ease pressure

not having any pure Charley tups atm has helped. I know you say there Is no difference but having half texel half Charley has certainly got some wool back on the lambs. still have the vigour from The Charley though which we would miss if not present

My Charollais lambs, pure and especially in the crossbreds, have a decent birth coat. A culling offence here to be born with a bare, wrinkly skin. That’s no good out in the real world, whatever the breed.

 

[Radio]

No more than anything else. They all struggle when they’re soaking wet, standing in a cold wind, myself included.

Biggest issues with pure Charollais turned out into this weather, is the utter lack of maternal instinct in the ewes. They stand in the middle of a windswept field with their lambs, rather than seeking shelter under a hedge.

I picked two dead pure lambs up today, in a field with a 30’ tall wood along one side and hedges around the other sides and a few trees dotted about too. The dead ones were right out in the middle, with their mothers stood over them.

Ewes are infuriating ,rough weather finds them in the middle of the field taking their lambs with them. Cows always seem to hide their calves in ditches and sheltered places. Have been told that shorn ewes will look for shelter, anyone got experience of this.

 

[yoki]

Ewes are infuriating ,rough weather finds them in the middle of the field taking their lambs with them. Cows always seem to hide their calves in ditches and sheltered places. Have been told that shorn ewes will look for shelter, anyone got experience of this.

I always thought that the hill men had more sheep buried in snow drifts as they were always seeking shelter on the lee side of something, which is where the drift forms.

Or is it just the Blackies that do that?

 

[Radio]

I always thought that the hill men had more sheep buried in snow drifts as they were always seeking shelter on the lee side of something, which is where the drift forms.

Or is it just the Blackies that do that?

That’s before lambing

 

[ritchiekirkland]

Ewes are infuriating ,rough weather finds them in the middle of the field taking their lambs with them. Cows always seem to hide their calves in ditches and sheltered places. Have been told that shorn ewes will look for shelter, anyone got experience of this.

Never shorn my own ewes pre lamb but shore for other people . They all say the have better marking % when they do it , recon because the ewe feels the cold more she lambs in more sheltered spots . There is some science behind the effect of shearing the ewe on the unborn foetus too but can’t remember the ins and outs of it .

 

[neilo]

Ewes are infuriating ,rough weather finds them in the middle of the field taking their lambs with them. Cows always seem to hide their calves in ditches and sheltered places. Have been told that shorn ewes will look for shelter, anyone got experience of this.

I’ve posted this before but, a few years back, I had a ruck of single, pure Charollais lambs in a North facing field with horizontal freezing rain coming in. There were thick, high hedges all round the 5ac field, so plenty of shelter, if they sought it.
Those pure Charollais lambs were on a mix of pure ewes and Highlander ET recipients. The Highlanders all sought shelter under the hedges with their (pure Charollais) lambs, while the Charollais ewes just stood out in the open with their backs up, and their lambs dieing beside them.

I don’t have Charollais genetics in the female side of my commercial flock.

As for shearing the ewes to make them seek shelter, I’ve brought 2 comatose lambs in this afternoon to try to revive. Both were out of shedding ewes (with little wool) and both had been up and full of milk this morning, but found out in the open with their mothers this afternoon.
Maternal genetics are more important than hearing them ime.

 

[neilo]

Never shorn my own ewes pre lamb but shore for other people . They all say the have better marking % when they do it , recon because the ewe feels the cold more she lambs in more sheltered spots . There is some science behind the effect of shearing the ewe on the unborn foetus too but can’t remember the ins and outs of it .

They will supposedly eat more (assuming the extra feed is available of course) to keep warm, which lifts lamb birth weights and, potentially, lamb survival as a result.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Anyone used these Rumenco ewe and lamb blocks?

 

[ritchiekirkland]

Same principle as shearing feeding sheep I guess . Get cold , eat more , fatten quicker.
Need to pick the right fields for the job I would say !

 

[neilo]

Anyone used these Rumenco ewe and lamb blocks?

View attachment 1172480

Yes, when they first came out. I didn’t rate them as any better than other high energy rumevite blocks tbh, or not for ewes with lambs anyway.

Their selling point is the soya content iirc, but sheep usually have excessive protein intakes on Spring grass anyway. Intakes were quite high, so must be tasty and/or soft.

I haven’t bought them since.

 

[yoki]

That’s before lambing

Makes sense I suppose.

"Sheep sense" that is!