Lamb killing weather

[spin cycle]

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy enough with them - and the lambs they've got. My post was a bit tongue in cheek to be honest.
I just happened to be walking through the market as they were being sold (hadn't even looked at 'em) and there wasn't much interest in them so they don't stand me at a lot of money

i knew it

 

[CopperBeech]

Just about the only thing that’s kept me half way sane this year are the exlana and easy care ewes I run. Currently lambing down on some rough old water meadows, being checked twice a day if they are lucky (not by choice!). Good lambs, excellent mums, lots of milk etc. It made me realise I’ve over complicated things in the last couple of years and I’ll go back to just the shedders, keep running my current suftex tup and the charmoise over the bottom end and the rest to top exlana tups.

 

[Bob the beef]

My knee (old injury) wouldn't stand upto that... I'd prefer a steady, SUSTAINABLE, long distance jog

@Nithsdale Farmer This you getting your excuses in early in case you don't make it to the top of Ben Nevis?

 

[Nithsdale]

@Nithsdale Farmer This you getting your excuses in early in case you don't make it to the top of Ben Nevis?

It's still snow capped. Even the 'tourist route' is pretty dangerous at the moment, I might just be going for a weekend away in a static caravan at Glencoe at this rate

19 days and counting

 

[yellowbelly]

Good lambs, excellent mums, lots of milk etc. I

Can't fault the few I've got on that score. It just makes you realise how much we've bred the maternal traits out of our flock in pursuit of shape and growth rate

 

[Bob the beef]

It's still snow capped. Even the 'tourist route' is pretty dangerous at the moment, I might just be going for a weekend away in a static caravan at Glencoe at this rate

19 days and counting

Sod the the caravan. You'll get a decent night out in Fort Williama

 

[neilo]

That left 20. Three scanned empty. Two lambed breech and needed pulling, three had triplets (one of which was only milking on one side), so 4 lambs to find fosters for. The last one to lamb has a bag like a cow and tits that the lambs are struggling to get in their mouths. That's left us with 17 easycares with 29 lambs running (+the 4 spares) of which 2 of the singles needed a pull.

Can't fault the few I've got on that score. It just makes you realise how much we've bred the maternal traits out of our flock in pursuit of shape and growth rate

Your list of problems (from only 20 ewes) don’t scream out that they’ve been bred for maternal traits, unless yours were the ones with the cull tags/notches in.
Would you expect, or put up with, as many problems from any 20 of your own ewes?

 

[CopperBeech]

Your list of problems (from only 20 ewes) don’t scream out that they’ve been bred for maternal traits, unless yours were the ones with the cull tags/notches in.
Would you expect, or put up with, as many problems from any 20 of your own ewes?

To be fair, the ewes that scanned in lamb are rearing 170%, and three of the ones in the pet pen were taken off optionally. Couple with sh!t bags and too many empty ewes granted, but no talk of maternal lacking. Its probably easier to cull out physical issues (i.e bad bags) than mental issues, when it comes to maternalness. On the whole I find them very good on that front, but they are a bit like deer. I tend to walk around wetly and look for any problems but largely leave them to it. They tuck their lambs up in the reeds when older and go off to graze nearby, coming snorting back and stamping, pretty standard stuff, but nice when its fairly consistent. Mine are pretty wild though which is the downside.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

White frost here this morning

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

White frost here this morning

Very cold here but at least the water is disappearing!

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Very cold here but at least the water is disappearing!

Potential shower tomorrow but dry right through after that (fingers crossed)

 

[Top Tip.]

White frost here this morning

Same here but the suns out and it looks as if it’s going to be a good day

 

[aangus]

Potential shower tomorrow but dry right through after that (fingers crossed)

Hope it gets warmer to

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Hope it gets warmer to

Apparently 19 degrees at the weekend

 

[aangus]

Apparently 19 degrees at the weekend

Great

 

[Woolless]

White frost here this morning

Yes, quite a thick frost on car windscreen at 0500. At least we haven't had late April snow like the past two years and doesn't look like the early May monsoon from three years ago will be repeated.

 

[scottish-lleyn]

Yes, quite a thick frost on car windscreen at 0500. At least we haven't had late April snow like the past two years and doesn't look like the early May monsoon from three years ago will be repeated.

shhooosht dont talk about it. Beautiful morning here this morning no big coat on the bike. Long may it last.

 

[yellowbelly]

Your list of problems (from only 20 ewes) don’t scream out that they’ve been bred for maternal traits, unless yours were the ones with the cull tags/notches in.

As I said previously, I hadn't any intention of buying them at the start of the day. I didn't have a clue as to who's they were, how they'd been bred or why they were there (the least you would normally ask). I hadn't even been in the pens. It was a breeding sale and I happened to be walking by as they were being sold. They weren't very dear. i just took a punt.
For what they cost, they've done alright (I wasn't complaining - just passing comment) and as @CopperBeech says, they look after their lambs well. They'll chase the dog off and one of them has even had a go at Mrs YB - no mean feat in itself

Apologies for taking this thread way off track - should have had this discussion in the 'what breed' thread

 

[Green farmer]

Mine are pretty wild though which is the downside.

Thats what puts me off trying them out. Have an image in my head that they’d be more flighty then the quiet strain of Lleyns I’m trying to breed to the flock. Rightly or wrongly I’d imagine theyd be more like the long lanky Lleyns that go running anytime you’d get anywhere near.

 

[Sheep92]

Thats what puts me off trying them out. Have an image in my head that they’d be more flighty then the quiet strain of Lleyns I’m trying to breed to the flock. Rightly or wrongly I’d imagine theyd be more like the long lanky Lleyns that go running anytime you’d get anywhere near.

Our easycare crosses are the quietest sheep on the farm,
Probably not saying much about the rest of them though!