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Lamb Macs

Jerry

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Devon
Does anyone actually use these?

I lamb out, and a few weeks earlier this year than normal, starting next week. Have used foil to wrap a couple lambs last year till I could get them under cover and think it helped.

Was wondering about lamb macs from Shearwell, do they make a difference in wet weather? On,y a few pennies each so might get some in case we go back to wet gales again!
 

JohnGalway

Member
Livestock Farmer
I've used them, lamb indoors now though. When it's cold and wet weather I'd much rather a lamb use their energy growing than keeping (extra) warm if you get me. Plus if the back leg holders break it's a bit of fun watching the little ovine superheroes race around with "capes" on :D I have been glad to use them on a couple of occasions to be honest. You can get different sizes.
 

hally

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cumbria
Brilliant things we have used them for years rarely have a lamb go down in the cold with one of those on. Loads of guys around here use them but get the right size to match your lambs, also we like the clear one as you can still see the lamb if it is hungry or if you have numbered them .
Couldnt recommend them highly enough
 

Jerry

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Devon
Well I have ordered some for Shearwell, no sizing options though. Lambs are normally good sized, Charolais out of Lleyn ewes.

Clear but looks like they have the Shearwell logo on them so mini walking adverts for them!
 

llamedos

New Member
Yes used them, see the Bleuuuugh d maine thread ;)
I would say they were worth it at the time, the clear ones seemed to last better than the orange ones, they were a bit flimsy and the leg slits too low, so they ripped out easier, but it made lamb national much more interesting, and you could spot the dead ones easier :D joke!
 

hinchy

Member
Location
Derbyshire
Brilliant for new borns when pi$$ing it down. Went up to one lamb in the rain last year fearing the worst, it was fast asleep. Woke, stood up and shook itself, the amount of water that flicked off it was alarming. Can only be a good thing provided you don't break the bond with the ewe.
 

penntor

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
sw devon
Yes, have used them a lot over the years, clear are best. One word of warning, do not use them on Jacob lambs, the mothers hate them, even the clear ones and will reject the lamb, even when it is removed.
Not had this problem with other breeds.
 

JohnGalway

Member
Livestock Farmer
Do you just put them on lambs if weather looks poor? Assume this is after they have mothered up properly?

Pretty much, had the odd "Oh sh!t! What's that?!" jumpy reaction from ewes, but never a rejection. Did have one slightly bite into one lamb under a foreleg, made the skin a little raw more than anything else, probably a solved issue by now.
 

hally

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cumbria
Brilliant for new borns when pi$$ing it down. Went up to one lamb in the rain last year fearing the worst, it was fast asleep. Woke, stood up and shook itself, the amount of water that flicked off it was alarming. Can only be a good thing provided you don't break the bond with the ewe.
Yeah we always mac them at least an hour before they go out
 

redcoo235

Member
Livestock Farmer
Get on really well with them. Can be a bit of a pain to get on when you are trying to hold one lamb and get the jacket on the other while its howling a gale! Maybe get one ewe a year that will reject a lamb but never found it to be an issue and we put them on outside lambed lambs. If you get a chance on a really crap weather day feel how dry and warm the wool is underneath, bound to make a difference. Have tried most makes, found shearwell the best and netex the worst. Keep away from the orange ones as you have to write a number on them with a marker pen as you cant see anything below.:(
 

JohnGalway

Member
Livestock Farmer
Can be a bit of a pain to get on when you are trying to hold one lamb and get the jacket on the other while its howling a gale!

Leave one lamb on the floor with it's neck held between your ankles. Frees up both hands to jacket the lamb in your hands, then work on the second fella.

One of the secrets of lambing time, pockets, lots of pockets! And not on the lamb jackets!
 

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Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

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On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

This webinar will be...
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