Lamb weaning weights

[NK10390]

Hi everyone

Just interested to see but I have started to wean lambs and they are all 12-14 weeks of age.

What weight should they be at that age on average?

3 batches:
1 batch averaging 35.5kg
1 batch averaging 31.6kg
And the last batch averaging 27.5kg albeit this batch are not even 12-14 weeks yet as they were later to lamb by a few weeks.

I’m happy with the average weights but there are a good few in and around 26-34kg and below the average of the overall flock. I know there is always going to be those less than the average but there is just a few more in this bracket than I would like but maybe I’m being hard on them and they are averaging what the majority of lambs are at 12-14 weeks?

I suppose everyone always wants their lambs to be that bit heavier!

 

[livestock 1]

A lot of variables with this breed land type start date of lambing?
Lowland breeds will perform better than hill breeds earlier lambing dates will hit the grass at the right time and gain the benefits.

 

[neilo]

Their weight is only any use to compare against your own in previous years. It's irrelevant what anyone else's weigh, unless they are running exactly the same genetics (not just breeds), on exactly the same system, with exactly the same feed/stocking rate.

You'll just end beating yourself up over it otherwise, as somebody will come along and claim their's had an average weaning weight of 40kg, having not lost a single one since scanning.

I'd be happy enough with those weights, from a flock of predominantly 60-65kg ewes run on a low input system.
I'd be less happy if they were March born out of 80kg ewes and creep fed.

 

[livestock 1]

The other side to this is marketing
When you sell them or when they are ready to hit a certain trade

 

[edn]

Have you ever done weaning weights before? As Neil rightly says benchmarking is great and all but of much more use if you're benchmarking your own data year on year.

Our weaning weight this year averaged 31.2kg from ewes ranging in weight from 53kg-86kg and averaging low 60skg. I'm happy as this is the best we've had for a few years- also the first year we've had lambs fat before the end of June.

What I would say is if you're concerned about the run of lambs that are below average then look at what reasons there might be for that- are they out of young or old ewes? Are they out of a particular breed of ewe? Are they by a particular tup?

 

[NK10390]

This is the first year I have took weights at 8 weeks of age and at weaning time so i suppose it will be a lot more beneficial for a comparison from next year etc.

They are all putting on a good daily live weight gain all from .2kg to .45kg per day so happy with that. No matter what I suppose there is always going to be that bunch of lambs that are just going to be below the average and it is trying to make sure there are as few as possible in that bracket.

I’ve weaned a wee bit earlier this year and I suppose other years because I wasn’t looking at all the weights I was just seeing the heavier ones so I’m probably being a bit hard on them but always want to learn how I can improve. I think performance recording is the way forward?

 

[livestock 1]

Drought is the main cause of lower performance here now

 

[neilo]

This is the first year I have took weights at 8 weeks of age and at weaning time so i suppose it will be a lot more beneficial for a comparison from next year etc.

They are all putting on a good daily live weight gain all from .2kg to .45kg per day so happy with that. No matter what I suppose there is always going to be that bunch of lambs that are just going to be below the average and it is trying to make sure there are as few as possible in that bracket.

I’ve weaned a wee bit earlier this year and I suppose other years because I wasn’t looking at all the weights I was just seeing the heavier ones so I’m probably being a bit hard on them but always want to learn how I can improve. I think performance recording is the way forward?

Half will always be below the average, but as above, if there are a bunch that are a long way short, is there a reason you can pinpoint?

 

[NK10390]

No reason that I can pinpoint. All clear of worms, got double Heptavac’d, get Vitamin drenched etc.

I’m thinking that it is probably the same as every year or very similar but because I have every weight in front of me in black and white it makes you sit back and look at the results more and think why.

 

[livestock 1]

No reason that I can pinpoint. All clear of worms, got double Heptavac’d, get Vitamin drenched etc.

I’m thinking that it is probably the same as every year or very similar but because I have every weight in front of me in black and white it makes you sit back and look at the results more and think why.

Sheep do differently in different areas. We’ve had sheep on keep on various farms over the years and it’s bad to follow why

 

[Rich_ard]

You need a few left for when the price rises in the new year

 

[edn]

No reason that I can pinpoint. All clear of worms, got double Heptavac’d, get Vitamin drenched etc.

I’m thinking that it is probably the same as every year or very similar but because I have every weight in front of me in black and white it makes you sit back and look at the results more and think why.

What will make your life useful is if you do the same exercise next year and find there's a genetic component in the lighter lambs- you'll always have some ewes that don't work as hard as others- it can be useful calculating lamb weaning weight as a percentage of ewe bodyweight at weaning- it is time consuming but really helps show your most efficient ewes.

 

[David.]

I've often idly contemplated weaning the remainder after we have been drawing lambs for a month or so; and loading up their mothers the next week.
It is the rubbish in any livestock enterprise that sucks time, money, and the joy out the job.

 

[d-wales]

Half will always be below the average, but as above, if there are a bunch that are a long way short, is there a reason you can pinpoint

When I weigh my lambs, i always aim for half below the average and half above the average.

 

[ringi]

I've often idly contemplated weaning the remainder after we have been drawing lambs for a month or so; and loading up their mothers the next week.
It is the rubbish in any livestock enterprise that sucks time, money, and the joy out the job.

Or at least never keep replacements from the below average ewes.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I've often idly contemplated weaning the remainder after we have been drawing lambs for a month or so; and loading up their mothers the next week.
It is the rubbish in any livestock enterprise that sucks time, money, and the joy out the job.

will be ewes that had singles verse's doubles or triples even? , though of course.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

What will make your life useful is if you do the same exercise next year and find there's a genetic component in the lighter lambs- you'll always have some ewes that don't work as hard as others- it can be useful calculating lamb weaning weight as a percentage of ewe bodyweight at weaning- it is time consuming but really helps show your most efficient ewes.

But no 2 years are ever the same?

 

[David.]

will be ewes that had singles verse's doubles or triples even? , though of course.

All great plans have a flaw.
Anyway, "Singles"; Please explain what you mean..

 

[Bury the Trash]

All great plans have a flaw.
Anyway, "Singles"; Please explain what you mean..

simply that generally speaking single lambs get fit/ go first , ie possibly /quite likely from the less prolific ewes. ie you might be unwittingly be culling the ewes that had the most lambs

course its all all relative to other factors of course goes without saying.

unless by what you said you meant that you have contemplated getting rid of the whole flock
quite often sheep are a pita

 

[David.]

I actually meant what are "singles".
Sorry, should have Included a smiley face to indicate being ironic.