Lambing 2019

[primmiemoo]

There was a thread about prolapses ... something to do with mineral imbalances??

Only the rare ones that have had a bad prolapse culled here. Every one is noted, and sometimes a pre-emptive harness applied the next year, but few repeat.

Split feeding concentrates, and ad lib haylage help reduce chances of it happening, as does ambling room.

 

[neilo]

Very much on the high side. Would think 3 or 4% would be acceptable. Are you splitting feeds for multiples and at what rate?

If I get 1% I consider it a bad year. No mules here though, and sheep grazing their feed/well exercised, which I’m sure helps.

 

[Estate fencing.]

Very much on the high side. Would think 3 or 4% would be acceptable. Are you splitting feeds for multiples and at what rate?

They are fed twice a day once they go over 0.5kg. lack of exercise would could be another reason. These ewes are run on HLS land and we are not allowed to feed on fields so as soon as the grass runs out they come in. Usually about 8 weeks off lambing. This flock have never scanned below 207% so always going to get more prolapses in high scanned ewes.

 

[shearerlad]

Not much hope I'm afraid, I had one last year . Would of been better if it had been born dead,Did what had to be done

That’s what I was thinking too. Just wanted to confirm it. Deed was done yesterday afternoon
Never a nice thing to do, but even harder when the lamb is bright and keen to suck etc

 

[shearerlad]

They are fed twice a day once they go over 0.5kg. lack of exercise would could be another reason. These ewes are run on HLS land and we are not allowed to feed on fields so as soon as the grass runs out they come in. Usually about 8 weeks off lambing. This flock have never scanned below 207% so always going to get more prolapses in high scanned ewes.

Just a thought, and may not be even worth trying depending on your exact details of grazing the fields. Could you try to get a derogation to feed on the fields to cut housing down to even 2/3 weeks. The angle I would take is citing animal welfare to reduce prolapse issues

 

[Gator]

That’s what I was thinking too. Just wanted to confirm it. Deed was done yesterday afternoon
Never a nice thing to do, but even harder when the lamb is bright and keen to suck etc

That's the worst bit when there bright and alert , as you say not a nice job

 

[pine_guy]

Found a lamber checking fattening hogs last night . Lambed it and lamb took a breath but that was it, bit premature (teeth not cut through) and a bit fluid belly).

Anyways, bit of good luck this case of twin lamb from earlier in the week gave me a nice set of triplets. So runt adopted into hog wet, result.

Down side, twin lamb ewe next to no milk and possibly nothing on one quarter

 

[DrWazzock]

Just over half way, 10 days in. 140 done.

Starting to get some lambs that are a bit big.

How the heck do you keep ewe nutrition levels up so as to avoid twin lamb, but not get the lambs too big? We always struggle with this.

Lot of mules so 60 triplets out of 230 this year. Size is OK. Lamb nicely. Lively lambs.

Twins and singles a bit big.

All in one group. We feed ad lib sugar beet and they were on turnips until three weeks before lambing. Cake for last 6 weeks but not a huge amount.

We think they get too much beet but hard to ration it as if you let them run out they gorge on it at next feed and some bust themselves.

They have ring feeders of hay and silage but they don't eat a huge amount of it.

Mastitis problem disappeared after initial run of cases at start of lambing.
About 5 abortions of some sort. Not widespread.

 

[kfpben]

One week in....

65 sets of twins turned out
6 ewes with singles
Two in the pet lamb pen (still hoping to twin on)

Weather fantastic....have I jinxed it?

 

[muleman]

One week in....

65 sets of twins turned out
6 ewes with singles
Two in the pet lamb pen (still hoping to twin on)

Weather fantastic....have I jinxed it?

Its an absolute pleasure when the weathers like this...there`s nothing we`d rather be doing,i always think `enjoy these days cos there`ll be plenty of the other`!

 

[Estate fencing.]

Anyone else have problem with the water bag not braking as the ewes sat there with the lamb still in the bag. Do you think it because I use to much straw.

 

[cotswoldcs]

Yes and I think it's probably the most annoying reason for a lamb dying! Straw will exacerbate the problem but if you don't use straw you could end up with bigger problems.

 

[muleman]

Anyone else have problem with the water bag not braking as the ewes sat there with the lamb still in the bag. Do you think it because I use to much straw.

I`m guessing you have grown that straw yourself and not bought it?!

 

[Estate fencing.]

Yeah, I contract shepherd them for a big arable farm. All the sheep have to pay is £2 to bale it. Then they get the muck back. I bed them down every day during lambing but it does seem to be coursing some problems.

 

[TexelBen]

Anyone else have problem with the water bag not braking as the ewes sat there with the lamb still in the bag. Do you think it because I use to much straw.

Are the bags thick? I remember someone having a problem with it last year on here....

 

[Estate fencing.]

There no thicker than normal. I’m going to go to every other day bending now to stop the straw being so deep. So far today have had 35 lamb and no problems.

 

[shearerlad]

Going like a fair today. I reckon 20-22% of the flock has lambed in the last 17 hours. Been a struggle to have enough pens for twins and triplets at times.

I’m on day 7, shed has certainly got a bit more space now

 

[Sheep92]

Had our busiest day here been running out of pens all day, weather's been so good we let some straight out to the field, it really is all about the weather

 

[Woolless]

Just starting to feed the hogget doubles. 3 nuts each should do it.

Hoggets scanned at 125%. No triplets (Yippeeeeee!). Ewes are lower than expected at 172%, but there are genuine barreners in this group, as returns/not raddled from the February lot. No quads or more expected.

Really? I feed the ewe hoggs scanned with twins quite hard. I find the issue with them is small lambs/poor milk if not fed properly. They are on 400g/day and I'll be feeding twice daily shortly. They're in the shed with the triplets. Ewe hogg singles next door on 250g. More of a balancing act with them. Both on hay. Lambing due to start this Saturday.

 

[yellowbelly]

Really? I feed the ewe hoggs scanned with twins quite hard. I find the issue with them is small lambs/poor milk if not fed properly. They are on 400g/day and I'll be feeding twice daily shortly. They're in the shed with the triplets. Ewe hogg singles next door on 250g. More of a balancing act with them. Both on hay. Lambing due to start this Saturday.

Our twin bearers will be getting a bit more than that but for the same reasons. I think the singles benefit from being fed at a lower rate for a longer period but, as you say, it's a bit like walking on a knife edge