Lambing Ewe Lambs

[Ffermer Bach]

what tup would you recommend to use on ewe lambs? I know this is a bit early to think of this, but as the ewe lambs are lambing at the mo, I am wondering what I should use on them for next year, to ensure an easy lambing. I was wondering maybe badger face to give small lambs? What do others think?

 

[GTB]

Chamois or Roussin work well here and grow into tidy lambs. Hardly ever pull one.

 

[Bones]

what tup would you recommend to use on ewe lambs? I know this is a bit early to think of this, but as the ewe lambs are lambing at the mo, I am wondering what I should use on them for next year, to ensure an easy lambing. I was wondering maybe badger face to give small lambs? What do others think?

What ram did you use this year, I'd vote charmoise or rouge

 

[Ffermer Bach]

What ram did you use this year, I'd vote charmoise or rouge

easy care, and we are having a few problems

 

[jemski]

I've used a black Welsh X texel on mine for the last 10 years. The ram is now starting to look old, so will probably be using a char X beltex next year, but one that is more char than belty. A few of my too small to tup ewe lambs (by the black Welsh ram) got in with the ewes and Rams and 4 got in lamb by the char X. They have had lovely quite large lambs but all lambed themselves, as although large they are very wedge shaped. They just needed a bit of time, but I left them too it and they managed fine by themselves.

 

[TexelBen]

I'd second Charmoise, nice wedge shaped lambs, that know what to do once they're born

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

what tup would you recommend to use on ewe lambs? I know this is a bit early to think of this, but as the ewe lambs are lambing at the mo, I am wondering what I should use on them for next year, to ensure an easy lambing. I was wondering maybe badger face to give small lambs? What do others think?

I lambed Hoggs for first time this year. They are mainly Texel x Mule.

Used a Shetland tup.

Absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Will be interesting to see how the lambs grow, but so far so good.

TSS

 

[Bones]

easy care, and we are having a few problems

Were they easy care ewe lambs as well

 

[sherg]

Charmoise work well on ewe lambs the problem is they are slow growing and kill out too fat once they get to weight if it was me I'd be very tempted with a beltex or possibly a charolais x beltex to get a bit more growth in them

 

[scottish-lleyn]

Southdown here havnt lambed a hogg whole of lambing and the last hogg lambed this morning.230 hoggs lambed in total here. Lambs grow slowly enough not to drag the hogg down but finish very easy.

 

[Plas king]

Bulah tup used here,lleyn and lleyn x texel ewe lambs,had to pull the odd one out of the texel crosses but the others have lambed very easy.The lambs dont pull to hard on the ewe lambs not like the charollais we used to use.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

I bought a Charolais last year specifically for the ewe lambs and they have been a doddle to lamb.

Twins have been treated the same as twin ewes and the singles were fed up until 4 ish weeks before then kicked out onto poor grazing.

 

[MRT]

I would go Charmoise every time

 

[Sandpit Farm]

+1 for Roussin especially if you want the option to keep the females as replacements.

Charollais have worked well for us on Roussin/mule and Suffolk/mule ewe lambs.

I've heard lots about Charmoise but have no direct experience with them. Though I believe prolificacy may be an issue if you attempt to keep ewe lambs.

Southdown were shown to have the lowest birth weights of all terminal breeds on the Basco database. But the caveat would be that there weren't any Charmoise or Beltex data included and it doesn't take into account birth shape and ease. So a larger Charollais lamb may be born easier than a smaller Suffolk lamb etc.

 

[MRT]

[QUOTE="Sandpit Farm, post: 3729374, member: 1646
I believe prolificacy may be an issue if you attempt to keep ewe lambs..[/QUOTE]

I can clear that one up Sandpit - they don't have a lot of lambs

 

[GTB]

easy care, and we are having a few problems

Are your ewe lambs a bit too fat? What breed are they?

 

[Recoil]

Use a Welsh ram on the ewe lambs here. Pop them out no trouble.

 

[Dangerous Dan]

easy care, and we are having a few problems

We have a texel tup on first time mules and an easycare tup on first time easycare ewe lambs. So far so good.

 

[JohnGalway]

Only ever lambed lambs once, used a Zwartbles ram. Had the lambs inside mostly to control feed intake, but also in a secure pen so there'd be no intentional "misplacing" of lambs. All 4 scanned with singles. They all lambed themselves, had lots of milk, got preferential treatment (in with twins) after.

Wedged shaped rams will be ideal for you, but you do want a breed that'll be up quick and have as little problems as possible. I shied away from Charolais as I couldn't guarantee one that would give good wool cover at birth at the time.

One thing I will say about lambing lambs is that they make excellent mothers, totally attentive to their lamb in my limited experience. One has already lambed as a two year old this year. When I picked up her lamb to weight it and tar it's neck, the ewe spent her time battering me

I'd like to get lambs tipped again tbh, found it a good experience.

 

[polk_farmer]

We used beltex last time, lambed easy, but we cashed the in as stores in the summer as they would take an age to finish, probably go NZ texel or Lleyn on the better ones next time round.