Lambing %

[millen87]

Hi folks looking to try get my lamb% up. (more lambs ) usually lamb middle of January onwards texel/ Suffolk cross and few mules also run a teaser 2 weeks before rams go in. Have bolused ewes last couple of years pre tupping but not seeing and big results. Any suggestions

 

[Farmer Fin]

Currently figures. Scanning %, loses, target etc?

 

[andybk]

bit early in season for tex crosses to have a lot of lambs , do you have to lamb in jan ? going back a month to feb will make a difference as ewes will be cycling a bit better then , or you will have to look at sponging or regulin implants to up the % numbers .
i lamb pure charollais in mid december natural service but as its the early end of their cycles prolificacy suffers prob 140-150% compared to 175 - 180% lambing feb- march .

 

[millen87]

Yes lambing early suits me with work. Sponging has got to expensive I think. Scanning around 150% / 160% last couple of years just would like to try improve it a little

 

[andybk]

Yes lambing early suits me with work. Sponging has got to expensive I think. Scanning around 150% / 160% last couple of years just would like to try improve it a little

would think thats ok for that time of year and breeds , texel % is only 150% in pures normal season , if it works well maybe you need to look at different breeds or crosses , introduce some dorset blood , then back to terminal . regulin works ok in a dark (wet or cloudy ) summer not so good in a bright year , was about £5 a head when i last used it .

 

[millen87]

Which would be the best to keep fertility right mineral drench or bolus

 

[harperfarmer]

We couldn't get texel x mules to scan well enough for us for Feb lambing. Much better for March so we've gone back to all suffolk cross mules. It's kept the lambing period tighter as it was getting dragged out with the Texels lambing last. Suffolks will invariably scan at 190-200% with the texels tupped at the same time nearer 160%. Horses for courses. It's a shame because in all other regards I really rate the texel cross ewe.

 

[puppet]

The dates are probably more important than boluses. Our Mule and Texel cross ewes will scan 190 to lamb in March without any drenches except for fluke.

 

[neilo]

Agree with above 150/160% for Texel crosses lambing naturally in early season isn’t bad anyway. Sponge & PMSG, or Regulin implants, Would likely lift numbers but at a cost.

Have you done any forage/blood testing to know what TE deficiencies you might have, if any at all? Despite the various magic remedy company’s Claims, their products won’t make any difference unless you have a shortage.