Lmb jackets

[Bigsingle]

Do folk that used them think they saved lmbs or not. Couldn't get them at mccaskies all sold out. Just for next year.

 

[ritchiekirkland]

Used some for the first time ever this year some of the rougher days and would say they definitely helped . Pain in arse picking them up round the field a week or two later but better than picking up dead lambs !

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I think they’ve saved a lot of lambs for us this year

 

[Bigsingle]

Orange ones?

 

[JohnGalway]

Do folk that used them think they saved lmbs or not. Couldn't get them at mccaskies all sold out. Just for next year.

Yes.

A lamb has a small core to generate heat from, compared to the skin area to lose heat from. A jacket that will keep sleet and cold wind off them can only help.

Better to plan to avoid that weather IMO, but even now hail is forecast here this week

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Orange ones?

No these

 

[hoff135]

I found the ewes are prone to reject lambs with orange jackets. I have clear agrimins ones but they are quite russly, and the odd ewe won't be sure of it. Had net tex ones before I think which were a softer plastic, probably what I'd buy again

 

[Guleesh]

When lambs can't survive the world they're born into without being wrapped in plastic, maybe it's time to think about where it all went wrong and fix that instead.

What is this peculiar human compulsion to wrap everything in plastic?? All our food needs to be wrapped in plastic, even trees need to be wrapped in plastic, and now we normalise wrapping livestock in plastic. Weird, plastic is toxic.

 

[Bigsingle]

Keep the tups in there field for 10 days might help.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

When lambs can't survive the world they're born into without being wrapped in plastic, maybe it's time to think about where it all went wrong and fix that instead.

What is this peculiar human compulsion to wrap everything in plastic?? All our food needs to be wrapped in plastic, even trees need to be wrapped in plastic, and now we normalise wrapping livestock in plastic. Weird, plastic is toxic.

Couple of nights of strong wind rain and sleet on to already wet ground and there will be high lamb mortality whatever breed. Lamb macs will protect and reduce losses. We are supposed to be farmers, not hunter gatherers

 

[Guleesh]

Couple of nights of strong wind rain and sleet on to already wet ground and there will be high lamb mortality whatever breed. Lamb macs will protect and reduce losses. We are supposed to be farmers, not hunter gatherers

I've no problem with folk using macs as a reaction to solve an immediate problem, but I see it as a problem that has been caused by the farmer, one that should be fixed for future years through better breeding or better planning or both. Not true that there will be high mortality whatever the breed, unless they've been deprived of a bit of shelter from the wind.

I don't think I'm supposed to be a farmer. Given the extremes of the scope of activities it encompasses, the term 'farmer' is one that I increasingly desire disassociation from.

 

[soapsud]

I found the ewes are prone to reject lambs with orange jackets. I have clear agrimins ones but they are quite russly, and the odd ewe won't be sure of it. Had net tex ones before I think which were a softer plastic, probably what I'd buy again

Here's a tip for next year that may work for you.

We lamb 400+ outside way down south and used a lot of plastic. We found rubbing them all over the lamb with the jacket before putting it on - including under the tail - means the the ewe can still get a whiff of her lamb over the stink of the plastic, even in the wet. Most have to be penned in briefly and done in front of the ewe.

We even ran out on one day and used old bread bags.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I've no problem with folk using macs as a reaction to solve an immediate problem, but I see it as a problem that has been caused by the farmer, one that should be fixed for future years through better breeding or better planning or both. Not true that there will be high mortality whatever the breed, unless they've been deprived of a bit of shelter from the wind.

I don't think I'm supposed to be a farmer. Given the extremes of the scope of activities it encompasses, the term 'farmer' is one that I increasingly desire disassociation from.

You can never control the weather no matter what type of sheep you have.

 

[Jerry]

When lambs can't survive the world they're born into without being wrapped in plastic, maybe it's time to think about where it all went wrong and fix that instead.

What is this peculiar human compulsion to wrap everything in plastic?? All our food needs to be wrapped in plastic, even trees need to be wrapped in plastic, and now we normalise wrapping livestock in plastic. Weird, plastic is toxic.

For infor, most f not all lamb macs are biodegradable, they simply fall off the lamb after a week or so and then dissolve away.

Ive been using them for years, finished lambing a few weeks ago and there are a few lambs with them attached, rest have simply disappeared.

I believe they are made from starch based compounds

 

[Guleesh]

You can never control the weather no matter what type of sheep you have.

Exactly, they ought to be capable of coping with it at its worst.

 

[Spartacus]

Used them on the worst nights earlier this month, I'm 100% certain it worked, didn't lose one that had a jacket on, including a few sets of 3 (I had thought about taking one off but decided if one died I'd be left with a ewe with just one lamb), only loss that night was one born through the night.

 

[hill shepherd]

We used them for 2 or 3 days during the worst of the weather early April, definitely think they saved lambs. As for saying "when lambs can't survive without being wrapped in plastic" well there's always been lamb losses during bad weather whatever the breed so whats wrong with using something to try and save a few?

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Exactly, they ought to be capable of coping with it at its worst.

And then be worth half as much.

 

[Guleesh]

And then be worth half as much.

You're exaggerating.