Next years lambing

[Boydvalley]

That’s how I normally turn out. This year is one of the only years I have used a mixing pen due to the weather been crap.

As said above keep them together in the trailer and space out in the field. If you can use different fields and not out so many in each field each day that’s even better.

If you like to create a big lot in one field before you move onto another field you may be best to stick to the mixing pens.

Many thanks. Have been turning out the last few straight out without problem but only 1 or 2 a day. Have been loading up fields to try and keep young lambs away from older to try and reduce cocci burden in the young ones. Had to use the quad to take everything out this time because of the wet 6 at a time which worked ok if a little slow so perhaps continue doing that way.

 

[Greythundercloudys]

I think l will maybe buy some more scotch mules this Autumn, l think l have to many texel x ewes, to many duds amoung them having wee lambs, also may be try tex x beltex tups, have a few already , beltex is fine if the ewe is in good order but if they are a bit older/ leaner you get wee small lambs.but they are great at getn up and sooking. Also will not start lambing till 10th of April after all the weather problems this year . Still have 45 to go, defo not one to write home about, l will have alot of cull ewes to pull out this September. Between dead ones and cull ones l will need to buy a good few to keep the numbers up. Hopefully next year will be better for every one.

 

[Al R]

Wouldn't knock Herdwicks or Soays, they're proper sheep in the right context.

Sorry to type in riddles, but it's a more mainstream native I'm thinking of as a terminal sire - the indices have rocketed for muscle in the last 10 years, and a cute, native Welsh breed for reducing size in ewes that I think could nick well with the slightly mongrel flock here.

Keeping them wooled, though, cos y'never know...

It's either that, or introduce a flock of the subspecies of Common Faux that do well in damp-to-wringing-wet climates (Fauxus fauxus polyesterii, F. fauxus spandexxi, F. fauxus acrylique) and go into producing fibre.

There’s a huge variation in the size and quality of the welsh breed if it’s what I’m thinking - unless your on about the 250% ewes...

Don’t tell us it’s a Suffolk as a terminal! You’ve got plenty of good breeds down south there!

 

[Woolless]

There’s a huge variation in the size and quality of the welsh breed if it’s what I’m thinking - unless your on about the 250% ewes...

Don’t tell us it’s a Suffolk as a terminal! You’ve got plenty of good breeds down south there!

I think you might be right about the Suffolk. They did very well on RamCompare for eye muscle depth.

 

[Boydvalley]

110mm. I will measure the size of the slots I cut in the morning. Think I stumbled on a good size. Cut one and then use as a template.

Cut slot is 75mm wide by 300mm long

 

[primmiemoo]

There’s a huge variation in the size and quality of the welsh breed if it’s what I’m thinking - unless your on about the 250% ewes...

Don’t tell us it’s a Suffolk as a terminal! You’ve got plenty of good breeds down south there!

Um... no, not a Suffolk, bless their floppy ears. There are some good Suffolks out there, though, and the hefty bone is reducing.
Simple white faced woolly thing is what I'm after, but a much different sheep from when my late Dad bought a traditional horned version and wouldn't let us kids call the ram Randy.

250% ewes? That'd be Cambridges?
Very early days, tbh, with investigating a change of maternal breed sire. I'd happily fess up about the breed I'm thinking of but for the problem when they become popular. A rellie's having trouble sourcing Lleyn rams now, despite keeping the breed for easily a whole yonk, for that reason.

 

[Andy84]

I turn all my cast hill ewes with single ewe lambs at foot onto rough hill grazing. If they can't cut it the ewe lambs weren't going to be worth having imo. I get very few losses between turning them out and weaning and hopefully means the mules i breed or replacements will be better in the long run.

The trouble is that now a lot of the mothers aren’t proper Hill ewes. I know a fair few mule breeders whose “Hill” ewes get fed and looked after better than most peoples lowland ewes . Like how many now turn ewes to the Hill with an valuable mule ewe lambs at foot I wonder ?

 

[TelesnaAg]

hopefully have a shed up. do it now while theres an 80% grant. would house a month/6 weeks before lambing but if weather looks good will lamb them outside. rather than lamb later i just want to leave a field or two clear from august to after lambing so i have some grass. as said a shed would be a big help as it would take pressure off from the crofts.

80% grant? may i ask what this is about? Cheers

Ant..

 

[Nithsdale]

Don’t tell us it’s a Suffolk as a terminal! You’ve got plenty of good breeds down south there!

You know the Dark Side makes sense

 

[Green farmer]

Was talking to a guy the other day. A relative of his was working in a large state of the art lambing shed. No expense spared. Turns out the plastic sheep slats were a disaster because they put in deep tanks underneath. Made the slats too drafty and cold. Lead to high lamb mortality rates. Surprised me really, as had been considering putting is some (budget allowed this winter) and letting sheep go in and out as they pleased at lambing time.

 

[mezz]

Was talking to a guy the other day. A relative of his was working in a large state of the art lambing shed. No expense spared. Turns out the plastic sheep slats were a disaster because they put in deep tanks underneath. Made the slats too drafty and cold. Lead to high lamb mortality rates. Surprised me really, as had been considering putting is some (budget allowed this winter) and letting sheep go in and out as they pleased at lambing time.

The most likely reason for that is that there were external agitation points that had gaps in them. The wind hits the shed and moves down and under the slats. Covering over the agitation points with some tin/plywood would most likely solve the problem. We have deep tanks here and drafts is not a problem we have, but no external agitation.