Out of season lambing?

[Paul E]

Spoke on the phone the other night with my mate who is currently lambing into a swamp. I'll be lambing soon, no doubt into a blizzard in April (!) Realized I knew sod all about OOS lambing, despite having had hundreds of ewes for years and years.
So, apart from only some breeds do it, what else is there to know?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

June lambing would be very appealing atm

 

[serf]

Its the flies that would put me off as soon as there's some heat about and wet lambs just born thought blow flies be laying eggs on then .

 

[Chris123]

Its the flies that would put me off as soon as there's some heat about and wet lambs just born thought blow flies be laying eggs on then .

Agree any welsh ewes that lamb late here end of may sort of time you have to watch flys are on them as soon as they are born. Almost need to click them as you spray their navel

 

[unlacedgecko]

Spoke on the phone the other night with my mate who is currently lambing into a swamp. I'll be lambing soon, no doubt into a blizzard in April (!) Realized I knew sod all about OOS lambing, despite having had hundreds of ewes for years and years.
So, apart from only some breeds do it, what else is there to know?

@Global ovine reckons an accelerated lambing program of 3 in 2 utilising only home produced feed will match or exceed dairy for GM, without the necessary large capital investment.

There will be some ewes in all breeds with a propensity to breed out of season. Be a long job to select and breed for them though.

 

[Al R]

Ewes getting to big and subsequently lambs inside getting enormous is the biggest issue I’ve been told as the grass is naturally growing it’s fastest in the warmer months.

@CopperBeech did a lot of it

 

[Muddyroads]

We’ve been lambing out of season for a while. Works well for continuity of supply, spreading income and reducing the impact of price fluctuations. Down sides include complicated routine treatments such as Heptavac P, lower lambing percentages, impact of high temperatures at tupping, shearing in lamb ewes.
For me it helped to spread workloads and lamb hogs at 18 months amongst other things.

 

[primmiemoo]

@spin cycle is the go to on this topic, I think

 

[M-J-G]

In a past life I lambed sheep every 2 months for a sheep dairy, summer lambings are the worst, fat ewes, dull lambs that don't want to get up and suck due to the heat, flies, little dark weather so ewes want to lamb pretty much 24 hours.

Not to mention sweating all day long with only dirty hands to wipe your face

 

[spin cycle]

@spin cycle is the go to on this topic, I think

one hour and twenty five minutes ago i saw this topic and thought to myself...'i'll wait and see how long til i get a mention?'

in truth i'm getting a lot better....last year i went a whole 5 months without a lambing

never had any trouble with flies with summer lambs but having odd one probably different to lambing a whole flock

 

[CopperBeech]

It works on the right farm and I think I’ve managed to develop a very very cheap way of doing it that makes a lot of money on an arable farm.

 

[Global ovine]

Out-of-season lambing can be very profitable if ewes cycle naturally. If they have to be induced with hormone treatment the profit margin becomes eroded proportionately. Natural cycling depends on genetics (not clearly defined by breed) and latitude. These factors also affect the rams. However low ewe to ram ratios help when mating in out-of-season when day length is increasing.
Screening suitable animals of both gender is advised, even if a recommended breed is used, unless one is situated well within 40 degree latitudes.

 

[Paul E]

Thanks for the replies so far - and not a "Don't do it !" yet, I'm quite shocked!

 

[Hooby Farmer]

My old science teacher used to lamb his sheep in the summer months, just because he was off I guess. Can't really remember if he said it was a success or not.

 

[Global ovine]

Two things are quite critical to the success of out-of-season lambing:

• Having genetics that easily and cheaply get pregnant.
• Having really good annual pasture growth data so you can plan how and when to handle the surpluses and shift it to the deficits, as the supply and demand curves are very different to once a year lambing. Remember that the sheep are only there to convert your pasture into dosh. Getting it wrong can be very costly, but getting it right has big cash flow and profit advantages.

 

[MaddieDaley]

Hello I am a 4th year veterinary student at the Royal Veterinary College. I am doing research on barren rates in sheep, specifically those that lamb out of season from July-December. I would greatly appreciate it, if any farmers that partake in out of season lambing would fill out the survey linked below!

Out-of-season Breeding

Thank you for taking the time to fill out my survey. My name is Madison Miller and I am a final year student at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). I am currently carrying out my research project looking into the barren rates of flocks lambing out-of-season (e.g July-December inclusive). As this...

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