Been outdoor lambing for 5 years now since I’ve had my own flock but still tweaking the system. Have some questions sloshing round my brain and thought I’d see if any pearls of wisdom came out of TFF...
1. Group size: what do people think is the optimum/maximum number of ewes sensible to have in one group? Currently running all singles together and all twins/triplets together, 110 singles and 205 twins/trips. Now we are halfway through lambing it feels like the twin group is too big and leading to increased mismothering.
2. Separating off ewes with lambs. Previously used drift lambing which works pretty well for separating off ewes post lambing but effectively doubles stocking density and is a fair bit of work. Have not bothered this year and seeing less mismothering, calmer ewes, calmer shepherd (me), BUT would be nice to separate ewes and lambs and start them on rotational grazing. What methods do people use other than drift lambing?
1. Group size: what do people think is the optimum/maximum number of ewes sensible to have in one group? Currently running all singles together and all twins/triplets together, 110 singles and 205 twins/trips. Now we are halfway through lambing it feels like the twin group is too big and leading to increased mismothering.
2. Separating off ewes with lambs. Previously used drift lambing which works pretty well for separating off ewes post lambing but effectively doubles stocking density and is a fair bit of work. Have not bothered this year and seeing less mismothering, calmer ewes, calmer shepherd (me), BUT would be nice to separate ewes and lambs and start them on rotational grazing. What methods do people use other than drift lambing?