Shearing ewes with lambs at foot early

[taff]

The question is, is there any truth in the saying that if you shear ewes with lambs at foot to early then there milk will dry up? We always shear the autumn lambers early May but they have obviously not got lambs on them but we have now moved onto the spring lambers (March) and they are shearing OK but I've had a number of people saying that this is to early and it will cause the ewes to dry up iam in the far south west so it's fairly mild! What's everyone's thought's?

 

[Nithsdale]

Nah, it's rubbish - crack on!!

I will be starting my ewes in 10-14 days

 

[scottish-lleyn]

I will be shearing some march lambers on tuesday for a guy local(southeast scotland) so you should be fine down there in the tropics. this guy does them same week every year so i assume he hasnt had any bother.

 

[taff]

It's a double edge sword iv had a few on there backs and a few patches of maggots so with summer being fairly busy with none Sheepy things I think there best done even if it does slow the lambs down a bit! but it's nice to sort the truth out from the trash with the old wife's tales!

 

[ploughman1963]

My son did all ours a fortnight ago and they have been fine

 

[Stewartry hill]

If there is enough rise they'll be fine

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Pretty common place over here, those who pre-lamb do that, and those who don't have no trouble shearing with lambs at foot.
Most take the bellies off pre-lamb though and give them a ring crutch and then there's less mud on the fleece, from outwintering on crops etc.
Gives a good chance to check udders and feet beforehand

 

[Bones]

A load of rubbish

 

[CopperBeech]

Last year we sheared 1500 ewes with 4-6 week old lambs at foot.

Made zip all difference, the lambs grew like stink. . . .

 

[irish dom]

Whereyou are yes no problem in this weather. Here in the west of Ireland where you get 4 seasons in the one day we would be slow to touch mid march lambers till 1st June. But saying that we have about 4000 ewes clipped already this year and some only lambed a month. Fantastic weather and good spring though. If there is a rise and she has flesh whip it off. One more job done