Stolkhome tar on lambs

[Agri]

I was wondering were to put the tar on the lambs and also is the spray better than the tar in the bucket?

 

[Jerry]

I was wondering were to put the tar on the lambs and also is the spray better than the tar in the bucket?

@Al R

 

[Hummin-Cummins]

Stuff in a bucket is grand, get a stick out the hedge and just smudge a line down the back of their neck about the same sort of size as your finger

 

[Al R]

Base of the neck and top of the tail we do, used to be on stick tar but it got everywhere and didn’t work with the quads outdoors so moved to Goldstar (or something) spray cans, worked very well for 20 years with 1-2 taken per 1,000 lambs but we only used to tar the first 10 and last 10 in a field, with so much afterbirth around a fox won’t challenge a ewe for her lambs, we had a serious number of foxes here (guns have had 49 since October)

This year I’ve moved to APS spray tar as it’s £2.20/can as opposed to £4.95 for goldstar stuff, tarred every lamb this year and 0 deaths or missing lambs from foxes, we’ve never thought it would keep badgers away (50+ deaths normal from them) but this year 0 deaths to badgers or otters and I know there are thousands of badgers here.

 

[Al R]

This lamb is 2 weeks old and still visible and it still smells on them.

if a lamb is born on our last check in the afternoon but is either fresh or not good enough to mark and ring we will tar it anyway just as an insurance.

 

[JohnGalway]

I was wondering were to put the tar on the lambs and also is the spray better than the tar in the bucket?

The opposite, the spray is worse.

To make the bucket stuff easy to use put the bucket into warm water. Get some 500ml bottles with sports caps. You can draw up warm tar in a 60ml syringe, and squirt it into the bottles. You now have an easy to use tar applicator.

 

[Al R]

Never had any problems with the spray so can’t see why it’s worse? Got a picture this morning for you

 

[farmerclare]

I use the stuff in a pot and an old paintbrush. Put someon top of tail and base of neck its still on them when I sell them fat and does seem to work.

 

[Tim W]

Doesn't it bother the ewes

 

[Al R]

Doesn't it bother the ewes

No never had an issue that I recall, don’t smother it on them and i don’t get a problem.

 

[JohnGalway]

Never had any problems with the spray so can’t see why it’s worse? Got a picture this morning for you

Neighbours and my late Dad tried spray cans and lost lambs, I always used the pot stuff and no lambs taken.

 

[Tim W]

No never had an issue that I recall, don’t smother it on them and i don’t get a problem.

I'll give it a go

 

[Al R]

I'll give it a go

Are you losing many to foxes? £4.95 for this make.

£2.25? I think for the APS ones?

 

[Tim W]

Are you losing many to foxes? £4.95 for this make.

Lose 50+ out of 650 on one farm to predators on an annual basis
They are tagged at 24 hrs (ish) and that's the unaccounted losses from then to 6 weeks old
Lots of woodland--- badgers, foxes, feral pig/boar etc

 

[Al R]

Lose 50+ out of 650 on one farm to predators on an annual basis
They are tagged at 24 hrs (ish) and that's the unaccounted losses from then to 6 weeks old
Lots of woodland--- badgers, foxes, feral pig/boar etc

Jesus! I know some good shots down your way if you want them over?

 

[Tim W]

Jesus! I know some good shots down your way if you want them over?

We do cull out a few foxes but really there are too many rights of way for shooting & so much cover/forestry for the things to hide in that there is a never ending supply of vermin