TexX ewes - which Tup to use?

[Nithsdale]

Weather has been much better today, than forecast. Very warm this afternoon and dry. There was a smurr in the air before 7, but looks to have came to nothing. Strong winds and heavy rain are/were forecast for tonight, so I'm hoping it has changed its mind...

 

[Ysgythan]

5 TexX ewes lambed today in the end. 1 single (HUGE) coming breached, dead 1 pair with 1 dead, 1 alive. The other 3 healthy pairs.

Plenty ewes lambed in the commercials, no real problems today - makes a change after yesterday. 1 2010 born LleynX out of a Scotch Mule (which is very mule looking) dropped triplets. All fine, but she has no milk

Hill ewes are starting to lamb now, 4 today.

And lastly - but most importantly... the Texel ewe lambed just before dark. I had checked her a few times through the day - between rugby and other jobs. First lamb was presented correctly but she was a wee bit tight and needed some gentle working just to open up properly.

A tup lamb and a ewe lamb. Both healthy and well. Mother seems quite keen on them so right now i am a happy chappy

If you need more give me a shout...

 

[Nithsdale]

If you need more give me a shout...

I will get a picture, just for you, when I'm up the shed in an hour.

I wasn't risking leaving her out tonight with the forecast i saw last...

 

[Nithsdale]

@Ysgythan not the best pics, didn't want to disturb them too much

 

[Ysgythan]

@Ysgythan not the best pics, didn't want to disturb them too much
View attachment 487908 View attachment 487910 View attachment 487912

They're strong twins.

 

[Nithsdale]

They're strong twins.

Aye. We don't do weak here

The other ewes lambs were a similar size. After getting these 2 out i felt inside her pelvis area.
I'm pretty sure the other ewe would have lambed naturally if there had been no complications.

 

[Nithsdale]

Helluvah rain here through the night. Not the winds that were forecast, though.

1 lamb (Texel) didn't make it, sadly, and 1 single was still born (i think!). But out of 11 ewes lambed first thing, 4 singles and the rest pairs - i cant complain. 3 TexX ewes lambed, all twins and going fine! 1 pair is in a not so clever place, so will just keep a close eye on the lambs.

Pure Texel and her pair are doing great this morning.

 

[abitdaft]

It's still peeing down here, went out first thing to shift old ewes uphill as the lower section of the field floods to find first pair of twins...lambing has begun!

 

[Al R]

Just a bit windy here ( got to shelter to use lighter) 46 lambs so far, 1x TexX ewe had 1 good lambs and 1 stillborn.
4 WA's done this morning already.
1 TexX has come in as a badger took the lambs head, skin done and taken

 

[Bill dog]

Last night was hellish. The incessant rain turned the lambing fields/ flood plain very much to the latter. River over the banks for the first time this winter.lost a few lambs sadly , just beaten down by the rain n mud, but the resilience of the lleyn lambs is amazing! The suff x lambs just can't take the hammering the lleyn and Romney/ tex can . But river retreated after lunch, n forecast looks better for next week so on we roll !

 

[Nithsdale]

Last night was hellish. The incessant rain turned the lambing fields/ flood plain very much to the latter. River over the banks for the first time this winter.lost a few lambs sadly , just beaten down by the rain n mud, but the resilience of the lleyn lambs is amazing! The suff x lambs just can't take the hammering the lleyn and Romney/ tex can . But river retreated after lunch, n forecast looks better for next week so on we roll !

Where in the region are you?
It was glorious here by 6pm yesterday. Fields were, and still are, a f**king mess though. Bike struggling through the gateways with trailer/snacker on. Strong winds today and wintery showers, quite cold at times.

Ewes and lambs are handling it well. Even the Suffolk X lambs
But your right about the Lleyn lambs, very hardy little buggers!!

 

[Nithsdale]

Busy day here - lost count at 20 ewes lambed with 39 lambs alive. Felt like it was going to be a kicking first thing this morning, though - in the first field found a ewe with a single, dead. The a ewe with triplet, 1 dead.
Then 2 ewes with twins - both with 1 living and 1 dead...
Thankfully everything else has gotten on with it smoothly, since. No lambs lost last night

4 TexX ewes lambed today so far - all twins although one ewe had lambed and the lamb was up, going, dry and suckled and the ewe had cleaned up all signs of lambing... I banded the lamb and went on my way. Back in the field an hour or so later to feed them and i drive past her on my way out - to see her with a freshly lambed 2nd

 

[Ysgythan]

I banded the lamb and went on my way. Back in the field an hour or so later to feed them and i drive past her on my way out - to see her with a freshly lambed 2nd

That's the way...

 

[Al R]

I banded the lamb and went on my way. Back in the field an hour or so later to feed them and i drive past her on my way out - to see her with a freshly lambed 2nd

We put a triplet bearing ewe in the pen with twins the other day, had a good feel inside without butchering here and dad couldn't feel anything, 5hours later she had another lamb :0 are these sort of gaps common? 1-2hrs I've seen before with really good mothers but never longer!

Despite having 10mm this morning all the muleX and texX's stayed out
3 improved welsh with twins had to come in though mass Miss mothering where 3 lambed behind 1 gorse bush for shelter from the Atlantic. All in a loose pen so they can sort themselves out and back out tomorrow .

 

[Nithsdale]

Losing track of things a bit now!

I lost count at 25 ewes lambed on Monday and lost count at 31 yesterday!! 7 triplets between last thing last night and first thing this morning! No more complaints of not having spares! the Shepherdess has been dug out... Lambing is going pretty well with very few problems - but very strong easterly winds today, bitterly cold. Was snowing earlier and now raining...

SO FAR, it hasn't caused a problem but there's a lot of day still to go. Very good weather forecast for tomorrow, through to end of weekend at least.

Had a hill ewe drop a pair first thing, 1 lamb on its side kicking can't/won't sit up or stand - keeps pushing over to it's side
Also have a very old ewe in which had triplets but not much milk, lifted 1 for twinning on.. between 12-18 hours after birth one of the 2 still on the ewe started holding both it's front and rear right legs. I initially thought the ewe had lay on the lamb... but now I'm not so sure! The lamb is lively and can get about, but it is a struggle for it. Anyone any ideas? My initial thought was White Muscle Disease, but I'm not sure. Other than Engemycin or Pen&Strep i have nothing i can give either lamb. If i get time i might take them to the vets, but i don't hold out much hope of getting time today...

Also have a 2crop ewe drop a dead single... can't remember when ... she wanted it like mad! Fetched her in, skinned the lamb stuck a pet lamb on her (only one i had at the time). Next morning lamb was dead also have a gimmer in which lambs were still born at the weekend, wet fostered a lamb onto her - she is still in a pen and isn't keen on this rearing a lamb carry on!

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

G'day @Nithsdale Farmer
Well done for having the energy to catalogue your progress on here.
I'm more inclined to close my eyes on the sofa any spare moment I find.

SUFFOLK update (from my "trial")
The little Suffolk lambs are fantastic (touch wood) on their feet and looking to sook in no time. Good potential for growth too.
The Suffolks from my Tex x Chev gimmers seem better than those from the mules.
Unfortunately I am getting too many Suffolk wedder lambs out of the mules, not good for my replacement plans.

Best wishes

TSS

 

[Nithsdale]

I meant to add.

Today marks 4 years since Lambing 2013 was turned on its head with the snow...

 

[Nithsdale]

G'day @Nithsdale Farmer
Well done for having the energy to catalogue your progress on here.
I'm more inclined to close my eyes on the sofa any spare moment I find.

SUFFOLK update (from my "trial")
The little Suffolk lambs are fantastic (touch wood) on their feet and looking to sook in no time. Good potential for growth too.
The Suffolks from my Tex x Chev gimmers seem better than those from the mules.
Unfortunately I am getting too many Suffolk wedder lambs out of the mules, not good for my replacement plans.

Best wishes

TSS

Your SuffX lambs from the white ewes will always be better than the ones from the Mules. That was one reason, along with other reasons, as to why we stopped using the Suffolk first time round.

 

[Sheeponfire]

I meant to add.

Today marks 4 years since Lambing 2013 was turned on its head with the snow...

Hats off to you sir for posting away....
I have not looked at this thread for 2days.... my coffee time now is for power naps not TFF...
Decent progress here on all fronts.. calving ,lambing, ploughing,top dressing etc....
One thing to add... we are having big lambs... and it's the least amount of feed the ewes have ever had in the run up to lambing....
We are pulling a lot out !!!
Aye "hi care" flock!!!!
Will have to have 're think for next year!!

 

[neilo]

I meant to add.

Today marks 4 years since Lambing 2013 was turned on its head with the snow...

Shhh!