Weaning cull ewes onto the lorry

[jemski]

Do people do this? Am I being wet thinking it's a huge amount of stress for them in one go and not that ethical? Or do I just need to harden up?

 

[Bones]

Harden up.

 

[yellowbelly]

Just do it, Jem!
Lambs go straight off their mothers to market here and they never bat an eyelid.
Sometimes cull ewes go to the same market on the same day(penned a fair distance away, I admit) but they never seem to bother either.
For some reason both lots don't fret like they do when you separate them at home - too much else going on around them, I expect, for them to hear each other.

 

[Bones]

Just do it, Jem!
Lambs go straight off their mothers to market here and they never bat an eyelid.
Sometimes cull ewes go to the same market on the same day(penned a fair distance away, I admit) but they never seem to bother either.
For some reason both lots don't fret like they do when you separate them at home - too much else going on around them, I expect, for them to hear each other.

The thought of been made into kebabs ,might be working on there minds,

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I always spane mine a fortnight

 

[Nithsdale]

Surely taking a draw of fat lambs which are still on their mothers... pulling them away from mummy and into the trailer, to stand around pining in a market all morning then being hauled in a lorry with lots of other stressed baby lambs is worse





Harden up, and just get on with it.

 

[jemski]

I always spane mine a fortnight

That's what I do normally.

 

[Woolless]

I always spane mine a fortnight

Doing that gives them time to dry up and lets you get a better assessment of their udder. But if they're going regardless, I don't suppose it matters.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Doing that gives them time to dry up and lets you get a better assessment of their udder. But if they're going regardless, I don't suppose it matters.

I mainly do it to freshen the ewes up

 

[Gulli]

They'll be tidier in a fortnight and probably kill a bit better too

 

[jemski]

So normally I run the culls in with the other groups but this year anything that was a definite cull was turned out in one field. It's worked well and really tidied up the other groups and reduced lameness in them.
Anyway, normally I'd wean, give them a few weeks then pull out all the culls and send them. However, I know it's eid this weekend. I'm weaning tonorrow and sending lambs, so was thinking of sending a load of ewes with the lambs as it would be easy and hopefully they will make a bit more.
I know I know, I don't mind weaning lambs onto the lorry. I guess I never like sending ewes, particularly the old girls that have done me well for years.

 

[liammogs]

Send em in!!! Did it last week ewes in the barrens lambs in the fat!! Nothing worse than holding somthing back and then the bugger goes lame or even worse dies!! (They are sheep remember) haha

 

[neilo]

They'll be tidier in a fortnight and probably kill a bit better too

And yet worth less after Ramadan.

I took 8 last week, taken off the ewes that morning, and 5 lean ones yesterday, straight off the lambs just the same. I had been thinking of giving the (very) lean ones another month to gain a bit of flesh, then changed my mind. They made £95 a piece. Hellish dear per kilo of meat.

They were between 6 & 8 yrs old, so had done me well, and did me well again.

 

[Gulli]

And yet worth less after Ramadan.

I took 8 last week, taken off the ewes that morning, and 5 lean ones yesterday, straight off the lambs just the same. I had been thinking of giving the (very) lean ones another month to gain a bit of flesh, then changed my mind. They made £95 a piece. Hellish dear per kilo of meat.

They were between 6 & 8 yrs old, so had done me well, and did me well again.

Yeah true wasn't really thinking of that

 

[jemski]

Well, I tried to send them by apparently these are in too good condition for abp... (apart from the odd skinny). He took 12 ewes that I would have wanted to put a bit more coverage on... just goes to show I know nothing!!!!

 

[liammogs]

Sell live and thrive buyer for everything!!!

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Well, I tried to send them by apparently these are in too good condition for abp... (apart from the odd skinny). He took 12 ewes that I would have wanted to put a bit more coverage on... just goes to show I know nothing!!!! View attachment 538702 View attachment 538704

I'd say they were just right for killing

 

[bobk]

Well, I tried to send them by apparently these are in too good condition for abp... (apart from the odd skinny). He took 12 ewes that I would have wanted to put a bit more coverage on... just goes to show I know nothing!!!! View attachment 538702 View attachment 538704

Aren't cull ewes better sold live ?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Aren't cull ewes better sold live ?

Yes

 

[Woolless]

Well, I tried to send them by apparently these are in too good condition for abp... (apart from the odd skinny). He took 12 ewes that I would have wanted to put a bit more coverage on... just goes to show I know nothing!!!! View attachment 538702 View attachment 538704

Who decided that? The driver?