Weaning half the lambs

[Sheep92]

Spoke to a former sheep farmer of the year about this. His contention was that after about 90 days lambs are getting minimal milk but they trail round after their mothers. She gets first bite at everything and craps on the rest. Even if there's no aftermath or whatever, they'll do better if they are getting first chance of what there is. My lambs have grown better following his advice than they did before.

Due to the drought we weaned our lambs ranging from 10 to 13 weeks old they got no check in growth and far better off as you say, getting the first pick on grass away from the ewes

 

[Longlowdog]

I wean everything at pretty much bang on 12 weeks unless it is chucking down rain. Lambs go on to best hay aftermath, ewes go on to decent grass. I then pretty much ignore each group for a fortnight except to check the feet are pointing south and not north. Once the fortnight is up I lean on a fence and admire all the fat healthy looking lambs.
I had my lambs in yesterday for a Clik and to split the sexes 20 days after spanning and they were lovely dense, vital critters. I don't weigh them but they are definitely bigger and heavier than they were 20 days ago.
I've spanned at 12 weeks for 10 years now and see no point in changing.