The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Gunestone on June 16, 2017, 07:36:42 pm
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We have been in touch with an Icelandic sheep breeder who has a few ewes for sale and out of the four we were interested in, two were born in 2012 so are now 5, by the time we lamb them they will be six. Is this too old? How long are they likely to go on lambing? They have had lambs before with no problems.
Thanks!
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As long as they are sound in mouth and udder there should be no problems for a couple of lambings at least.
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We have 2 ewes which are 9-10 still lambing and rearing lambs. Ofc as they get older they will lose the amount of milk produced and the lambs won't grow as well. I would say if all is good they should have a good few years ahead of them. :)
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Part of the sheep industry in the uplands of the north of England involves the sale of 'draft ewes'. These are ewes who've produced between 2 and 5 crops on the hill, and are sold while still fit to work but would appreciate the easier going further down the hill. Many lowland farmers buy most of their breeding sheep this way, being thereby assured of good mothers, especially if they've had more than 2 crops, as no farmer would have kept a poor performer on to a 3rd, 4th and 5th crop.
Some of these ewes would have been bred as lambs, but the majority of the hill ewes would not have lambed until they were 2 years old. Therefore a 4-crop draft ewe would be 5 years old, and, provided sound of udder and mouth of course, could be reasonably expected to produce and rear another two or three crops at least on easier going.
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Look at their condition too- if they are too fat it could cause problems with getting in lamb and lambing itself.
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If they've been well looked after and not lost too much condition whilst raising their lambs and are sound in feet, teeth and udder then it might be worth taking a chance - depends on how much the breeder is asking. Don't forget, though, that Maedi Visna came into the UK from Iceland.
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Thanks for the replies, He's only a small breeder so they have all been well cared for, I think we will go for them. :)