The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: OhLaLa on October 08, 2010, 10:17:50 am

Title: In Lamb Ewe - buying & travelling question
Post by: OhLaLa on October 08, 2010, 10:17:50 am

What time of year should I start looking to purchase In Lamb Ewes?

With regard to both them and their unborn lambs, is the stress of travelling going to be a problem? Journey prob about 1.5 hours.

Anything special I should do upon arrival home, i.e. keep sep from other ewes/each other for a period etc etc?

How would you deal with this?

 :sheep:  :-\  ?

Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: In Lamb Ewe - buying & travelling question
Post by: morri2 on October 09, 2010, 10:46:18 am

Hi!  You could start looking within the next month or so.  I'm sure I saw a sale of in lamb ewes advertised for some time soon at a local auction.   Depends where you are.  The further north you are the later they tend to tup.  As far as getting them home is concerned, they should be fine, but you could try to buy as close to home as possible.  I always keep any new stock away from the rest of the flock for two weeks.  Hope this helps.

Title: Re: In Lamb Ewe - buying & travelling question
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on October 11, 2010, 05:00:55 pm

Our travelled to us about mid way through the pregnancy, they were fine (came in Feb and lambed late April)

The DEFRA rules say

"One of these conditions is that animals are fit to travel. Fitness to
travel rules do not normally allow the transport of heavily pregnant
animals (past 90% gestation)"

Personally I'd avoid it more than 80% through gestation.