The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Twotwo on June 09, 2021, 05:22:44 pm
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Because of a planned operation and recovery I hope to give OH an easier job checking only two groups, therefore I plan to only wean the ram lambs leaving the ewe lambs on their dams for another few weeks Am I likely run into problems re mastitis in ewes with were I remove a ram lamb but leave a ewe lamb ? They are 14-16weeks and the ram lambs need to move regarding shearing ewes joining the flock, the ewes are nearly dry anyway.
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I used to leave a ewe lamb on the mother when it’s sibling went to the abattoir but did have a couple of ewes come in with mastitis even when shut in on straw when the second lamb was weaned. They seemed less inclined to let the remaining lamb suck in the field. So now when the first lamb is ready to kill or wean, the second lamb is weaned too. Then once dried off the ewe goes away to a separate piece of land to where her remaining lamb is.
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HI
Each year i wean at 4 months to give the ewes time to recover for tupping.
I find by 3 months+ some of the ewes are self weaninng by then.
I take the boys away A Couple of weeks before hand and leaves the gimmers on i find it helps with drying off the ewes.
I dont have the facilities for bringing the ewes in to dry off!
its worked for me and i haven't had any Mastitis in my flock.
other will do it different :-)
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I’ve weaned the ram lambs and we’ll see how it goes.
Ewes without any lambs left on them are on little grass, all the others on better grass.
I’ll be able to compare how they dry off now and when I wean the ewes lambs in 5/6 weeks.
Interesting also to compare weights of lambs weaned or not and also twins/singles when scanning ewes this winter.
Thanks