The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: OhLaLa on November 23, 2010, 05:00:13 pm

Title: Introducing New Ewe/s
Post by: OhLaLa on November 23, 2010, 05:00:13 pm

Two questions please:

1) Am about to introduce new (poss in-lamb) ewe (current ewes born 2010).
Large field, is there anything I should/shouldn't do?

2) What age max for mutton?

Thanks folks.

Title: Re: Introducing New Ewe/s
Post by: bigchicken on November 23, 2010, 05:44:59 pm

Mutton should be from a sheep no younger then 2 years old. The best mutton in my oppion comes from a 5 year old. I have never eaten any older than this as I usually cant wait any longer  :sheep: :farmer:  As for your new sheep just keep an eye out for any over zealousness in the meetings and greetings. Some folks pen a new sheep up in the same field for a few days so that they get used to each other. I'm sure other folks will have there own ideas.

Title: Re: Introducing New Ewe/s
Post by: kanisha on November 23, 2010, 07:32:14 pm

I take a ewe out and quarantine the new with one from the existing flock. this gives the new one a buddy on entering the main flock and they seem to get less stick if they have another sheep to hang out with even if they intially get shunned from the main flock.