The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ShaunP on December 22, 2010, 05:35:00 pm

Title: Is it to late to Tup
Post by: ShaunP on December 22, 2010, 05:35:00 pm

I have been offered a Wiltshire Horn ram which I would like to put to my Charollais. I have six 3year old ewes and 8 lambs that are now almost 1 year old. I will try anyway but I am curious what people think as too what chances of getting them in lamb this late!!

Any advice on anything I can do to improve my chances greatly received!!

Title: Re: Is it to late to Tup
Post by: katie on December 22, 2010, 05:50:30 pm

It's not THAT late. Our tup went in on Nov 12th. The grass would be pretty good by the time the lambs are born. Some people choose to lamb late.

Title: Re: Is it to late to Tup
Post by: woollyval on December 22, 2010, 06:45:39 pm

No worries! The breeding cycle of sheep is ruled by daylight, which is why they generally start to cycle around September ish so until daylight increases substantially they should continue cycling  ;)

Title: Re: Is it to late to Tup
Post by: Anke on December 22, 2010, 08:55:38 pm

I just swapped tups last week, as tup No1 was redoing all his girls and the access to the field was a sheet of ice, so no way could I get the tractor/trailer into there... Tup No2 is now doing the girls again... so late lambing round here too...

Title: Re: Is it to late to Tup
Post by: Rugbyman on December 23, 2010, 09:19:19 am

Better some lambs than none at all. If you plan to keep the ewe lambs for future breeding they will be fine to tup as hoggets but the ram lambs might not be ready for the freezer til November/December.

Title: Re: Is it to late to Tup
Post by: ShaunP on December 24, 2010, 06:56:06 pm

Thanks all for the comments.......will let you know how it goes!!