The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Azzdodd on February 02, 2013, 07:39:51 pm
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I've just been & put a deposit on 2 jan born ewe lambs from last year going to get them tomorrow my question will they take the ram now? I heard they have a longer breeding season than most ewes?
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Probably yes, but my question would be do you understand the drawbacks with lambing in july. Very difficult to stop them getting fat ,thus big lambs . When are you going to shear ? . Need to trim away blood and gunk quickly after lambing and watch ewe and lamb for maggots . When will you wean to prepare for next year ? . Getting on their backs is a problem for heavily pregnant sheep in summer
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Most of my sheep will be kept as pets or sold as pets. Shearing I didn't think of that bit there pretty friendly so I might be able to halter them an shear?
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Having had one ewe lamb in July in the past (unintentionally), it really is not the best time to be lambing. Fly strike is a real problem and you will be highly unlikely to be able to shear and do anywhere near a reasonable job with your ewes in the standing position. Good luck with your ewes though - Charollais are a great breed.
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Would hate to lamb in July - fly problems would be really bad as already mentioned.
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I Imagine if you lambed in July, youd wean November, at which point your lambs would go downhill fairly fast unless you caked them heavily.
I think its just a bit too late. I wouldn't want to lamb later than May.
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I agree with the others re. summer lambing and flystrike. Probably best just getting used to being a sheep keeper this year and putting them to the ram in the autumn. There's a lot to learn about sheep, so the coming months will be time well spent. Good luck and enjoy!